Louis Amos Bennett was born in Nelson, New Zealand, on 16 October 1896. His father was John Bennett, farmer and storekeeper and his mother was Annie, née Ryde. He was educated at Central School, Nelson and Nelson College where he was awarded the junior and senior national scholarships and the Fell S

Born in Dublin on 5 November 1897, the daughter of John Sandes of Greenville, Listowel, Co Kerry, she was educated at Wimbledon High School and the London School of Medicine for Women, since 1947 the Royal Free Hospital Medical School. Her interest in medicine was aroused during her school days by E