Eardley Lorimer Button was born in London on 9 March 1903 the son of Robert Lorimer, a merchant, and Lilian, née Naylor. He moved with the family to New Zealand at an early age, was educated at Wellington College and the Otago University Medical School qualifying MB ChB in 1925 having represented th

Graeme Gibson Talbot was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 1 February 1902, the son of Alfred Talbot, an eye and ENT surgeon, and Beatrice, née Gibson. He was educated at King's College, Auckland, where he was dux. He then went on to the Otago Medical School, where he was awarded the McCallum medal,