Walter Gordon was a thoracic surgeon. He was born on 11 January 1916 in Modderfontein, South Africa, the third child and second son of Herman Gordon, a confectionery manufacturer and businessman, and Anna née Rabinowitz , a housewife. He was educated at King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, and then

Denis Shaw was a consultant surgeon at Keighley and Airedale. He qualified at Leeds in 1940, having represented the Combined English Universities at fencing, and taking his turn at fire-watching. He always remembered watching bombs dropping on the City Museum. After house jobs he joined the RAMC, ri

Noel Curtis Newton was born on 28 June 1917 at Ashfield, Sydney, Australia. His father was a pharmacist. He was educated at St Joseph's College and Sydney University. He qualified in 1941. He had poliomyelitis at the age of three years, which left him partly paralysed in one leg, and prevented him f

Alan Pollock was a consultant surgeon at Scarborough Hospital, Yorkshire. He was born on 10 September 1921 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and went to school and University in Cape Town, where he graduated in medicine in 1943, winning a medal in surgery along the way. After house appointments he join

Herbert Dales was born in Lisburn, County Antrim, on 17 October 1919. His father was Samuel Hugh Dales, a mill manager. His mother was Muriel Gertrude née Calvert. He was educated at Campbell College, Belfast, and went on to Queen's University Belfast to study medicine. There he won scholarships in

Eric Parry was born on 31 December 1907 in Bwlch-y-ffridd, Montgomeryshire. He was educated at Caterham School and the University of Liverpool, whence he graduated MB ChB in 1932. He joined the Indian Medical Service and became a lieutenant-colonel. When the Japanese invaded Burma he was stationed t

Thomas Stanley Sherwood Gregory was born on 9 February 1916 at New Malden, Surrey, the son of Thomas Gregory, manipulative therapist and Ivy, nee Sherwood. He was educated at Newport Grammar School, Essex, Sherborne School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He studied medicine at St Bartholo

Peter Wright was a well-known and well-regarded figure in the British Orthopaedic Association of the 1970s and 1980s as an articulate contributor to the biannual conferences. Much of this arose from his considerable experience of working in developing countries, notably Malawi, Burma and South Afric

Gordon Walker was a consultant surgeon on the Isle of Wight. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1919. He studied medicine at Melbourne University, qualifying in 1942. Shortly afterwards, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a medical officer and was posted to the UK, attached to RAAF Spi

Charles Brown was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon in Bristol. He was born in Aberdeen on 10 July 1915 into a medical family - his father, John Brown, and uncle were both general practitioners, both his sisters married doctors, one sister and a daughter became nurses, and his son-in-law was professor

John Nixon was a consultant ophthalmologist in Dorset. He was born in London on 18 October 1913, the son of Joseph Wells Nixon, a grocer, and Ellen Theresa née Moylett, and educated at Cardinal Vaughan School, Holland Park, London, Presentation College Bray in County Wicklow, Blackrock College in Du

Robert Cohen was born in Liverpool on 18 April 1914, the only son of Leslie Cohen, director of a furniture company, and Rebecca, née Levy. He was educated at Liverpool College and the University of Liverpool Medical School where he distinguished himself in athletics and rugby football, representi