Frederic Swain

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Norwood branch

Died: 15 March 1941

Frederic John Swain was born on 5 October 1910, the son of Frederic Milsome Swain, a bank clerk, and his wife Marguerite. In August 1928 Frederic followed in his father's footsteps by joining the staff of Westminster Bank. His younger brother Francis also later joined the bank. 

Outside work Frederic was an enthusiastic aviator, from 1930 a member of the Auxiliary Air Force. In August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, he was called away from his job at the bank's Norwood branch to go on war service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He spent some months serving at aerodromes around London, before receiving his commission in January 1940 and being appointed gunnery officer to a Sunderland flying boat. Most of his service was devoted to patrol duty over the Atlantic. 

Flying Officer Swain was killed in a flying accident on 15 March 1941. He was 30 years old and left a widow, Mary Maud (known as Mollie), whom he had married in 1938.

Frederic Swain is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest London Addiscombe branch.