Donald Banks had an elder sister, Blanche, and a younger brother, Maurice Rowley.
15 Facts About Donald Banks
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2.
Donald Banks married Dorothea Webster, and they had one daughter, Dawn Louise, born in 1932.
3.
In 1948, Sir Donald Banks married Elizabeth Bradley of Lymington, and they had two children together.
4.
Donald Banks entered the Civil Service in 1909 in the Exchequer and Audit Department.
5.
Donald Banks saw service in the First World War as commanding officer of the 10th Battalion Essex Regiment and the 8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment.
6.
Donald Banks was Private Secretary to the Secretary of the GPO, and between 1920 and 1923 was Private Secretary to four Postmasters-General in succession.
7.
Donald Banks was knighted in the New Years' Honours List of 1935.
8.
Donald Banks was responsible for setting up the Empire Air Training Scheme, and travelled to Australia and New Zealand to discuss the manufacture of aircraft there.
9.
Donald Banks served in the British Expenditionary Force in 1940, and was mentioned in despatches.
10.
Sir Donald Banks was most concerned with the welfare of his fellow islanders exiled as a result of the German occupation of the Channel Islands, and was in constant touch with the Home Office and Civil Servants responsible for the welfare of evacuees.
11.
Donald Banks felt that there must be an informed voice and body of opinion among exiled Guernseymen and women that could influence the British Government, and assist the insular authorities after the hostilities were over.
12.
Donald Banks was instrumental in the founding of the Guernsey Society in 1943, as well as the publication of Nos Iles by the Channel Islands Study Group, following a symposium in Oxford in 1944.
13.
Sir Donald Banks served as Chairman of the Guernsey Society from its formation in 1943 until the end of 1946, when he was appointed vice president.
14.
Donald Banks was succeeded as chairman by Commander Esten De Jersey.
15.
In 2019, the States of Guernsey Blue Plaques Committee decided that a Blue Plaque in honour of Sir Donald Banks would be erected on his childhood home, 43 High Street in St Peter Port.