Arthur Vokes

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Northampton branch

Died: 5 September 1941

Arthur Frank Vokes was born on 2 June 1918, the only son of Frank Charles and Elsie Vokes. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its Northampton branch in September 1935.

In 1938, believing that war was imminent, Vokes joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and started learning to fly. He was called to active service at the outbreak of the Second World War, and his service training, additional to his existing flying skills, led him to be assigned to work as an army cooperation pilot. 

In June 1940 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and transferred to a fighter squadron, becoming a Spitfire pilot. He flew throughout the Battle of Britain, and in August 1941 was promoted to Flight Lieutenant, at the end of the month becoming acting commanding officer of 19 Squadron. 

A few days later, on 5 September 1941, Flight Lieutenant Vokes was killed in a flying accident, when his Spitfire crashed into high ground in low visibility conditions. He was 24 years old.

Arthur Vokes is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest Northampton The Drapery branch.