Alfred was the second son of Samuel and Ruth (nee Hayden), born at Thriplow, Cambridgeshire on 19 February 1884. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Frederick was the eldest son of Edward Thomas and Emily Mary (nee Sole) Freeman born at Wallington, Hertfordshire on 20 August 1896. He and his family lived in Ashwell when he was growing up and he was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School there.
Ernest was the son of Elizabeth Webb, born in Ashwell on 5 December 1889. He was a scholar at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Albert was born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 16 January 1900, the fifth son of Charles Simons Wilkins and Mary Jane (nee Winter) Wilkins. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.