William Whitbread

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Head Office, London

Died: 11 May 1944

William Geoffrey Whitbread was born on 6 August 1911, the son of William and Edith Whitbread. Educated at Kingston Grammar School, he joined the staff of Westminster Bank in 1929. Outside work he was a keen sportsman, having represented his school in hockey and cricket, and going on to be a member of the bank's staff sports club and a regular member of its 1st XI hockey team. He also enjoyed golf, and was a prizewinning amateur photographer.  

In June 1940 Whitbread left his job at the bank’s Head Office in London to go on war service, becoming a Signalman in the Royal Corps of Signals. He was killed in action in Italy on 11 May 1944. He was 32 years old left a widow, who had also worked for the bank before their marriage, and a young son.