Leonard was the eldest son of John and Annie (nee Haylock) Auburn, born at Stotfold, Bedfordshire on 12 April 1897. The family moved to Ashwell, Hertfordshire in 1910 where Leonard was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School.
William was the son of William and Ann (nee Waldock) Barnes born on 6 July 1894 at Finsbury Park, Middlesex. He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Fred was born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 29 September 1889, the third son of Alfred and Catherine (nee Musson) Bray. He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Francis (Frank) was born at St Pancras, London the fourth son of James and Susanna (nee Morrison) on 14 October 1887.
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.