Henry, Gilbert Newman

Leading Aircraft Man (LAC) Gilbert Newman Henry

Henry was born at Model School, Coleraine on 28th May 1913 to Robert Henry, School-Master and Gertrude Henry nee Hallett. They had married on 25th July 1904 at Merrion Hall, Dublin.

The 1911 Irish Census recorded Robert and Gertrude Henry living in house 13 Waterside, Coleraine with their son Robert Walter (2). Gertrude's sister Florence Hallett was also present in the house.  

Henry was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution where he won a number of prizes.

On 1st July 1931, Henry joined the Belfast Banking Company and was based initially in Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast before transferring to Bangor branch later that year (Northern Whig of 17th August 1931). Mrs Gertrude Henry signed the Bankers Guarantee giving her address as Church Street, Coleraine and later as 11 Fifth Avenue, Bangor.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Bangor

Belfast Bank, Bangor branch

Although war was declared on 3rd September 1939, Henry waited until 3rd September 1941 before he volunteered for service in the RAF with Service Number 1414533. His career in the RAF took him into many areas:

6th September 1941 to 16th August 1946
RAF with Service Number 1414533 and starting rank of AC2

6th September 1941 to 20th October 1941
RAF Receiving School

21st October 1941 to 10th January 1942
RAF Cranfield

10th January 1942 to 21st May 1942
RAF RTU Glasgow

21st May 1942 to 15th September 1945                       
No. 80 (Signals) Wing RAF (Radio Counter Measures)

21st May 1942 to 28th August 1942
No. 3 Wing Signals School, Cranfield

28th August 1942 to 15th September 1945
No. 80 (Signals) Wing RAF, Radlett

7th November 1944
Promotion to LAC

1st February 1945 to 13th May 1945
Bruges, Belgium & Wendjyne, Holland; No. 50 MSU

15th September 1945 to 12th April 1946
No. 48 Squadron Transport Command, Cairo, Egypt

21st January 1946 to 12th April 1946
RAF Moral Leadership School, Jerusalem 

Henry was awarded the Defence Medal, the War Medal, the 1939-45 Star and the France & Germany Star. 

After demobilisation, Henry returned to work for the Belfast Banking Company on 17th August 1946 and was working in Bangor branch from  1947. 

He was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1948 paying 1 shillings subscription.  

In the 1966 annual accounts of the Belfast Banking Company, Henry is recorded as being manager of Saintfield branch. 

Belfast Bank, Saintfield branch

Henry is remembered on the Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour and his name also appeared in a booklet from 1947.

Gilbert Henry retired in 1974 and died on 12th April 1994.