William was the son of William Richard and Emma (nee Crane) Burr, christened on 4 April 1878 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire. He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Herbert was born on 17 April 1895, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Magdalene (nee Brown) Crow at Great Leighs, near Braintree, Essex. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell, Hertfordshire.
Mortimer was the third son of John and Lucy (nee Wilmot) Fabb, born at Ashwell Station (Odsey) Hertfordshire on 26 June 1875. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Maurice was the second son of Arthur and Harriet Elizabeth (nee Topham) Kirchin, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 27 February 1897. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell. Maurice was often known as Owen.
Albert, known as Herbert, was the third son of Alfred William and Eliza (nee Barton) Skerman, born in Ashwell on 4 December 1891. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell.