Leslie Gardner

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: High Wycombe branch

Died: 1 February 1946

Leslie Charles Gardner was born on 7 January 1915, the son of Ashley Fred and Lizzie Gardner. He was educated at Commonweal School, Swindon before joining the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at Cheltenham Montpellier branch in April 1932. He was promoted to junior clerk in October 1932 and to clerk in October 1934. He moved to Bristol Ashton Gate branch in March 1935 and to High Wycombe branch in November 1937. His colleagues there remembered him as 'a most likeable, keen and efficient member of the staff who showed great promise of reaching a responsible position in the service.'

In May 1940 Gardner left the bank to go on military service, joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In 1944, while serving in Agra, India, he contracted polio. He was left fully paralysed and for several months was wholly dependent on an iron lung. In April 1945, and after some difficulties arranging his passage in the light of his medical needs, he returned to England, to St Margarets Hospital in Swindon. There, he made many friendships and encouraged many of his fellow military patients. Staff Sergeant Gardner died in hospital on 1 February 1946. He was 30 years old and left a widow, Thelma, and a young son.