Drevor Frederick Acton Neilson was born in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 19 September 1891. His father was an MD of Glasgow. He was educated at Dunchurch Hall and Rugby, at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at St Thomas's Hospital. After qualifying MRCS, LRCP he joined the Army on 30 January 1915 and served

Born on 4 July 1890 at West Hartlepool, Durham, where his father Thomas George Ainsley (MRCS 1877, MD Durham) was in practice. His mother's maiden name was Hill. He was educated at Malvern College, at Caius College, Cambridge, where he took second-class honours in the Natural Sciences Tripos, part 1