Alfred Sheaves

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Kings Norton branch

Died: 22 January 1943

Alfred Eric Sheaves, known to his bank colleagues as Eric, was born on 18 June 1917, the son of Alfred Robert and Ethel Sheaves. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its London Lothbury office in October 1936, and later served at Birmingham Colmore Row branch before transferring to Kings Norton branch in January 1938. 

Sheaves had deep religious convictions which led him to become a conscientious objector, refusing to take any combatant role in the Second World War. Nevertheless, in May 1940 he volunteered for a non-combatant role in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and later joined the Non-Combatant Corps, after it was reformed in August 1940. He subsequently joined a bomb disposal unit of the Royal Engineers.

At the end of 1941 Sheaves volunteered for the Royal Armoured Corps. Trooper Sheaves died of illness while serving with his unit at a camp in Scotland on 22 January 1943. He was 25 years old. A bank colleague later recalled, 'no-one could help but like and admire Eric Sheaves. His many friends in the bank - and it was impossible for him to have other than friends everywhere - were grieved to learn of his untimely passing. It seems hard to believe that we shall not have his bright and cheerful company with us once more.'