Walter Hollowell

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: Bury St Edmunds branch

Died: 15 February 1942

Walter James Hollowell, known to his friends and family as Jim, was born on 18 November 1910, the son of Walter Ernest and Lilian May Hollowell. He was educated at Framlingham College and joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its Norwich branch in January 1928. He moved to Bury St Edmunds branch in 1935.

Outside work Hollowell was a long-standing officer in the territorial army. He was mobilised for full time military service at the outbreak of war in September 1939, with the rank of Captain. He was promoted to Major in 1941 and was posted to India and then to Malaysia. He was involved in the last defence of the Malaysian peninsula.

Major Hollowell was killed during the battle of Singapore on 15 February 1942 when the Bren gun carrier in which he was travelling back to his Company following a meeting at Battalion headquarters came under fire as it left the compound. He was 31 years old.