Michael Ireland

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Forest Gate branch

Died: 24 February 1943

Michael Norman Ireland was born on 4 August 1920. He was educated at Brentwood School. After leaving school in 1937 he joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its London Forest Gate branch. 

In August 1940 Ireland left the bank to serve as a Writer in the Royal Navy. He was posted to HMS Tamar, the Royal Navy’s shore station in Hong Kong. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941, at the end of the battle of Hong Kong. Nine months later he survived the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, in which 800 other prisoners were killed. He was taken to Shanghai, then to Osaka Prisoner of War Camp. While there, he was allowed to record a personal radio message, which was relayed to his parents via Australia.

Writer Ireland died of dysentery at Osaka on 24 February 1943. He was 22 years old.   

Micheal Ireland is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest London Stratford Broadway branch.