McManus, Hubert

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Riley McManus

2nd Lieutenant Hubert McManus

McManus was born at Market Square, Dungannon on 27th May 1888 to Samuel McManus, Draper and Jane McManus nee Booth. They had married on 28th August 1875 at Drummaul Church of Ireland, Randalstown.

In 1901, McManus (13) was living in house 14, Market Square (East Side), Dungannon, with his parents and 6 siblings, Samuel Edgar (24), Anne Gertrude (20), Louisa Euphemia (17), Harold (15), Winifred (10) and Randal Edmund (8 - see below). 2 shop assistants, Nellie Keer & Jane Gullfillan and 2 servants, Annie Bates & Cathleen Dunlop also lived in the property.

Based on his age, McManus may have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1905. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as Antrim. Later on, his brother, Samuel G McManus and his wife, Kathleen McManus also signed the guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

In 1911, a Herbert McManus is boarding with Elizabeth Stevenson (head of household) in house 59, Willowbank Street, Clifton Ward, Belfast with one other boarder. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Official Accountant. 

In 1914 McManus volunteered and enlisted into the North Irish Horse with Service Number 1267. Later he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps with Service Number 104215 where he was promoted to Corporal.  

H McManus - Medal Index Card

His first theatre of war is recorded as France and Flanders from 2nd June 1915.

McManus was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 26th October 1917.

An injury later occurred making McManus eligible for the Silver War Badge (SWB). The Medal Index Card records the number incorrectly as 183889. The SWB Roll records the badge number as 383889. He was invalided out of the army in 1917.  

H McManus - Silver War Badge

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

H McManus - Medal Roll

A descendant (via a cousin of Hubert's), Alastair McManus (Canada) has sent me this information:

" .... Hubert emigrated to Canada in 1911 (or 1912) with his younger brother Randal (killed in WW1), probably going to stay with their older brother Harold.  Hubert worked in the North Bay, Ontario, branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada, 210 miles north of Toronto.  However, on the outbreak of war, both he and Randal returned to Ireland in 1914.  Hubert enlisted in the North Irish Horse.  He was later commissioned and was invalided from service in 1917.  He returned to the Belfast Bank in 1918 and remained in Belfast for the rest of his life. ...."

Hubert McManus married Kathleen Pyper on 5th October 1920 at Fortwilliam Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

He was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in April 1947 paying 5 shillings subscription and was recorded as working in Head Office. 

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link (Summer 1984)’ contains a photograph of McManus in a 1947 Belfast Banking Company Cricket Team.

McManus's brother, Randal Edmund is detailed on the Commonwealth War Graves website as follows:

Son of Jane McManus, 6 Howard Terrace, Dungannon; Lance Corporal, Army Number 41505, died 19/04/1918 aged 26, 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers, commemorated on Pane 140 to 141, Tyne Cot Memorial.

Newspaper image courtesy of Mrs Gemma Crutchley
via Lives of the First World War website