John Elgood studied medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital, passing the Conjoint Diploma in 1924 and qualifying MB BS the same year. He worked as external midwives' assistant at Bart's and then became senior house surgeon to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Tottenham. He then held the post of surgeon to

John Herbert Thompson was born on 2 April 1900. He was educated at Bootham, York, whence he proceeded to University College Hospital, London, qualifying with the Conjoint Diploma in 1923. After house appointments and obtaining the FRCS in 1928 he joined the Colonial Service and was posted as a surgi