John Halifax

Bank: National Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Lochmaben branch

Died: 20 August 1942

John Halifax was born on 25 September 1911, the son of William Herbert and Catherine Low Taylor Halifax. He joined the staff of National Bank of Scotland in July 1928 as an apprentice at its Largs branch. He completed his apprenticeship three years later and was appointed to a clerkship, initially at Largs, later at Anstruther, and finally at Lochmaben branch.

During the Second World War Halifax left the bank to go on military service, becoming a Lance Sergeant in the Royal Artillery. While serving in Singapore he was captured and imprisoned. He died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp on 20 August 1942, having developed sepsis after being stung by a stingray. He was 30 years old and left a widow, Helen, whom he had married in 1939, and a young daughter. 

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