Roland Redley

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Daventry branch

Died: 29 June 1942

Roland Francis Redley was born on 4 December 1919, the son of Harry and Mary Alice Redley. He was educated at Warwick School. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at Daventry branch in October 1936. He was promoted to junior clerk in January 1937 and to clerk in January 1939. 

On the outbreak of war in September 1939, he left the bank to go on war service, joining the Northamptonshire Yeomanry. He became Troop Sergeant-Major before leaving to go to the Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU) from which he was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1940, joining the 8th Gurkha Rifles. He took part in campaigns in Iraq, Syria and Iran and in June 1942 he joined the 9th Army in the Western Desert. Captain Redley was killed on 29 June 1942 while fighting German tanks during the action which led up to the halting of the German advance in El Alamein. He was 22 years old.

After his death, his commanding officer wrote 'His loss is a heavy blow to me and to the whole battalion, as he was such a hard-working keen and capable officer, apart from being a most popular and lovable character. We are all proud to have had him in the batallion, and he will not be forgotten.'