Forde, James Elliott

Lieutenant Theophilus James Elliott Forde CBE DL

was born on 19th May 1890 in Hilltown, Co. Down the son of Rev. Robert Forde and Elizabeth Jane Forde nee Elliott. They had married on 3rd June 1885 at Clonduff Church of Ireland, Newry.

In 1901 Elliott (10 - as per census form) lived in house 91, Dundrum, Co. Down with his parents and 2 siblings; Muriel (12) and Robert (7). In the house there was also Clarice Hayden (governess), Agnes Stevenson (servant), Patrick O'Hare (servant), and Charlotte Teggart (visitor).

The Lennonwylie website records Elliott as being educated at Campbell College:

852. Forde, James Theophilus Elliott, b. 19th May, 1890, son of Rev. Robert Forde, Dundrum Rectory, Co. Down.  Brother of 970. IV, July, 1906.  Great War: Lieut., N.I.H. and Machine Gun Corps. Chairman, Northern Bank Ltd.  Address: 34 Wellington Park, Belfast. (M.q.)

An advertisement in the Belfast News Letter of 8th August 1908 advised that Elliott Forde had won a clerkship to Northern Bank:

Belfast News Letter, 8th August 1908

On obtaining this clerkship, Elliott joined Northern Bank on 24th March 1909 in Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Virginia (1909 - Junior), Head Office (1909 - Junior) and Grafton Street (1909 - Junior).  

Northern Bank, Virginia branch

Former Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin

In 1911, Elliott is boarding in house 8, Woodville, Sandford, Rathmines & Rathgar East, Dublin. He is described as a Bank Clerk. 

On 24th December 1915, aged 25, Elliott volunteered and enlisted into the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps (OTC) as a Private. He was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Res Regiment of Hussars, transferred as a 2nd Lieutenant into the North Irish Horse, served with the British Expeditionary Force and seconded into the Machine-Gun Corps before re-transferring into the North Irish Horse. 

Medal Index Card - Lt T J E Forde

His address on the Medal Index Card is recorded as c/o Northern Banking Company, Coleraine, N. Ireland. 

On 21st May 1917 the Belfast News Letter reported that Mr. T. J. E. Forde, elder son of the Rev. R. Forde, Dundrum has being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the reserve regiment of Hussars. 

He was later promoted to Lieutenant.

Action was seen in the Allied Retreat 1918, the Allied Advance 1918 before being demobilised in March 1919. Forde was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. 

Medal Roll - Lt T J E Forde

On 23rd January 1919 the Belfast News Letter reported that T J E Forde ceases to be employed with the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) from 18th December 1918 (North Irish Horse, Special Reserve).

Following demobilisation, Elliott re-joined the Northern Bank at Ball’s Branch, Dublin. Further transfers followed to Grafton Street (1919 - Donnybrook sub-office ), Coleraine (1921 - Sub-Manager), Grafton Street (1925 - Sub-Manager, Joint Manager) and Donegall Square (1928 - Manager). 

Former Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

Northern Bank, Donegall Square

In 1930 J Elliot Forde was a member of the Select Vestry of St. Thomas's Church.

The Rev. Robert Forde (aged 78) died at his son's residence, 34 Wellington Park, Belfast on 11th July 1935.

Elliott was appointed as a Director of Northern Bank on 1st February 1943 to replace Mr A P Tibbey after 54 years of service to the bank. 

J E Forde was Chairman of the Save the Children Fund.

Belfast News Letter, 5th October 1955

He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Years Honours list of 1956. His wife, Elizabeth Forde died on 6th February 1959. In 1961 J Elliott Forde was made a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Belfast. Elliott was later to be appointed Chairman. 

He retired on 17th January 1964. His death was reported in the Belfast Telegraph on 13th January 1977.