Edward Innocent

Bank: National Provincial Bank of England 

Place of work: London Aldersgate Street branch 

Died: 3 July 1916

Edward John Innocent was born on 16 June 1879, the only son of John Cole Innocent, a clerk in National Provincial Bank of England, and his wife Emily. In June 1897, when he was 18 years old, he went to work for National Provincial Bank of England at its London office, where his late father had also worked. In August 1898 he transferred to Brixton branch. In November 1900, after completing his three-year apprenticeship, he transferred to Lowestoft branch as a clerk. In May 1902 he moved to Gateshead branch and then, in November 1902, to London St Martin's Le Grand branch. He later moved to London Aldersgate Street branch. He was a member of the bank's staff sports club.

Outside work Innocent was a volunteer soldier. He served in the Boer War with Lord Compton's Horse. He was invalided home with enteric fever, and returned to work at the bank.

In September 1914 Innocent re-enlisted in the army, initially as a Private, and then a Lance Corporal, in the Hussars. In January 1915 he was commissioned into The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). He was drafted to France in December 1915, and on Boxing Day that year sustained a minor wound in the head.

Lieutenant Innocent returned to France in January 1916, and was killed in action on the Somme on 3 July 1916. He was 37 years old and left a widow, Lydia, whom he had married in 1909.

Edward Innocent is commemorated on a bank war memorial held at NatWest Group Archives.