Frank Vodden

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Cardiff branch

Died: 17 July 1944

Frank Walter Vodden was born on 17 March 1922, the son of Hilda and Charles William Vodden.

In about 1939 Vodden joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer. He was promoted to junior clerk three months later. 

During the Second World War Vodden left his job at the bank's Cardiff branch to join the armed forces. He was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps in July 1942. On 17 July 1944, whilst serving with the Derbyshire Yeomanry/Royal Armoured Corps, Lieutenant Frank Vodden was killed in action in Italy while leading his troops in a difficult reconnaissance along the river Arno. He was 22 years old, and his commanding officer wrote to his father to say that 'Frank was a most popular and efficient officer, who was killed while undertaking very valuable work as a result of which the troops following up were able to proceed without suffering any casualties... we liked his bright and cheerful manner.'