Allen was born in Stotfold, Bedfordshire in the first quarter of 1890, the 5th son of Jesse and Agnes (nee Allen) Cooper. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell.
Arthur was the only son of William Jesse and Mary Anne (nee Morley) Crane, born in Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 24 December 1892. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Percy was the younger son of George Edward William and Elizabeth (nee Jeeves) Pettengell, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 2 October 1895. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell.
Arthur was the second son of Alfred William and Eliza (nee Barton) Skerman, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire at about the end of 1888. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.