Alan Doyle Everett was born in London on 8 October 1905, the first son of Herbert, a linen merchant, and Rhoda (Doyle) the daughter of an engineer. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and St Bartholomew's Hospital qualifying MRCS in 1929 and gaining the FRCS and also the MS London in 1930. A

Charles Gordon Sinclair was born in Highgate, North London, on 26 January 1906, the second son of Charles Purves Sinclair, general manager of the Colne Valley Water Company. He was educated at Shirley House School, Watford, and at St Paul's School, West London, before entering St Bartholomew's Hospi