John Kent

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Holborn Circus branch

Died: 30 March 1944

John Alfred Archibald Kent was born on 5 November 1902, the son of Archibald Sidney and Florence Annette Kent. He was educated at Dunheved College, Launceston and Kelly College, Tavistock. Kent joined the staff of National Provincial Bank as a temporary clerk at its Plymouth branch in October 1919, at a time when banks were still suffering from staff shortages caused by the First World War, so often made informal temporary arrangements to hire extra help as required. Shortly afterwards, in January 1920, he was formally admitted as an apprentice, opening up the possibility of a career in the bank. He moved to Falmouth branch in 1922. In 1924, he was promoted to clerk and transferred to Bristol branch. He transferred to Holborn Circus branch in London in 1927 and was made provisional manager there in 1939. Kent was very popular among his colleagues, and was remembered for his unassuming manner.  

In August 1942, Kent left the bank to go on military service, joining the Royal Navy. On 30 March 1944, Kent died when his ship, HMS Laforey, was struck by a U-boat north of Palermo. He was 41 years old and left a widow, Grace, whom he had married in 1933.