James Reid was born in Bournemouth on 24 October 1906, the son of George Alexander Reid, a general practitioner, and his wife Muriel, née Hopwood. He was educated at Hailey Preparatory School in Bournemouth, and Marlborough College, Wiltshire. He then went to Oxford University and on to St George's

Charles Bernays Melville was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 29 April 1903. He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, where he was captain of school and athletics, and at the University of Melbourne where he was awarded a blue in athletics and in football. He obtained first class honours and an