John Darvall

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Euston Road branch

Died: 27 April 1944

John Walter Charles Darvall was born on 11 January 1920, the son of Charles and Elsie Elizabeth Darvall. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank in August 1937, and from October that year was based at the bank's London Euston Road branch. He was also a member of the bank's staff sports club. A bank colleague later recalled, 'his promising work and quiet and friendly disposition made him very popular in the office.'

In August 1940 Darvall left the bank to go on war service, joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was not initially accepted for flying duties, but reapplied after being promoted to Leading Aircraftman, and was sent to Canada and the United States of America to train as a navigator. He obtained his commission and returned to Britain in summer 1943 as a Flying Officer.

On 27 April 1944 Darvall was part of the seven-man crew of a Lancaster bomber which had taken off from RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire, on a mission to Germany. The plane crashed in the Netherlands, killing all on board. Flying Officer Darvall was 24 years old.   

John Darvall is commemorated on a bank war memorial held at NatWest Group Archives.