Born on 29 August 1878, William Edwin Haigh studied medicine at University College, London and St Bartholomew's Hospital, and qualified in 1909. Haigh was Assistant Demonstrator in Anatomy at University College, London, and later held appointments at the General Infirmary and the Hospital for Women

Born on 10 April 1886, son of Arthur John Jefferson MD of Rochdale, who was trained at St Thomas's and became honorary medical officer to Rochdale Infirmary, he received a classical education at Manchester Grammar School, as did his younger brother J C Jefferson FRCS (1888-1954). Proceeding to Manch