William Crockart

Bank: National Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Aberdeen Union Street branch

Died: 22 March 1941

William Finlay Crockart was born in Blairgowrie, Perthshire on 28 July 1912, the son of Christina and William Crockart. He was educated at Blairgowrie High School and Strathallan School and was a founding member of the Blairgowrie High School Former Pupils' Club in 1929. He later became its president and was also part of its badminton club. He was an active player and committee member of Blairgowrie Hockey Club, and also played golf and tennis. He was a member of his local photographic association and sang in his church choir, where he was also a member of the congregational board.

Crockart joined the staff of National Bank of Scotland in February 1929 as an apprentice at its Perth West End branch. He later spent some time as accountant at the bank's Coupar Angus branch before being being transferred to the 'relieving staff', working as required in various branches around Fife and the north of Scotland. In 1938 he joined the permanent staff of Aberdeen Union Street branch. A bank colleague later remembered him as 'highly principled, conscientious in everything he did and unsparing in his service for others'; 'his cheerful disposition and courteous and obliging manner made him very popular with customers.'

Crockart joined the Auxillary Air Force in May 1939, and after the Second World War broke out a few months later, left the bank to go on full time war service. He qualified as a pilot in 1940 and was serving as a Pilot Officer (Observer) when he was killed in an air accident on 22 March 1941. He was 28 years old, and had been due to marry his fiancée Hilda just a few days later. 

William Crockart is commemorated on a bank war memorial at Gogarburn campus, Edinburgh.