William Twine

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Kensington (Parr's) branch

Died: 21 January 1944

William Stanley Twine was born on 20 December 1917, the son of Sidney Herbert and Edith Twine. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank in August 1935, and from March 1936 was based at its Kensington High Street branch. A bank colleague later recalled 'his courteous disposition and his willingness at all times to help with any work that was going.'

In January 1940 Twine left the bank to join the army, becoming a Rifleman in the Royal Ulster Rifles. He was posted overseas in Autumn 1942, but before going, was married to Florence. She died just a few months later. 

Rifleman Twine was killed in action in Italy on 21 January 1944. He was 26 years old. His commanding officer wrote to Twine's father, 'Your son, with his cheerful and imperturbable character, was known and liked throughout the battalion, and in his work as a signaller he was most excellent. I have constantly noticed his equanimity and efficiency under all sorts of conditions, and as one of the 'old hands' I shall miss him indeed. I know too that his own immediate officers thought most highly of him as a good comrade and a good soldier. We shall indeed feel his loss and we shall not forget him.'

William Twine is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest London Kensington Royal Gardens branch.