William Read

Bank: Union of London & Smiths Bank

Place of work: Grimsby Docks Smiths Bank branch

Died: 1 July 1916

William Farrow Read was born on 4 June 1890, the son of William Farrow Read and his wife Jane. Read's father, a bank manager, died when Read was six years old.

Like his elder brother James, Read went to work for Union of London & Smiths Bank. He was working at the bank's Grimsby Docks Smiths Bank branch when the First World War broke out, and in September 1914 joined the local Pals battalion, the Grimsby Chums. He went to France with them in January 1916.

Read's battalion, the 10th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, went into action for the first time on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Somme campaign. The battalion suffered very heavy casualties, among them Private Read. He died on 1 July 1916, aged 26.

William Read is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest City of London office.