Sidney Pinnington

Bank: Parr's Bank

Place of work: Birkenhead branch

Died: 5 May 1915

Sidney James Pinnington was born in Liverpool, in 1890, the only son of James and Clara Pinnington. In September 1906 he went to work for Parr's Bank at its Runcorn branch. In May 1910 he transferred to Birkenhead branch.

At around the same time, Pinnington joined a volunteer company of the Liverpool Rifles, where he earned a reputation as an excellent marksman, representing his company in battalion cup competitions. After the outbreak of the First World War Pinnington was mobilised with his battalion, part of The King's (Liverpool Regiment). Corporal Pinnington was killed in action near Hill 60, south east of Ypres, on 5 May 1915. He was 24 years old.

Pinnington's father later received a letter from his Captain, who wrote, 'That day was a bad one for me, for on it I lost many friends, and your son was amongst them. He was a brave and cool soldier, and we were all fond of him. I will never forget on a previous occasion, when a shell had burst in the trench, finding Corporal Pinnington calmly and ably bandaging the men who had been hit, and who were lying in all directions'.

His obituary in the bank's staff magazine declared that 'by his geniality, sincerity and high tone of character he had endeared himself to one and all of the Staff, and our sympathy goes out to his parents in the death of their only son.'

Sidney Pinnington is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest Birkenhead Charing Cross branch.