George Roberts

Bank: National Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Edinburgh Canonmills branch

Died: 2 August 1943

George Roberts was born on 13 February 1914, the third son of Jane and George Roberts. He was educated at Mayfield Private School and George Watson's College, Edinburgh. He was a talented rugby player and the youngest ever captain of the Watsonian Rugby Club. His talent was recognised by Scottish rugby selectors and he earned five international caps for Scotland. As well as rugby, Roberts was an excellent golfer and represented Scotland in competition.

Roberts worked for National Bank of Scotland at its Edinburgh Canonmills branch.

At the outbreak of war in 1939 Roberts left the bank to go on military service and was later commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders. He served in the Far East, and was reported missing in Singapore, where it later emerged that he had been taken prisoner. Early in 1944 his parents received a postcard from him assuring them that he was well. The postcard had been delayed, however, and they later discovered that Second Lieutenant Roberts had in fact died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp some months earlier, on 2 August 1943. He was 29 years old.

George Roberts is commemorated on a bank war memorial at Gogarburn campus, Edinburgh.