Arthur Read

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Newport, Isle of Wight branch

Died: 19 December 1941

Arthur Thomas Read was born on 18 February 1919, the son of Thomas and Lily Read. He was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at Newport, Isle of Wight branch in March 1937. He was promoted to junior clerk in June 1937 and to clerk in July 1939. 

On the outbreak of war in September 1939, he left the bank to go on war service, joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He trained as a pilot and by late 1941 was a Flying Officer serving in Egypt. He and his two crewmates were killed on 19 December 1941 when their Blenheim was lost without trace during an anti-shipping patrol between Crete and Libya. He was 22 years old.