Frank Radcliffe was born on 30 August 1908 at Oldham, Lancs. His father was a medical practitioner. He was educated at Oundle, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and St Bartholomew's Hospital, graduating in medicine in 1932. After house appointments he was in partnership in general practice at K

Laurie was born in Hans Harbour, Newfoundland, on 17 November 1908 and trained at the University of Toronto School. His mother was Ethel, née Burns, a nurse, and his father was a GP and surgeon, a founder-member of the Toronto East General Hospital. His eldest son followed him as surgeon in charge.

John Beal was born in London on 27 April 1906. His father, Richard Edward Bruce Beal, OBE, MC, was a solicitor, and his mother, Winifred Morgan, was the daughter of John Hammond Morgan FRCS, formerly senior surgeon at Charing Cross and Great Ormond Street, and a member of council. He entered Harrow

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

Born 10 June 1860 at Binham, Norfolk, fifth child and third son of Richard Harris, gentleman-farmer, and Elizabeth Browne Wrench his wife, a direct descendant of Sir Thomas Browne, the author of the *Religio Medici*. He was educated at Truro, in a school kept by an uncle, and at Christ's College, Ca

Betty Underhill was born on 22 December 1908, the only child of William Wood and Elizabeth Roberts, both head teachers. She was educated at North London Collegiate School and Somerville College, Oxford, where she gained a first class honours degree in zoology. She remained at Oxford doing research i