Born in Eastbourne on 27 September 1908 to D G Gilbert, Headmaster of Roborough School, Eastbourne, Gilbert attended his father's school and then went to St Bartholomew's Hospital where he qualified with the conjoint examination in 1932 and became house surgeon to Girling Ball and Blundell Bankart.

Everard Devenish was born on 26 May 1909 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the son of Louis Devenish, a cocoa planter, and his wife Wilhelmina, née Urich. He received his schooling at St Mary's College in Trinidad and was a Colonial Science Scholar there before his medical training at University College H

Eric Scowen was Professor of Medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He was born in London on 22 April 1910 and trained at Bart's. After being chief assistant at the Royal Chest Hospital, he returned to Bart's as assistant physician in 1937, being made physician in 1946. He was appointed as the Profe

Eileen Mary Whapham was an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Southend and Rochford Hospitals. She was born in London on 23 May 1907, the daughter of Albert Whapham, a businessman, and Harrie Mary Louisa Whitney, a schoolteacher who was the daughter of a cabinet-maker. Her younger sister, Violet Harr

Robert Gerrett Reid, the son of the Rev Dr James Reid, DD, a Presbyterian Minister and well-known preacher, and of Isa Reid (née Gerrett), a school mistress, was born at Oban, Scotland, on 21 September 1909. He was educated at Roborough School, Eastbourne, the Leys School, Cambridge, and Guy's Hospi

John Robert Blackburne, known as 'Robin', was a consultant surgeon at Hull Royal Infirmary. He was born on 27 August 1909, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, John Devereux Blackburne, was a banker. His mother was Francisca, née Lopez. Robin was sent home to school, at Berkhamstead, from w

Allen James Whitaker, the fifth son of Dr James Smith Whitaker who was formerly a family doctor in Great Yarmouth, was born in Hendon on 16 April 1905. His father, having been the first medical secretary of the British Medical Association, became senior medical officer at the Ministry of Health on i

Frederick John Sambrook Gowar was a consultant thoracic surgeon in the Grampian region. He was born in Southgate, London, on 25 January 1910. His father, Frederick William Gowar, was a schoolmaster, and his mother (whose maiden name was Johns) was the daughter of a naval officer. He won an entrance

Kenneth Hester was a GP in Hertfordshire, an honorary surgeon at the St Albans and Mid-Herts Hospital, and assisted at Red House Hospital (now Memorial Hospital) in Harpenden. He was born on 27 October 1908 in Catford, London, the only son of William Clement, a schoolmaster, and Ellen Carter née Smi

Kenneth Leslie James was born on 15 July 1906 in Burton-on-Trent, the son of Joseph Henry James, MA, LIB, BD, who had given up the law to become a Methodist Minister, and his wife Minnie, née Longley. His early education was at the Burnley Grammar School but due to the peripatetic nature of his f

John Barnard Blaikley was born in Finchley on 21 September 1906. His father was a banker and Michael Faraday was his great grand-uncle. He was educated at Christ's College, Finchley, and Guy's Hospital, where he qualified in 1928, taking the FRCS in 1931, the MRCOG in 1933, and the FRCOG in 1944. Af

Humphrey Arthure was born in Tibberton, Worcestershire, on 27 January 1906, the son of Harry Edgar Erskine Arthure, Vicar of Mickleton, Gloucestershire, and Maud Mary, née Donnison, whose father was first Notary Public of the City of London. He was educated at Hillstone Preparatory School, Malvern a