Robert Roaf was a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon and one of the few remaining pre-war Himalayan climbers. He was born into a Canadian academic family in Golders Green, London, on 25 April 1913, the second son of Herbert Eldon Roaf, professor of physiology at Liverpool, and Beatrice Sophia, the da

Ross Bloom was born in Leeds on 2 January 1915; his father was a shopkeeper and his mother's maiden name was Fanny Castenberg. He was educated at Cardiff High School and graduated from the University of Wales in 1937, taking the London MB BS, the same year. He obtained the prize for the best first y

Elmer Samuel James was born in Craigmont, Ontario in 1910. He went to school in Biggar, Saskatchewan, and then to Winnipeg for the medical course, graduating MD in the University of Manitoba in 1935. He subsequently came to Great Britain for postgraduate training, passed the Conjoint Board examinati

Edmund Henry Tregothwyn Hambly was born at Port Isaac, Cornwall, in 1914. He was educated at Blundell's and on leaving school entered St Bartholomew's where he graduated in 1937 obtaining his FRCS in the following year. Ill health prevented him from joining the forces in the second world war. He was

Harry Archibald Pearce went to St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School and qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1937, graduating with the London University MB BS in the same year. He became casualty house surgeon at St Bartholomew's, and developing a special interest in orthopaedics early in his

Christopher Michael Squire trained at St Mary's Hospital Medical School and qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1937. He became a Fellow of the College in 1947. During the second world war he served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as an orthopaedic specialist with the rank of Squadron-

Edward Mervyn Evans was a former consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Swansea. Born on 13 February 1913, his father was Edward Evans and his mother, Katherine. His life was moulded by a series of unforeseen events. The first was his arrival, six years after the youngest of his three sisters, and 17 yea

John Fairbank was born on 26 June 1912 in London, the only son of Sir Thomas Fairbank, the first orthopaedic surgeon to the Charing Cross Hospital, and Florence Kathleen née Ogilvie. He was educated at Wellesley House, Broadstairs, and then at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge, as senior scholar,

Jim Ellis was professor of orthopaedic and accident surgery at the University of Southampton. He was born on 13 April 1912 in Selborne, Hampshire, the son of Frank Stokes Ellis, a wine merchant who went on to serve in the First World War with the Royal Fusiliers, and Ada née Parkes, whose family wer

Nicholas Ernest James was born on 20 August 1912 in Adelaide, South Australia, the son of the Congregational Minister. The family returned to England in 1928 and he completed his schooling at Latymer Upper School and then went to the London Hospital where he graduated with honours in medicine in 193

Charles Clinton-Thomas ('CT') was born on the 15 January 1912 in Dehra Dun, India, the eldest son of Brigadier Robert Clinton-Thomas RE and Evelyn Baddeley. He was educated at Charterhouse and University College Hospital and qualified with the conjoint diploma in 1937. His early appointments were at