John McNeur was born on 12 July 1919 at Whakatane, New Zealand, the son of William McNeur, a Presbyterian minister and his wife Annie, née Clarke. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School and Otago University Medical School in Dunedin, where he qualified in 1943. After house appointments in Dunedi

Wilmot John Tresize was born on 10 October 1915 in Christchurch, New Zealand, the son of Alfred Joseph Tresize, a carpenter, and his wife Eileen Gladys Cole, née King. He was educated at West Christchurch District High School, which he represented in the First XI at cricket. He matriculated at 15 an