Cornelius Horgan

Bank: The National Bank

Place of work: Head Office, London

Died: 21 June 1944

Cornelius Joseph Horgan was born on 11 March 1905. In June 1923 he went to work for The National Bank as a probationer at its London head office on Old Broad Street, becoming an assistant the following year. He was transferred to London Harrow Road branch in 1928, followed by London Strand branch in 1935. While working there he obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of London.  In 1936 he transferred back to London head office, working in the secretary's office.  

In May 1942 Horgan left the bank to go on war service, joining the Irish Guards. In November 1943, he was commissioned into the Royal Irish Fusiliers. By 1944 he held the rank of Lieutenant and was serving in Italy. On 21 June 1944, he was killed in action while protecting his men from a grenade explosion. He was 39 years old. A fellow officer wrote to his mother about his death: 'The story, sad as it is, is in every way worthy of your son, and of the fine Officer we knew him to be. His sacrifice was not in vain, and his men's lives were saved as he meant that they should be.'

Cornelius Horgan is commemorated on a bank war memorial at 250 Bishopsgate, London.