John Hosford was born in London on 24 July 1900, the son of Benjamin Hosford, a medical practitioner in Hornsey, Essex, and his wife Anne, née Haines. He came from a remarkable medical family, three brothers, two cousins and two uncles all being doctors. He was educated at Highgate School and St Bar

Born on 13 February 1896, son of Arthur John Cardell, he was educated at Epsom College and St Thomas's Hospital. At Epsom he was awarded the Jenks Scholarship in 1914 and at St Thomas's he was awarded the William Tite Scholarship for 1914-1915, the Peacock Scholarship for 1915-1916 and a second tenu