James Cochrane Paterson

Bank: London County & Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Oxford Street branch

Died: 21 October 1915

James Cochrane Paterson was born on 30 July 1890, the son of James Paterson, a clerk in the War Office, and his wife Hannah. In December 1908, when he was 18 years old, Paterson went to work for London & County Bank. In 1909 London & County Bank merged with London & Westminster Bank, and Paterson became an employee of London County & Westminster Bank. He was also a member of the bank's staff sports club, where he played football, cricket and tennis.

During the First World War Paterson left his job as a clerk at the bank's London Oxford Street branch to go on military service as a Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment. He died while a prisoner in a German hospital on 21 October 1915, of wounds received in action. He was 25 years old.

A friend and fellow prisoner later wrote to Paterson's father: 'the funeral was carried out with military honours, twenty-five English prisoners and myself were allowed to attend. The burial service was read by one of his comrades, also the 40th Psalm...I am enclosing the National colours and inscription which I took from the wreath subscribed for by his comrades...The wreath was composed of laurel leaves, lilies and chrysanthemums.'

James Paterson is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest London Dean Street branch.