Maurice Sydenham

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Advance Department, head office, London

Died: 14 September 1944

Maurice John Sydenham was born on 12 February 1910, the son of Frederick Maurice and Margaret Rose Sydenham. He was educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank in February 1928 as a probationer at London North Audley Street branch. He was promoted to junior clerk a few months later and to clerk in July 1930. Over the next few years he worked in various offices in London, moving to Orchard Street Corner branch in March 1931, to head office Intelligence Department in October 1932, to Shaftesbury Avenue branch in 1936 and to the Advance Department, head office in October 1939. He obtained the Certificate of the Institute of Bankers and graduated from London University with a bachelor's degree in economics. Outside of work he was also a lecturer on economics at Norwood Technical Institute.

In July 1941 he left the bank to go on war service, joining the Royal Armoured Corps. He was commissioned in April 1943 and posted to the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He landed in France soon after D-Day. Lieutenant Sydenham was killed in action in Belgium on 14 September 1944. He was 34 years old and left a widow, Dorothy, whom he had married in 1938.

In a letter to Lieutenant Sydenham's father his Colonel wrote: 'It is a loss which we all feel very much here, too, as, though he had not been very long in this battalion, he was extremely popular with both officers and men and was a grand soldier and leader.' His colleagues later remembered him in the bank's staff magazine: 'Endowed with abilities of a high order and a personality of great charm and vitality, it was his happy, generous nature which so endeared him to all with whom he came in contact and made his friendship such a rare delight.'