Sidney was the sixth son of Benjamin and Esther (nee Huffer), born on 4 April 1899 in Ashwell, Hertfordshire. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Leonard was the fourth son of James and Elizabeth (nee Hagger) Clark, born at Bennington, Hertfordshire on 23 March 1899. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell.
Albert was the son of Emily Frances Hall, born on 9 July 1899 at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire. In about 1913 he moved to live in Ashwell, Hertfordshire with Mr and Mrs C Reynolds.
Jack was the eldest son of James and Alice Annie (nee Worbey) Matthews, born on 26 January 1899 at Willian, Hertfordshire. By the age of six James and his family were living in Ashwell, Hertfordshire where he was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School.
Ernest was born on the 4 December 1900 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire, the second son of Herbert George and Nellie Sarah Jane (nee Westerman) Westerman. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell until the end of November 1913 when, according to the school records, he left to take work as a bottle washer at a brewery having reached exemption age.
George was born in the 13 August 1877 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire the third son of James and Elizabeth (nee Rawlins) Worboys. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
