Henry Bays

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Chatham branch

Died: 29 April 1945

Henry James Bays was born on 2 November 1921, the son of Percy Leopold Bays and his wife Kate Sarah. He worked as a transport clerk after leaving school, then in November 1939 joined the temporary wartime staff of Westminster Bank, working at the bank's Chatham branch. 

Bays later left the bank to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, training as a pilot. On 29 April 1945 he was part of the crew of a Wellington bomber on a training flight from RAF Nutts Corner, County Antrim. The weather turned bad and the plane was seen flying through heavy snow and hail over Herefordshire. Not long afterwards the plane broke up and crashed into high ground at Moccas Park, Herefordshire, killing all on board. Warrant Officer Bays was 23 years old. 

Henry Bays is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest Chatham branch.