Alan Higgitt was an honorary consultant ophthalmologist at Charing Cross Hospital, London. He qualified at University College Hospital. After junior posts he joined the RNVR as a surgeon lieutenant, ophthalmic specialist, on a hospital ship which was on active service in the Indian Ocean. After th

John Vernon Morris qualified in medicine from King's College Hospital. His first appointment was as research assistant in surgery at the West London Hospital and then he became senior surgical registrar at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital. He moved to the Plastic and Oral

John Howard Egbert Verdon qualified in 1941 from St Thomas's Hospital in London. He held house appointments at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital and the Rowley Bristow Orthopaedic Hospital. He was then appointed surgical registrar to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and eventually became senior

Richard Dennis Wilkins studied medicine at Oxford University and St Thomas's Hospital, London. He qualified MRCS in 1941 and FRCS in 1948. Returning to Canada he entered family practice while also doing some general surgery. He became consultant surgeon to the Marine General Hospital, Goderich, the

Christopher Savage was a consultant ENT surgeon at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital, and the Southend General Hospital, where he developed a special interest in microsurgery of the ear. Born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 21 November 1915, he was part of the third generation of a family of surgeons.

Neville Gill was born in Naini Tal, India, on 4 October 1918, the son of Eric Henry Neville Gill, who was in the Indian Civil Service, and Kathleen Beryl, née Gregory. He was sent home to preparatory school in Eastbourne and then to King's School, Canterbury. He trained at the Middlesex Hospital, wi

Gilbert Benjamin Rowland Walkey - known as 'Ben' - was a surgeon who spent most of his working life in India. He was born in Marazion, Cornwall, on 27 June 1916. His father, Oliver, was a clerk in holy orders. Ben was one of seven children. He had an older brother, Sam, and five younger brothers and

John Holmes Tasker was born in London on 20 January 1917, the son of Dr Ludwig Tasker, a general practitioner, and May, née Gadsden, a registered nurse. He was educated at Epsom College before entering Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1935 with the Haviland exhibition. After completing pre-clin

Huw Morus Jones was born at Abererch, Pwllheli, North Wales, on 8 September 1917, the eldest son of David Morris Jones, professor of philosophy and religion at University College, Aberystwyth, and Ester Ann, née Williams. His early education was at Swansea Grammar School and University College, Aber

John Henry Charles Phillips was born in Hampstead, London, on 24 April 1917, the son of Samuel Phillips, an import and export businessman, and his wife Elise. He was educated at Heathmount School, Hampstead, and Hillsbrow School, Redhill, before going to the Leys School, Cambridge. His medical studi