William Sutton

Bank: London County & Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Lombard Street branch

Died: 27 September 1915

William John Beadnell Sutton, known as Billy, was born on 8 August 1883, the son of William Sutton and his wife Ada Helena (née Gladding). In April 1902, when he was 18 years old, he went to work for London & County Bank. In 1909 London & County Bank merged with London & Westminster Bank and Sutton became an employee of the enlarged London County & Westminster Bank. He was also a member of the bank's staff sports club, and a regular performer at staff concerts, where he was a renowned comic singer.

In September 1914 Sutton left his job as a clerk at the bank's London Lombard Street branch to join the army, becoming a Private in the Royal Fusiliers. He spent some time ill in hospital in 1915, but was later able to return to active service.

Private Sutton was killed in action at Loos on 27 September 1915. He was 32 years old. His obituary in the bank's staff magazine noted, 'there are men now among us who will remember his name with a smile when they are old and grey, we are sure of it.'

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