John Birch

Bank: National Provincial Bank of England

Place of work: London Lancaster Gate branch

Died: 5 July 1915

John Birch was born on 17 June 1893, the son of Walter John Birch, a bank worker, and his wife Emily. In April 1911, when Birch was 17 years old, he went to work for his father's bank, National Provincial Bank of England, as an apprentice at its London Lancaster Gate branch. He progressed well, and by the end of his apprenticeship three years later his manager described him as 'quick, accurate and intelligent - excellent disposition - the most promising boy I have had pass through my hands.'

Birch left the bank to go on military service early in the First World War and was commissioned into the Worcestershire Regiment. Second Lieutenant John Birch was killed in action in the Dardanelles on 5 July 1915. He was 22 years old.

John Birch is commemorated on a bank war memorial held at NatWest Group Archives.