Douglas Bennett was born on 18 July 1918, the son of Geoffrey Bennett, an officer in the North Somerset Yeomanry who subsequently took to ranching in Argentina and his wife Elizabeth Elsa Müller, who was Swiss. He was educated at Minehead Grammar School and at University College Hospital in London,

Sholto Forman was born at Beattock, Dumfriesshire, on 25 July 1915, the son of Reverend Adam Forman CBE, Chaplain to Loretto School 1907 to 1912, and Flora, née Smith. He was brought up at the family home at Craigielands, Dumfriesshire, with three brothers, all of whom were educated at Loretto befor