Basil Forshaw

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Southport branch

Died: 28 April 1944

Basil Forshaw was born on 2 December 1920, the son of Louis and Gertrude Jane Forshaw. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at Warrington branch in May 1937. He was promoted to junior clerk in August 1937. He  moved to Southport branch in March 1939 and was promoted to clerk there in October 1939. His colleagues later recalled, 'he was a quiet and unassuming boy, well liked both by his colleagues and by customers.'

In July 1941 Forshaw left the bank to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He trained in the United States of America to become a navigator and subsequently took part in several military operations over Europe. On 28 April 1944 Forshaw was part of the crew of a Lancaster bomber participating in a mission to Friedrichshafen. The plane was shot down by a night fighter, killing the whole crew, including Sergeant Forshaw. He was 23 years old.