Francis (Frank) was born at St Pancras, London the fourth son of James and Susanna (nee Morrison) on 14 October 1887.
Edward was born in the Hitchin District, Hertfordshire on 4 December 1887, the fourth son of William and Jane (nee Giles) Gray.
Arthur was the eldest son of Charles Simon and Mary Jane (nee Winter) Wilkins, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 27 June 1887. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.