John Alexander

Bank: National Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Edinburgh Haymarket branch

Died: 14 May 1917

John Petrie Alexander was born in Edinburgh on 12 March 1893, the eldest son of William Alexander, a hatter, and his wife Helen Morrison Petrie Alexander. He was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh. He was a keen sportsman, and played rugby for his school, and for the local Newington team.

In April 1910 Alexander went to work for National Bank of Scotland as an apprentice at its Edinburgh Leith Walk branch. He became a clerk there in April 1913 and in June of that year transferred to the bank's Edinburgh Haymarket branch.

In 1914 Alexander joined the army, initially in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). He was later commissioned into the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment). In 1916 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, gaining his pilot's certificate in just 7 weeks.

Second Lieutenant John Alexander of the Royal Flying Corps was serving in France when he suffered an attack of pleurisy, brought on by earlier gas poisoning. He was brought home to Scotland, where he died in hospital in Edinburgh on 14 May 1917. He was 24 years old.

John Alexander is commemorated on a bank war memorial at Gogarburn campus, Edinburgh.