Mason, Ernest Vance

Captain Ernest Vance Mason MC

Mason was born at Boyle on 5th January 1887 to John Mason, Apothecary and Jane Barbara Mason nee Church.

In 1901 the family were living in house 2, Main Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. John, Jane and their daughter, Audrey Kathleen (12). A governess, Georgina Frances Young (23), an apprentice, William Hagan (18) and a servant, Maria Sheerin (20) were also in the house. I cannot trace Ernest in the census database.

Mason would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1904 and is recorded as working in Omagh branch. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him.

E V Mason - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Omagh branch

Mason joined 'The Ancient Masonic Lodge Number 588 Donegal' on 5th September 1910.

E V Mason - Masonic Lodge Register

In 1911 Mason is boarding with the Gardner family in house 9, Doonan, Donegal town. He is described as a Bank Official. A possible colleague, George Albert Barnes (Bank Official) also boards in this house. Barnes is recorded in the Londonderry Sentinel of 1st September 1928 as working for the Royal Bank of Ireland.

Belfast Bank, Donegal branch [This branch would 

later be sold to the Royal Bank of Ireland after the partition of Ireland]

Mason volunteered and enlisted into the South Irish Horse with Service Number 1138. He would later transfer to the Royal Field Artillery. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 18th December 1915. Ernest's address is recorded as c/o Mrs Sweeney, 52 High Street, Holywood. That address is currently that of Sweeney's Pharmacy, Holywood.

E V Mason - Medal Index Card

Lt E V Mason was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for an action at 'P' Ridge, Salonika on 19th September 1918. The citation was dated February 1919 and says:

"Gazette Issue 31158. M.C. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the following awards to the mentioned Officers and Warrant Officers in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field. Awarded the Military Cross. For his gallant conduct, forcefulness and the valuable information sent back under circumstances of extreme danger. When acting as F.L.O. on 'P' ridge on the 19th September, 1918, though wounded in three places and continuously under heavy enemy barrage, he continued to report information of vital importance, showing great courage and devotion to duty."

Capt E V Mason - Military Cross

His engagement notice below also shows him being awarded the Creux de Guerre (France) medal.

Capt E V Mason - Creux de Guerre (France)

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Mason as having been 'previously wounded' with his last known address as 'Salonika'.

The engagement of Capt Ernest Vance Mason MC, CdeG, St Anne of Russia etc of Belfast Bank, Drogheda to Eileen Maud M Kilroy was announced in the Irish Society (Dublin) of 23rd April 1921.

E V Mason - Engagement Announcement

Belfast Bank, Drogheda branch [This branch would 

later be sold to the Royal Bank of Ireland after the partition of Ireland]

Following the partition of Ireland, the Belfast Banking Company sold all its branches and transferred their 'southern' staff to the Royal Bank of Ireland.

On 25th April 1922 Mason married Eileen Maud Margaret Kilroy at Holy Trinity Church, Wallington, Surry. His occupation and address is recorded as Captain, R F A of Springfield, Rathfriland, Co. Down.

Capt E V Mason - Marriage Registration

The Sligo Champion of 11th August 1923 records E V Mason as signing a letter complaining about the 'state of Rosses Point and Sligo Road'.

Various directories (Thom's Directory) in the 1920s to 1940s record Ernest as living in 6 Rostrevor Road, Rathgar, Dublin and other Dublin addresses.

Pension record cards exist for Ernest. They record his disability as 'Gas Poisoning & Dysentery'. An address at 52 High Street, Holywood is also recorded.

E V Mason - Pension Card 1 - Age 30 would give a date of 1927

E V Mason - Pension Card 2 - Eileen Maud Margaret Mason - Widow

The Wicklow People of 4th July 1942 reports on the theft of Ernest's raincoat:

E V Mason - Raincoat theft