Ralph Cowing

Bank: Parr’s Bank

Place of work: Wirksworth branch

Died: 15 July 1915

Ralph Henry Cowing was born in 1896, the son of Ralph Cowing, agent to Lord Harrington, and his wife Emma Cowing. He was educated at Nottingham High School, where he was a member of the Officers Training Corps. While there, he distinguished himself as an excellent shot, winning Major Leggett's prize for musketry with the remarkable score of 113 points out of a possible 115. He was also an enthusiastic huntsman, riding with the Harrington Hunt.

In November 1913 Cowing went to work for Crompton & Evans' Union Bank. The bank was acquired by Parr's Bank in 1914, and Cowing became an employee of the much larger merged bank.

During the First World War Cowing left his job at the bank's Wirksworth branch to go on military service. He was commissioned into the York and Lancaster Regiment in November 1914. On 15 July 1915, while attached to the Royal Engineers, Second Lieutenant Cowing was leading a party of men undertaking trenching work when he was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel. He died several hours later, without regaining consciousness. He was 19 years old.

Ralph Cowing is commemorated on a bank war memorial at  NatWest Bakewell branch.