Iven Alastair Page was born at South Grafton, New South Wales, in 1914, being the third son of Sir Earle Page. He was educated at the Fort Street Boys' High School and the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, and then proceeded to the University of Sydney where he graduated in medicine in 1937.

Robert Mitchell was born in Longueville, New South Wales, on 13 October 1927. His father, William Robert Mitchell, was an accountant. His mother was Lilian née Coram. He was educated at the Sydney Church of England Grammar School and studied medicine at the University of Sydney. He did junior posts

William Crisp was born in Edinburgh on 5 December 1914, being the eldest son of Thomas Crisp (MD Edin) who was a medical practitioner and his wife, Janet (née Cowie). In 1921 the family moved to Chorley, Lancs, where Thomas established himself in general practice. William went to Bolton School and t

David Robertson was born in August 1916 in Auckland, a son of Sir Carrick Robertson. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School where he represented the school in rugby, rowing and swimming. He studied medicine first at Dunedin and then at Melbourne, where he won an anatomy scholarship under Prof