Herbert Gwyn

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: St Albans branch

Died: 29 January 1944

Herbert John Compton Gwyn was born on 4 October 1921, the son of Herbert Maynard and Maude Compton Gwyn. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital and joined the staff of Westminster Bank in July 1939 at its Luton branch. He moved to St Albans branch in October 1940.

In October 1942 Gwyn left the bank to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was sent to Canada for training as a navigator and then returned to England, where he was posted to operational duty.

Flight Sergeant Gwyn was part of the crew of a Halifax bomber that took off from RAF Snaith, Yorkshire, on 29 January 1944, on a bombing raid over Berlin. The plane failed to return and it was later concluded that the whole crew had been lost on that date. Gwyn was 23 years old.

Herbert Gwyn is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest St Albans branch.