Richard Blackaby

Bank: London County & Westminster Bank

Place of work: Westerham branch

Died: 18 September 1916

Richard Heathcote Blackaby was born in Stow-on-the-Wold on 9 May 1891, the son of the Reverend Frederick Edward Blackaby, a Baptist minister, and his wife Julia. He was educated at Witney Grammar School.

In May 1908, on his 17th birthday, Blackaby went to work for London & County Bank. The following year London & County Bank merged with London & Westminster Bank, and Blackaby became an employee of the enlarged London County & Westminster Bank.

In February 1916 Blackaby left his job as a clerk at the bank's Westerham branch to join the army, serving as a Private in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was posted to France in June that year, and died at a casualty clearing station there on 18 September 1916, of wounds received in action on the Somme. He was 25 years old.

Richard Blackaby is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest Sevenoaks branch.