Peter Lance Brunnen was a consultant thoracic surgeon to the North East Regional Hospital Board, Scotland. He was born in Rosyth, Scotland, on 19 July 1917. His father, John Ewart Brunnen, was an electrical engineer; his mother, Elsie Victoria Augusta Brunnen née Lance was the daughter of an inspect

Claude Bertram Russell Mann was a general surgeon at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Born in Cairns, Queensland on 30 March 1918, he was the son of Edgar Stanley Mann, an accountant, and his wife Grace Priscilla née Mayers. He was educated at Cairns State School, Eagle Junction (Brisbane) State School