Born 13 February 1874 at Pencoed, Glamorgan, eldest son of Rev D P Davies. Educated at Christ College, Brecon and University College, London, he served for a period as clinical assistant in the department at University College Hospital. After taking the Fellowship he was appointed assistant ophthalm

The eldest son of George Soltau, a nonconformist minister of Plymouth, and of his wife Grace Elizabeth Tapson, he was born at Myddleton Square, London, WC, on 21 March 1876. His father, who had been governor of Dr Barnado's Home in London, took charge of a mission church in Tasmania, and his son was