Sydney Welsh

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Cobham branch

Died: 2 October 1942

Sydney Edward Welsh was born on 16 June 1912, the son of Edward and Susan Welsh. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank in October 1929. Outside work he was active in his local community, serving as honorary secretary and treasurer for a number of village associations. He also enjoyed sailing and built his own boat, which he sailed on the Thames and the Norfolk Broads during his holidays.

In April 1941 Welsh left his job at the bank’s Cobham branch, where he had been based since March 1938, to join the Royal Navy. On 2 October 1942 his ship, HMS Curacoa, was accidentally hit and sunk by the steamer Queen Mary, which it was escorting in the Atlantic, just north of Ireland. Able Seaman Welsh was one of 337 men who died as a result. He was 30 years old.

Sydney Welsh is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest Weybridge branch.