Lieutenant Andrew Walter Grant
was born at 96 Donegall Pass, Belfast on 5th April 1893 the son of James Grant, Clerk and Mary Grant nee Walsh. They had married on 17th July 1878 at Hillsborough Parish Church.In 1901 Andrew (7) was living in house 96, Donegall Pass, Belfast with his parents and 7 siblings; Amelia Florence (3), Mary Rosina (5), Eliza Eleanor (21), Frederick William (19), Arthur Hill (15), James Herbert (12) and Robert John (10). An uncle, Robert Grant was also in the property.
Andrew joined Northern Bank at Head Office on 17th June 1910.
Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast
Transfers followed with Drumshanbo (1910 - Junior) and Londonderry (1912 - Junior).
Northern Bank, Londonderry branch
By 1911, Andrew was boarding with the Dowler family in house 41, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim. His occupation is described as a Bank Official. A possible colleague, John Lous (27, Bank Official) is also boarding in this house.
Whilst in Londonderry branch, Andrew volunteered and enlisted into the 6th Bn. Black Watch with Service Number 2486.
A W Grant - Medal Index Card
He was promoted to Corporal in April 1915, Sergeant in June 1915 before being Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Later he was promoted to Lieutenant and attached to HQ 16th (Irish) Division. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 2nd May 1915. Andrew saw action in Festubert 1915, Somme 1916 and Messines 1917. He received 3 gunshot wounds in separate incidents.
Demobilisation came on 21st May 1919 and he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
A W Grant - Medal Roll 1
A W Grant - Medal Roll 2
A Pension Record card exists for Andrew Grant in respect of his injuries received.
A W Grant - Pension Card
Following demobilisation, Grant served in Kells (1919 - Cashier), Newry (1920 - Teller), Head Office (1925 - Relief), Ballymena (1925 - Cashier), Newry (1927 - Sub Manager), refused Dungloe branch (1932), Londonderry (1935 - Sub Manager), Willowfield (1938 - Manager) and Ballynahinch (1944 - Manager).
Northern Bank, Newry branch
Northern Bank, Ballymena branch
Whilst in Ballymena branch, Andrew took an interest in the County Antrim Agricultural Association by becoming a member.
Northern Bank, Londonderry branch
Northern Bank, Ballynahinch branch (on left)
Andrew married Miss Margaret Chalmers Dempster Kerr of Newry at Rostrevor Presbyterian Church on 9th February 1926 (Silver wedding announcement - Belfast News Letter - 9th February 1951).
Andrew Grant of 7 Fairway Crescent, Belfast, retired bank manager died on 15th May 1970 leaving an estate with value of £17,011 (Belfast Telegraph - 20th February 1971). An Ancestry family tree states that A W Grant is buried in Magheradroll Parish Churchyard, Ballynahinch, Co. Down.
A grandson of A W Grant has left the following comments:
How wonderful to come across this tribute to my late grandfather. Andrew and Margaret (or Daisy as she was always known) had two children, June and my father Tony. Andy finished his career with the Northern Bank as Manager of the O'Connell Street branch in Dublin. My father was born in the Newry branch, and grew up above the shop in Ballynahinch. I never knew about Derry or Willowfield. Andy brother Bob was headmaster of Upper Sullivan.I see from the Gazette that Andy was commissioned in Nov. 1916. This would seem to support a story he told to my maternal grandfather in the 1960s - that he had been withdrawn from the Somme trenches on 30th June 1916 for officer training, therefore missing the big push the next day In which most of his unit lost their lives.
The Grant family grave is in Hillsborough Parish Church graveyard.
Grant family grave - Hillsborough Parish Church
How wonderful to come across this tribute to my late grandfather. Andrew and Margaret (or Daisy as she was always known) had two children, June and my father Tony. Andy finished his career with the Northen Bank as Manager of the O'Connell Street branch in Dublin. My father was born in the Newry branch, and grew up above the shop in Ballynahinch. I never knew about Derry or Willowfield. Andy brother Bob was headmaster of Upper Sullivan.
ReplyDeleteMy email is d.grant@qub.ac.uk
ReplyDeleteI see from the Gazette that Andy was commissioned in Nov. 1916. This would seem to support a story he told to my maternal grandfather in the 1960s - that he had been withdrawn from the Somme trenches on 30th June 1916 for officer training, therefore missing the big push the next day In which most of his unit lost their lives.
ReplyDelete