John Mathias

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Swansea branch

Died: 27 April 1944

John Edward Mathias was born on 6 November 1920, the son of Daisy Victoria and William Griffiths Mathias. He was educated at the Church of England School, Narberth and Narberth County Intermediate School. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at its Llandeilo branch in February 1939. He was promoted to junior clerk in May 1939. He moved to the bank’s Swansea branch in 1940. Mathias was described by his colleagues as pleasant, able, and alert, and at the age of 20 he was given the opportunity to work the till at a very busy counter, a responsibility not often entrusted to one his age.

In June 1941, Mathias left the bank to go on military service, joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He soon achieved the rank of Flight Sergeant and led his crew on several successful bomber missions, receiving his commission in September 1943. Flying Officer Mathias was killed in flying accident on 27 April 1944. He was 23 years old.