George was born at St Ives, Huntigdonshire, on 7 April 1889 the son of George and Shirley (nee Pammenter) Longland. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell, but left school at age 13 and became a carter and labourer on a farm.
Herbert was born on in 1889 in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and baptised on 5th May of that year. He was the third son of Thomas Priest Maddams and Kate Elizabeth (nee Cowley) Maddams. Herbert was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell, Hertfordshire.