​ALBERT EDWARD ROOT was born in January 1890 at Braintree Road, Chatham Green, Great Waltham, one of ten children, four daughters and six sons, born to Samuel and Selina Root (née Wakeling). Albert was their sixth child and fourth son. Their first child Walter died at 5 weeks in February 1880.

JAMES SUCKLING was born in 1897 in Great Waltham, the youngest of five children, three daughters and two sons, born to James and Hannah Suckling (née Perry).

​ERNEST TOKLEY was born in February 1899 at Breeds, Great Waltham Road - the youngest of three sons, born to James and Alice Tokley (née Tyrrell).

GILBERT JOLIFFE TUFNELL was born on  the 19  December 1898 in Warley,  Essex, the eldest son  of Captain Beauchamp Le Fevre (Essex Regiment) and Blanche Olivia Tufnell (née Davidson). His parents were married on the 8th July 1897 in the Parish Church in Sidmouth, Devon. Beauchamp Le Fevre was living at Langleys, Great Waltham.