Osler Lister Thomas was born in Hong Kong on 20 May 1921, the son of George Harold Thomas, a surgeon and fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Nora Thomas née Gourdin, the daughter of a chartered accountant. His younger brother also became a fellow of the College. Thomas studied medicine at

Alexander Galloway was educated at Fraserburgh Academy and Aberdeen University, graduating MA in 1921 and qualifying in medicine in 1925. He went to Canada as Professor of Anatomy at the University of Saskatchewan in 1927, but in 1932 he migrated to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was senior le

Howard Mitchell Jamison was born in London on 19 January, 1917, the son of James Jamison, a schoolmaster. He studied at the Sir Walter St John's School and the Regent Street Polytechnic before winning a scholarship to St Bartholomew's Hospital. He qualified MB BS in 1941 and, before joining the Army

David Griffiths was director of orthopaedics at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Born in Y Trallwng, Wales, on 6 February 1908, his father, David, was a minister of religion and his mother, Mary Eleanor Jones, the daughter of a vet. He was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School, Manchester, and the U

Brian McNeill Truscott was born in Hampstead on 29 February 1912, the son of Samuel John Truscott, Professor of Mining Engineering at the Royal School of Mines and Mary Truscott (née Vaughan). He was educated at Oundle School and the Middlesex Hospital where he held resident appointments after quali

Richard John Vulliamy Battle was born on 21 January 1907 at 49 Harley Street, London Wl, the son of William Henry Battle, surgeon to St Thomas's Hospital, London, and Annie Marguerite Vulliamy, who was descended from a long line of clockmakers. He was educated at Highfield School, Liphook, Gresham's

John Mounsten Pemberton Clark was born in Leicester on 28 November 1906, the son of Edwin George Clark, a bank clerk, and Hilda Mary, née Pemberton. He was educated at North Manchester Grammar School (Preparatory) and Wellingborough School, Northants. He entered the medical school at Leeds, qualifie

Athol George Riddell was born in Whitstable on 31 January 1917. He was educated at Folkestone and University College, London, where he gained the Gold Medal in physiology, graduating from University College Hospital Medical School in 1939. After holding a resident surgical post on the Professorial U

Terence Ward was born in Dartmouth on 16 January 1906, the son of a school teacher. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Edinburgh, where he was educated at the Royal High School. Wishing to pursue a career in dentistry, but with only limited means, he became apprenticed as a dental mechanic, and

Stanley Aylett was a distinguished bowel surgeon. He was born in Islington, north London, on 8 July 1911, the youngest son of Arthur John Aylett, a building contractor of the firm John Aylett and son, founded by Stanley's grandfather in the 1850s. His mother was Hannah Josephine née Henman. He was e

Leslie Lauste was a consultant general surgeon at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Hove General and the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton. Born on 30 March 1908, he was the elder son of the famous French pioneer film cameraman, Emile Lauste, who was awarded the Croix de Guerre