Douglas Welch

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Bedford branch

Died: 22 October 1943

Douglas Harold Welch was born on 13 October 1921, the son of Harold and Beatrice Welch. He was educated at Bedford Modern School and joined the temporary wartime staff of Westminster Bank in November 1939, working at its Bedford branch.

In August 1941 Welch left the bank to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, training as a pilot. He died on 23 October 1943 when the Halifax bomber he was flying crashed near York on its way home from an operational flight over Germany. All seven crew on board were killed. Warrant Officer Welch was 22 years old and left a widow, Blanche, whom he had married just a week earlier.

Douglas Welch is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest Bedford 81 High Street branch.