RAF Officers' Bank

[SamCurt]

Hello all,

After looking at the Casualty Form-Officers (Army Form B.103c) for Basil Stuart CHARLES, which records his commission into the RFC effective 20 June 1917, it was noted that his Agent or Banker was listed as Cox & Company, which I understand was the Army's "Officer" bank.

Following his death on 7 December 1918 during the flu pandemic, aged 28, details recorded on his Register of Soldiers' Effects listed Cox & Co.'s last entry dated December 1918, after which Holt & Co. appeared as the creditor for two March 1919 annotations (image 1).

When the Register entry was eventually compiled in 1920/21, it would appear that a small amount had been debited back to Cox & Co. during late-1920 (image 2).

Did the RAF's bank change post-war?

It should be noted that he had been an examiner in the Inspection Department of Vickers Limited (London), and then a civilian attached to the RFC's Air Inspection Directorate for 18 months prior to commission.

Thanks,
Sam

[Tawhiri]

2 hours ago, SamCurt said:

Did the RAF's bank change post-war?

The NatWest Group's heritage page for Holt & Co certainly indicates that at some point in 1918 the RAF offered part of their pay agency to Holt & Co, which presumably then explains the change in bank.

https://www.natwestgroup.com/heritage/companies/holt-and-co.html

Edited 3 November , 2023 by Tawhiri

[nils d]

I understand that the Army used two bankers depending on the regiment,and that the RFC were administered by Cox. Transferees might cause exceptions of course.

I recall that the Army List displays the bankers of the various units and I would guess the post-war RAF lists would be similar and would answer your question.l dont have access to either unfortunately 

[topgun1918]

The RAF List for February 1919 shows that Cox & Co were the Agents for Staff and Flying Officers only while Holt & Co were the Agents for Technical and Administrative, including Medical, Officers.

Graeme

 

[SamCurt]

Thanks to all for the replies.

With regard to Graeme's: the gentleman was appointed an engineering officer, so the change from Cox to Holt, all be it after his actual death, would fit.

Should anyone be interested...

A typical 1917 Quarterly Army List printed the following:
Army Agents.
Messrs Cox & Co., Charing Cross, S.W., and Bombay, Calcutta, Karachi, Rawal Pindi, Murree, and Srinagar (Kashmir).
Messrs. Holt & Co., 3, Whitehall Place, S.W.
Sir Charles R. McGrigor, Bt., & Co., 39, Panton Street, Haymarket, S.W.

In March 1918, the new Air Force memorandum, Appendix 1a, Pay of Officers, recorded:
"8. The following firms have been appointed Air Force agents for the issue of Pay and Allowances to officers of the Air Force:-

Messrs. Cox and Co. 19, Charing Cross, London, S.W., for Staff and Flying Branch.
Messrs. Holt and Co., 8, Whitehall Place, London, S.W., for Technical and Administrative Branches.

The present practice of issuing the pay of R.N.A.S. officers through Naval Paymasters will cease.  Instructions will shortly be issued for general guidance as to the opening of individual accounts with Air Force agents and as to the time and method of giving effect to the change referred to in para. 7. [re pay to be made in arrears; any Army officers with advance payments allowed gratuity not exceeding one month's pay]

9. The issue of allotments of pay by the Admiralty on behalf of Naval Officers transferred or attached will, of course, cease.  It will be possible for officers to make their own arrangements for such allotments with their agents.  Payments in respect of children's allowance will be made through the agent."

Text from the NatWest historical link above notes:
"During the war Holt & Co dealt with the pay of over 50,000 army officers.  Links were also forged with the Navy, through the 1915 acquisition of naval agents Woodhead & Co, and the Royal Air Force, through the offer of part of the newly-formed Service's pay agency to Holt & Co in 1918." 

By the February 1919 AFL, these were listed as:
Messrs. Cox & Co., 108-111, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C.2. (For Staff and Flying Officers only)
Messrs. Holt & Co., 8, Whitehall Place, London, S.W.1 (For Technical and Administrative, including Medical, Officers)

From the March 1921 AFL, the addresses were:
Messrs Cox & Co., 16, Charing Cross, London, S.W.1 (For Staff and Flying Officers only)
Messrs Holt & Co., 8, Whitehall Place, London, S.W. (For Technical and Administrative, including Medical, Officers)

Then, changing who was being looked after, in the April 1921 AFL:
Messrs. Cox & Co. (R.A.F. Branch), 16, Charing Cross, London, S.W.1 (For Officers whose surnames commence with any of the letters "A" to "R")
Messrs. Holt & Co., 8 Whitehall Place, London, S.W.1 (For Officers whose surname commences with any of the letters "S" to "Z")

And finally, from the July 1921 AFL publication:
Messrs. Cox & Co. (R.A.F. Branch), 16, Charing Cross, London, S.W.1 (For Officers whose surnames commence with any of the letters "A" to "R")
Messrs. Holt & Co., 3 Whitehall Place, London, S.W.1 (For Officers whose surname commences with any of the letters "S" to "Z")

Although still being named as Cox & Holt branches, and serving the same surname initials, these individual banks had been taken over by Lloyds and Glyn, Mills & Co. respectively at some time prior to January 1938.

Sam

Edited 11 November , 2023 by SamCurt

[nils d]

Good update Sam 

Two sayings come to mind......

Keep it simple.

If it ain't bust don't fix it.