Born at Pilgrims Rest in the Transvaal on 14 January 1876, the sixth and youngest child of Thomas McLachlan, a pioneer from Perth, Scotland, and Maria Shires, his wife, who came from Cheshire, England. He received his early education at Maritzburg College and at Brighton Grammar School. He qualified

Born at Elton Hall, Sandbach, Cheshire on 16 June 1876, the eldest son of Charles Billington. He was educated at Sandbach Grammar School and at Wellington College, Salop (Wrekin school), where he became head of the school and acted for a time as secretary to Sir John Bayley, its master and founder.