Arthur Smith

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Lombard Street office

Died: 3 January 1942

Arthur Ronald William Smith, known to his bank colleagues as Smithy, was born on 24 December 1917, the son of Robert and Violet Smith. He joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its London Lombard Street office in March 1936. 

In August 1940 he left the bank to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, becoming a Sergeant Observer. He participated in a number of raids over enemy territory, but failed to return from a raid over Brest on 3 January 1942. He was 24 years old. A bank colleague later recalled, 'Always quiet and unassuming, he was nevertheless endowed with a cheerful optimism and kindly good humour, which made him a most pleasant companion...Smithy was a brave fellow, and both the bank and the country share an irreparable loss.'

Arthur Smith is commemorated on a bank war memorial at NatWest City of London office.