Walter Spradbery

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London Willesden Green branch

Died: 11 January 1944

Walter James Spradbery, known to his bank colleagues as Sprad, was born on 25 June 1903, the son of Walter and Mary Spradbery. He joined the staff of London County Westminster & Parr's Bank (later known as Westminster Bank) in October 1921, and spent some years working at branches in Wrexham and Warrington before moving to London. From 1932 he was based at Willesden Green branch. A bank colleague later recalled, 'Sprad had personality and charm, and was always on the best of terms with both his colleagues and the branch customers.' 

In March 1942 Spradbery left the bank to go on war service, becoming a Signalman in the Royal Corps of Signals. He served in North Africa, spending some time attached to the French Moroccan Army, before moving on to Italy, where he was killed in action on 11 January 1944. He was 40 years old and left a widow, Harriet Doris, and two young sons, who - according to his obituary in the bank's staff magazine - 'occupied the greater part of Sprad's world and meant so much to his happy life.'