Andrews, Arthur Alexander

Lieutenant Arthur Alexander Andrews

was born at Stuart Place, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone on 27th August 1894 to Alexander Andrews, Tea Merchant and Violet Andrews nee Morrison. They had married on 4th December 1889 at the 'Original Secession (Presbyterian) Church, Ballymoney'.

In 1901 Arthur (7) lived in house 1, Chapel Road, Dungannon with his parents and 3 siblings; Jim (10*), May (9) and Fred (6**). Three servants were also present in the house; Mathew McIbree, Hugh Mackrell and Minnie Boyd. The first 2 were also described as Tea Travellers.

In 1911 Arthur, his parents and 2 siblings, May and Fred were living in the same property. There were  2 servants also described as Tea Travellers; Isaac Troughton and George Neill were also present in the house.

Arthur probably joined the Belfast Banking Company between 1912 and the war years. His father, Alex Andrews signed the bankers Guarantee.  Arthur saw service in Portaferry, Coleraine and Bangor branches. 

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Portaferry branch

Belfast Bank, Coleraine branch

Belfast Bank, Coleraine branch - interior

Belfast Bank, Bangor branch

Arthur enlisted into the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1915 and served with their 9th and 10th Battalions first as a 2nd Lieutenant and then as a Lieutenant.

The following transcripts of newspaper articles relating to Arthur Andrews have been copied from the website Dungannon War Dead Database. My sincere thanks go to their researchers. This excellent link also provides extensive coverage of the war actions of Arthur's two brothers, 2nd Lt Wm James M Andrews (* RFC) and 2nd Lt Fred S Andrews (** Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers).

The Mid Ulster Mail dated 29th 1915 reports:

"Mr Arthur Andrews, who was home for the weekend, is the second son of Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon. Educated at Dungannon Royal School, he obtained an appointment in the Belfast Bank after public competition. He served in the company’s offices in Portaferry and Coleraine and also in Bangor. He has answered his country’s call on Easter Tuesday and joined the Cadet Corps of the 17th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, and is at present stationed at Newcastle, County Down." 

The Belfast News-Letter dated 13th July 1916 reports:

"Second Lieutenant Arthur Andrews, Royal Irish Fusiliers (Armagh Volunteers), who, as already reported, was wounded on the 1st July, has now written to his father, Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon, stating that he sustained a compound fracture of the thigh, but is progressing favourably."

The Tyrone Courier dated 13th July 1916 reports:

"Second Lieutenant Arthur Andrews, Irish Fusiliers, wounded in the thigh, is the second son of Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon, and received his commission on 23rd August 1915. Previous to this, he was in the employment of the Belfast Banking Company in Coleraine and Belfast. He was educated at the Royal School Dungannon."

The Mid Ulster Mail dated 15th July 1916 reports:

"Second Lieutenant Arthur Andrews, Royal Irish Fusiliers, has been wounded in the thigh. He is the second son of Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon, and received his commission on 23rd August 1915. Previous to this he was in the employment of the Belfast Banking Company in Coleraine and Belfast. He was educated at the Royal School Dungannon."

The Tyrone Courier dated 20th July 1916 reports:

"Second Lieutenant Arthur Andrews, Irish Fusiliers, who as already reported, was wounded on 1st July, has written to his father Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon, stating that he sustained a compound fracture of the thigh, but is progressing favourably."

The Mid Ulster Mail dated 22nd July 1916 reports:

"Second Lieutenant Andrews, Royal Irish Fusiliers, who, as already noted, has been wounded in action, has written to his father, Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon, intimating that he sustained a compound fracture of the thigh, caused by a bullet wound."

The Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd December 1916 reports:

"Second Lieutenant Arthur Andrews, Royal Irish Fusiliers, returned home to Dungannon on Tuesday suffering from wounds received in the famous advance on 1st July. He is the second son of Mr Alexander Andrews, Stuart Place, Dungannon, and received his commission on 23rd August 1915, having prior to volunteering been in the employment of the Belfast Banking Company in Coleraine and Belfast. He has sustained a compound fracture of the thigh, and the sciatic nerve had also been injured causing severe pain."

Arthur was reported in the Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet as 'wounded in action'.

Belfast Bank - 'Roll of Honour' booklet

Following Arthur's demobilisation from the war, he was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. His address as recorded on the Medal Index Card is The Royal Bank of Ireland, Letterkenny.

A A Andrews - Medal Index Card

A A Andrews - Medal Group

Photo courtesy of the Somme Heritage Centre (holders)

The Medal Index Card records that Arthur was also awarded a Silver War Badge numbered 233447 on 10th April 1918 as a result of his injuries.

A A Andrews - Silver War Badge roll (bottom)

A Pension Record card was created for Arthur and records his disability as a 'gun shot wound thigh'. His wife (now a widow) is recorded as Margaret Joyce Andrews.

On 25th July 1921 the Belfast News Letter reported that Mr A A Andrews of Belfast Bank was in a serious motor accident with injuries that may result in his leg being amputated.  This may be avoided as his other leg was injured during the war.

Belfast News Letter dated 25th July 1921

The Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet (above) records in pencil that Arthur 'left' the bank, date unknown.  

Jim Andrews (Arthur's brother) medals are also held by the Somme Heritage Centre:

W J M Andrews - Medal Group

Photo courtesy of the Somme Heritage Centre (holders)

William James (Jim) Morrison Andrews was born at Coolhill, Dungannon on 6th October 1890 to Alexander Andrews, Tea Merchant and Violet Andrews nee Morrison (see above). 

He volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps and attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 

Jim Andrews was killed in a flying accident over Salisbury Plain, England on 4th June 1917 and is buried in Drumcoo Cemetery, Dungannon. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour in a local church.

Further information on Jim Andrews can be accessed here.