Geoffrey Welch

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Manchester branch

Died: 15 February 1944

Geoffrey Arthur Welch was born on 22 February 1921, the son of Henry Arthur Welch and Alice Maud Welch. He was educated at Altrincham Grammar School.

In January 1938 Welch joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at its Manchester branch. He was promoted to junior clerk three months later.

In January 1939 Welch joined the Lancashire Fusiliers section of the Territorial Army. That unit was mobilised in August 1939 and Welch left the bank to go on full-time military service. He subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force, flying in bombing operations over Europe. Flight Lieutenant Welch was reported missing after a raid over Berlin on 15 February 1944, a week before his 23rd birthday. It was later concluded that he had died on that date. He left a widow, Gwendoline, whom he had married 14 months earlier.