William Eric Marcus Mitchell was born at Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, on 29 April 1897, the son of Dr John Finlay Mitchell, a medical practitioner and Anna, nee Shaw. His early education was at Campbell College, Belfast, and after leaving school he joined the Royal Irish Rifles, servi

Born in London in 1896 the son of Raphael Roche and Grace Simon he was educated at St Paul's School, Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he obtained a classical scholarship, and St Bartholomew's Hospital. After qualifying he held a series of house appointments at St Bartholomew's, culminating in tha