Harry Porteous

Bank: National Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Inspector's Department, Edinburgh

Died: 25 September 1915

Harry Morton Porteous was born in Edinburgh on 6 December 1888, the elder son of Alexander Porteous, a surveyor, and his wife Elle. He was educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh.

In January 1904 Porteous went to work for National Bank of Scotland as an apprentice at its Edinburgh West End branch. In June of that year he moved to head office in Edinburgh, where he worked in the discount office. In July 1906 he transferred to the inspector's department.

Outside work Porteous served as a volunteer soldier, a member of the Edinburgh Territorials, for ten years. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he immediately rejoined his old regiment. In December 1914 he was commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry.

Second Lieutenant Porteous went to France in July 1915. He was killed in action on 25 September 1915, while leading an attack on a German trench during the Battle of Loos. He was 26 years old and left a widow, Helen, whom he had married in 1915.

Harry Porteous is commemorated on a bank war memorial at Gogarburn campus, Edinburgh.