Kenneth Kershaw

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Newcastle upon Tyne branch

Died: 17 July 1943

Kenneth Holroyd Kershaw was born on 23 October 1909, the son of Florence and John Arthur Kershaw. He was educated at Grimsby Municipal College, Liverpool Collegiate. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at its West Hartlepool branch in February 1928. While there he played rugby for Hartlepool Rovers. He was promoted to junior clerk in May 1928, and to clerk in 1930. When up for the promotion to full clerk, his manager described him as ‘a hard working junior, robust and well mannered.’ He moved to North Shields branch later in 1930 and to Newcastle upon Tyne branch in 1934. His colleagues admired his contagious cheerfulness and his desire always to lend a helping hand. In July 1935 Kershaw married his wife, Agnes, and in 1938 they had a daughter.

In November 1939 Kershaw left the bank to go on military service. He served in the Middle East with the Durham Light Infantry, taking part in the Libyan campaign and the storming of Mareth Line, and landing with his troops at Cape Taccaro in Sicily. On 17 July 1943 Captain Kershaw was killed in action in Sicily. He was 33 years old.