Morrow, Lewis Hamilton

Private Lewis Hamilton Morrow

was born at 'Glenavon', Ballydologhan (?), Lisburn on 2nd January 1891 to John Morrow, Farmer and Annie Morrow nee Swaney. The birth registration only states Lewis Morrow.

In 1901, Lewis (10) is living in house 5, Upper Crescent, Belfast with his parents and 7 siblings; Elizabeth (19), Margaret (13), Sarah (17), Annie (21), Robert (23), Thomas (25) and John (15). A servant, Catherine Mills is also living in the house. John Morrow is now recorded as a Shipping Agent.

Lewis joined Northern Bank on 20th July 1908 at Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers follow with Ballymena (1908 - Junior), Head Office (1909 - Junior), Armagh (1909 - Junior) and Clones (1911 - Junior).  

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

Northern Bank, Armagh branch

Northern Bank, Clones branch

By 1911, Lewis is boarding in house 39, Whitehall, Clones Upper, Co. Monaghan with the Wiggins family. He is recorded as a Bank Clerk and now has the additional first name of Hamilton. 

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, a Lewis Morrow signed the Ulster Covenant at Clones Orange Hall.

Lewis volunteered and enlisted into the Public School Corps, 9th Bn. Royal Fusiliers with Service Number PS/6056 on 11th January 1915. His address on the army form is recorded as Holmside, (Belmont), Strandtown, Belfast.

L H Morrow, Service Record (page 1 of 6 held)

L H Morrow - Medal Index Card

Lewis' first theatre of war is recorded as France and Flanders from 14th November 1915. He saw service at the Somme in 1916 (Beaumont-Hamel) and in Arras 1917. Lewis received 3 gunshot wounds in separate incidents injuring his knee, arm and face. He was later to be transferred to the 18th Bn. Royal Fusiliers.

Demobilisation came on 12th December 1917 when he was invalided out. Lewis was awarded the Silver War Badge (Number 287714) in respect of his injuries.

L H Hamilton - Silver War Badge

Lewis was awarded the 1915 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

L H Morrow - Medal Rolls

Lewis was entitled to a pension as a result of his injuries. The card records 'blindness in left eye'.

L H Morrow - Pension Record Cards

Lewis Morrow married Isabella (Zella) Lockhart Tennant at Galway Presbyterian Church on 18th October 1920.

L H Morrow - Marriage Registration

Their wedding was later reported in the Irish Society (Dublin) publication in their 'Fashionable Marriages' page of 25th December 1920.

Irish Society (Dublin) publication

Following demobilisation, Lewis re-joined the Bank at Head Office on 2nd January 1918. Transfers followed with Clones (1918 - Cashier), Head Office (1918 - Cashier), Portaferry (1918 - Cashier), Newtownstewart (1920 - Manager), Ballynahinch (1926 - Manager), Raphoe (1930 - Manager), Irvinestown (1933 - Manager) and Randalstown (1940 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Clones branch

Northern Bank, Ballynahinch branch (3 storey building)

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

Northern Bank, Randalstown branch

The 'Derry Journal' of 5th October 1931 reported in its Raphoe News column that:

Lewis Morrow retired from the bank on 30th November 1949.

This Pension Card (below) dated 11th April 1984 records Lewis Morrow as dying on 24th April 1978.

L H Morrow - Pension Card