Neville Astbury

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Bearwood branch

Died: 4 March 1942

Neville Malcolm Astbury was born on 2 April 1920, the son of Harry and Doris Astbury. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its Bearwood branch in August 1937.

In March 1940 Astbury left the bank to go on war service, becoming an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy. By 1942 he was part of the crew of the destroyer HMS Encounter, on active service in the Java Sea. On 1 March 1942, during the second battle of the Java Sea, Encounter was damaged and scuttled to prevent it falling into enemy hands. Able Seaman Astbury was among the survivors who were picked up and taken prisoner by the Japanese, but he died soon afterwards, less than a month before his 21st birthday.