Pyper, Thomas Watters

Sergeant Thomas Watters Pyper

was born in 1884 to James Pyper, Teacher and Annie Pyper nee Ryan. They had married Annie Keenan nee Ryan (a widow) on 25th October 1881 at Galway Church.

In 1901 Pyper (17) was living in house 9, Ballygilbert, Bangor, Co. Down with his parents and brother William (18). He is described as a Bank Clerk. 

Thomas would have joined the Belfast Bank around 1901 and was believed to have worked in Navan branch. His Bankers Guarantee was signed by his father, James Pyper of Crawfordsburn.

T W Pyper - BBCo Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Navan branch

The ‘Bangor Golf Club 100 Years’ booklet describes their member (1904), T W Pyper winning the prize for best nett with a score of 88 gross. Playing off 14, his nett score of 74 also won him £3.

In 1910, Pyper was recorded as the Accountant in the Newtownards branch of the Belfast Banking Company. 

Belfast Bank, Newtownards branch

By 1911 the family property is described as house 17, Ballygilbert, Bangor, Co. Down. He describes himself as a Bank Clerk and an aunt, Isabella Pyper (58) is also living ion the property.

Pyper volunteered and enlisted into the North Irish Horse with Service Number 1783. He later transferred to the Corps of Hussars with Service Number 71558.

T W Pyper - Medal Index Card

T W Pyper - Medal Roll

The excellent North Irish Horse website writes:

"Pyper enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 2 and 7 December 1915 (No.2023 - later Corps of Hussars No.71675). He remained at the regiment's reserve at Antrim throughout the war, rising to the rank of sergeant, and acting as squadron quartermaster-sergeant.

"After the war Pyper was one of a number of men recognised for his work on the home front. According to a report in the Londonderry Sentinel of 2 September 1919:

The following list of names brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services in the Northern District, Irish Command, was issued officially on Friday evening, but will not be gazetted. ... Sergeant (acting Squadron Quartermaster-Sergeant) T. Pyper, North Irish Horse.

"After the war he resumed work for his banking firm. He died at Rathmines, Dublin, on 28 November 1944.

According to the Comber War Memorial, a ‘T Pyper’ volunteered and served in World War I.

Following demobilisation, Pyper returned to work for the Belfast Banking Company.

On 31st March 1921 at St Mary's Church, Donnybrook Thomas, Bank Clerk of Club House, Navan married Catherine Eileen McIlroy of The Schoolhouse, Donnybrook.

Following partition and the creation of Northern Ireland, the Belfast Banking Company sold all its branches (and staff) to the Royal Bank of Ireland. This explains why the Pyper detailed below came to be residing in Royal Bank House, Duggan Place, Rathmines.

Belfast Bank, Rathmines branch 

later to become the Royal Bank of Ireland branch (AIB)

Thomas Pyper is buried in the Mount Jerome Cemetery, Part 1, Dublin. No.81 - In Memory of THOMAS WATERS PYPER, Royal Bank House, Rathmines, died 28th November 1944 and of his wife, KATHERINE EILEEN PYPER, died 11th March 1977, their daughter, AILEEN ANN (PEGGY) ROBINSON, died 25th Aug. 2005. "Till day break".

The bank building was later restored and turned into a restaurant.

BBCo, RBoI and later AIB Rathmines branch