William Howat

Bank: The Royal Bank of Scotland
Place of work: Stewarton branch
Died: 14 November 1917

William Wyllie Howat was born in Stewarton on 26 October 1896, the son of John Howat, an ironmonger, and his wife Mary. In July 1913, when he was 16 years old, he went to work for the Royal Bank of Scotland as an apprentice at its Stewarton branch.

Outside work Howat was a territorial soldier. He was mobilised at the outbreak of war, and served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine. Private Howat of the Royal Scots Fusiliers died on 14 November 1917 of wounds received in action in the Battle of Gaza. He was 21 years old.

William Howat is commemorated on a bank war memorial at 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.