Arthur Hansford

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Mansfield branch

Died: 25 April 1944

Arthur Hansford, known to his colleagues as Happy, was born on 20 December 1907, the son of Samuel and Louisa Hansford. He was educated at Blakey Moor Central School. When he finished school he worked for two months at a car manufacturer, before joining the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer in August 1924 at Manchester branch. He was promoted to clerk in January 1927. He moved to Swinton branch in March 1928 and to Mansfield branch in May 1934. Outside work he was a keen sportsman, especially enjoying tennis, and he was a member of the special constabulary until he joined the RAF.

In April 1943 Hansford left the bank to go on war service, joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and training as a flight mechanic. A year later, on 24 April 1944, Pilot Officer Hansford was reported missing after the aircraft in which he was serving as an observer failed to return from an operational flight over France. It was later presumed that he had lost his life on that day. He was 36 years old and left a widow, Nina, whom he had married in 1934.