Stories from the Vault: Robert, Dennis, and George's Story
Birmingham Municipal Bank (BMB) holds a special place in the city’s history, not just as a financial institution but as a source of skilled workers. Written by Jessica Harris, UoB History MA and Placement Student, this story commemorates the memory of three BMB staff members who lost their lives in World War II and are remembered on the bank's Second World War Memorial Plaque.
This Second World War memorial plaque now hangs in the Assembly Room at The Exchange.
Birmingham’s Municipal Bank’s Second World War Memorial Plaque was displayed in the Assembly Room to commemorate three members of staff who lost their lives in this war. The 1945 Annual Report stated that eighty-one members of staff were called-up for war service, this plaque is dedicated to the lives of Robert Walter Bird, Dennis Boraston, and George Douglas Savage.
This Second World War Memorial Plaque was unveiled at a ceremony on 31st March 1951 by the Bank’s Chairman Councillor G P Achurch, MBE and dedicated by the Rector of Birmingham Reverend Bryan S W Green, BD and this date was selected to insure as many members of staff could attend. The plaque is made out of bronze with a heraldic motif top centre and has been previously kept at the Savings Banks Museum for The Scotland War Memorial Project in Ruthwell, Scotland from 1985. In February 2026, the plaque was returned to the Assembly Room.
The war had a significant impact on Birmingham Municipal bank, most branches suffered from war damage but continued business, deposit balances increased as well as the number of open accounts. Deposits received were used as contributions to the prosecution of the war which totalled to almost £56 million. Members of staff also volunteered to inspect aircraft parts as their contribution to the war effort. The bank received a letter of appreciation from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Robert Walter Bird was born in 1921 in Olton, Warwickshire and worked as a bank clerk at Birmingham Municipal Bank. He died 30th September 1941, aged 19, he was a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 78 Squadron. He was based at Middleton St George, Durham as a pilot, it was reported that he was lost without a trace over the North Sea when returning from a raid on Stettin in northwestern Poland near the German border.
Dennis Boraston was born in 1909 in Bournville, Worcestershire and worked as a branch bank cashier for Birmingham Municipal Bank and was involved in Air Raid Precautions, his father worked as a carpenter at Cadburys Bros Ltd. In 1939 he married Eveline Weston, a bank clerk, and they lived in Kings Norton. In the Second World War he was a Sergeant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, died 21st August 1946, aged 37.
George Douglas Savage was a Sergeant for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 150 Squadron. He was born in 1920 in Smethwick, Worcestershire and his marriage to Peggy Evelyn Jones was announced in November 1941 in The Birmingham Mail. He went missing and presumed killed on 11th February 1942, aged 22, his death was announced in The Birmingham Mail in August 1942 and honoured by his mother, Dorothy Mary Savage, in the Birmingham Daily Post in February 1956.
Birmingham Municipal Bank in wartime
Even though most branches of the bank suffered from war damage, most continued business, and depositors continued to support the bank. The bank’s deposit base expanded from 1939 to 1949 due to the Second World War. By the end of March 1939, the number of branches increased to 69. The Deposit balances increased from £29,350,236 to £83,368,124 as the nation had a demand for savings to help finance the war. There was a decrease in loans for purchasing houses, the balance outstanding on mortgages fell by almost a million, the number of open accounts increased by 160,559, and deposits received were used as contributions to the prosecution of the war. Almost £56 million was invested.
The 1945 Annual Report stated that this bank ‘played a worthy part in the special savings campaigns, and the Bank has been a substantial factor in the great success achieved’. One of its War Savings Campaigns, called Salute the Soldier, represented 20% of the total passed on to the Government. A letter of appreciation was sent to Birmingham Municipal Bank from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This report also states that 81 members of staff were called up for war service. Members of staff also inspected aircraft parts as their contribution to the war effort on a voluntary basis.