Frank Sharpin

Bank: London County & Westminster Bank

Place of work: London West End office

Died: 14 October 1916

Frank Lloyd Sharpin was born in Bombay, India, on 25 August 1883, the youngest son of the Reverend F N Sharpin, Archdeacon of Bombay, and his wife Helen Georgina. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School.

In February 1902, when he was 18 years old, Sharpin went to work for London & Westminster Bank as a teller at the bank's London City office. In April 1902 he was transferred to its London Marylebone branch and later, in November 1908, to its London West End office. In 1909 London & Westminster Bank merged with London & County Bank and Sharpin became an employee of the enlarged London County & Westminster Bank. Sharpin also joined the bank's sports club and was a member of the cricket, football, tennis and skittles teams.

At the outbreak of the First World War Sharpin left his post at the bank's London West End office to join the army. He initially enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company and was sent to the front in December 1914. Following a winter in the trenches, in March 1915 Sharpin was wounded in the jaw by shrapnel. He was initially treated at a casualty clearing station before being transferred to hospital in Bailleul and later transported back to England to recuperate.

Following his period of convalescence Sharpin was commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment and travelled to Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, for training. He returned to the front in October 1916, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. On 12 October 1916 Sharpin was injured by a gun-shot wound to his abdomen. He died of his injuries two days later. He was 33 years old. In his obituary in the bank's staff magazine it was noted that 'his quiet, unassuming manner made him very popular with everyone he met.'

Frank Sharpin is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest London St James & Piccadilly branch.