Born on 12 December 1880 son of W R Hamilton, Indian Civil Service, he was educated at Tonbridge School and St Bartholomew's Hospital, where he won a prize in anatomy in 1902, and served as house physician and ophthalmic house surgeon. He played cricket and Rugby football for his school and hospital

Born on 4 September 1880 eldest of the two sons and two daughters of Samuel Johnson (1846-99), Medical Officer of Health for Stoke-on-Trent and Julia his wife, daughter of James Webb. Mrs Johnson died only in 1931; her children had all adopted her maiden surname, Webb, before their father's name. Dr