Laughton Leask was born on 15 October 1912, the eldest son of William Laughton Rennie, an architect, and Anne Elizabeth Mabel, née Beaton. He went to preparatory school in Hong Kong, thence to Edinburgh Academy and later to Highgate, before going to St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1930 where he won the

Eric Samuel held the Forbes Chair of Medical Radiology at the University of Edinburgh. He was born at Cym Llyn Fell, near Swansea, on 26 August 1914, the son of William Samuel, a mining engineer, and Miriam Jones. He was educated at Ystalyfera Grammar School and the University College of Cardiff, be

Bertram John Bickford was a consultant surgeon in Liverpool. He was born in Tavistock, Devon, on 17 October 1913, and was to become the third generation of his family to enter medicine. His grandfather, Thomas Leaman Bickford, was a Surgeon Captain RN. His father, Bertram Raleigh Bickford, was a GP

James Llewellin Digby Roberts was born on 15 July 1912 at Kalimpong, India, where his father was a medical missionary. His early years were spent in India, where a favourite family pastime was butterfly hunting on horseback: the superb family collection, which his father initiated, was to become a l

Joshua Samuel Horn was born in London of Jewish parents on 14 July 1914. He won a scholarship to University College Hospital, where he had a brilliant career and collected various undergraduate medals and prizes. 'Josh', as he was known, had charm, dedication, and courage. During the hungry 'thirtie