George was born on 15 December 1885 at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, the third son of Charles and Harriet (nee Smith) Barrett. He married Florence Naomi Pope at Biggleswade on 8 September 1910, and soon thereafter moved to Mill Street, Ashwell, Hertfordshire.
Arthur was born at Ashwell on 28 November 1885, the second son of John George and Elizabeth Jane (nee Lester) Bonfield. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Rupert was the second son of Benjamin and Esther (nee Huffer) Bryant, born in Ashwell on 13 February 1885. Although not listed on the Ashwell Roll of Honour he must have been a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, as were his brothers.