Cecil Willis

Bank: Parr's Bank

Place of work: London Finsbury branch

Died: 18 March 1915

Cecil George Willis was born in Hornsey, London, in 1894, the son of George Willis, a doctor, and his wife Florence. He worked for Parr's Bank at its London Finsbury branch, and was a member of the bank's staff sports club.

Outside work Willis was a territorial soldier, a member of the Queen's Westminster Rifles, the London Regiment. At the outbreak of the First World War he was in camp on Salisbury Plain with his battalion. He was immediately mobilised for active duty, and drafted to France in October 1914. Rifleman Cecil George Willis was killed in action near Armentières, France, on 18 March 1915. He was 21 years old.

His obituary in the bank's staff magazine recalled, 'While he was at Finsbury, he firmly impressed every member of the Staff. They have lost a true friend, and his name will always remain in the memory of those whose privilege it was to work with him. He was one of those fellows who helped to keep the Branch alive.'

Cecil Willis is commemorated on a bank war memorial held at NatWest Group Archives.