Edward was the second son of Edward Smith Ashby and Agnes Selina (nee Woodcock) Ashby, born in Harston, Cambridgeshire on 5 September 1886. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
William was the second son of Martha Barton, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 8 August 1890. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Percy was born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 26 February 1888, the 6th son of Charles and Annie (nee Stamford) Strickland. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Ernest was born on the 4 December 1900 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire, the second son of Herbert George and Nellie Sarah Jane (nee Westerman) Westerman. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell until the end of November 1913 when, according to the school records, he left to take work as a bottle washer at a brewery having reached exemption age.
Thomas was the third son of Richard Victor E and Martha (nee Hall) Westrope, born on 12 October 1898 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire. Thomas was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell for primary education and then went to East Anglian School, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk as a boarder for secondary education.
