John Meredith

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Birmingham Aston Manor branch

Died: 10 May 1944

John Andrew Trevor Meredith was born on 14 April 1916, the son of Henry Trevor and Mabel Emily Meredith. He was educated at Worcester Grammar School and at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield. In May 1933 he followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by joining the staff of National Provincial Bank, starting as a probationer at Walsall branch. In He was promoted to junior clerk in August 1933, and to clerk in 1935. He moved to Leicester branch in 1936 and to Birmingham Aston Manor branch in 1938. Meredith’s colleagues remembered his charm and sincerity, and he made a wide circle of friends among both staff and customers of the bank.

In July 1940, Meredith left the bank to go on military service, joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. In his first years on active service, he engaged in bombing missions over Germany as well as instructor duties. In May 1942 Pilot Officer Meredith was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission said to be ‘bordering on the miraculous’, in which he navigated a damaged aircraft through enemy fire, bringing all his crew to safety’ Meredith also received the Military Cross for gallantry during fighting in North West Europe. Meredith later served in North Africa and Italy, eventually volunteering for a mission to destroy rocket sites. During this mission, on 10 May 1944, Flight Lieutenant Meredith was killed when his aircraft was hit by enemy gunfire and crashed near Rouen. He was 28 years old.