Trooper William Hamilton Graham Millikin (or Milliken)
was born on 18th February 1897 at Irvinestown to James Millikin, bank cashier and Alicia Margaret (also Celicia or Alina) Millikin nee McGee. James and Alicia had married in St. George's Church, Carrick-on-Shannon on 17th February 1894. James is recorded as being a cashier in the Northern Banking Company. His father, William's grandfather is recorded as a 'gentleman' on the Marriage Registration document.
The Marriage Registration document, Birth Registration documents and the Northern Bank staff ledger record the family surname as Millikin. A family member (below) says it should be Milliken.
The 1901 Irish Census records James, Alicia and a daughter (Elizabeth) Marion (aged 2) as living in house 21, Drumharvey, Co. Tyrone. A servant, Mary Jane Harvey is also present in the house. William was not recorded for this address although he would have been aged 4. There is no indication as to his whereabouts.
In 1911 the family lived in house 13, Marsden Gardens, Clifton Ward, Belfast. William is living with his parents and 3 siblings, Elizabeth Marion (16), Marion Cameron (12) and Kathleen (11).
On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, James Millikin of 25 Marsden Gardens signed the Ulster Covenant at the Old Town Hall, Victoria Street, Belfast.
On 16th March 1914, William joined Northern Bank in Head Office.
Whilst based in Head Office, aged 18, William volunteered and enlisted into the North Irish Horse as a Trooper (Private) with Service Number 1720. He embarked for France between 1916 and the first half of 1917, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment.
In September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and most of its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were retrained as infantrymen before being transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion, (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Millikin, like the majority, was transferred on 20 September. He was issued a new regimental number – 41443.
Thomas was reported as having been wounded in the War Office Daily Casualty Lists of 23 May and 12 September 1918, though the dates and circumstances are not known at present. His wounding did not affect his service as he was demobilised in December 1918.
Some of William's service information has come from the excellent research of this North Irish Horse website.
William was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast
In September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and most of its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were retrained as infantrymen before being transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion, (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Millikin, like the majority, was transferred on 20 September. He was issued a new regimental number – 41443.
Thomas was reported as having been wounded in the War Office Daily Casualty Lists of 23 May and 12 September 1918, though the dates and circumstances are not known at present. His wounding did not affect his service as he was demobilised in December 1918.
Some of William's service information has come from the excellent research of this North Irish Horse website.
William was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Wm H G Millikin - Medal Index Card
Wm H G Millikin - Medal Roll
Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch
A transfer followed to Ballinamore branch on 13th October 1920 where he was appointed as a Cashier.
Northern Bank, Ballinamore branch
Donegall Square was William's next transfer on 9th September 1922.
Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch
A transfer to Head Office followed on 19th March 1923 when he was placed on Relief Staff followed by Crumlin Road on 1st April 1924 as a Cashier. Knock sub-branch was next on 1st October 1930 as Sub-Manager and then Pro-Manager.
Northern Bank, Knock branch
In September 1929 William married a Miss G M Young of Hull. She later passed away on 27th July 1933.
William left Knock for Irvinestown branch in September 1932. His move was recorded in the Bank Transfers section in the Belfast News Letter dated 21st September 1932.
Extract from Belfast News Letter dated 21st September 1932
Shaftesbury Square branch was next on 13th September 1933.
Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square, Belfast
In March 1935 William married a Miss D H Young of Hull.
Falls branch was next on 8th July 1936 as Cashier.
Northern Bank, Falls branch, Divis Street, Belfast
On 24th September 1937 William was transferred to Lisburn branch as Sub-Manager.
Northern Bank, Lisburn branch
June 1941 saw William's promotion as Manager in Shankill Road branch.
Northern Bank, Shankill Road, Belfast branch
He was transferred back to Irvinestown branch as Manager on 23rd March 1945.
William, like many of his colleagues was a member of the IBOA (Irish Bank Officials' Association). He had risen through the organisation to be it's Vice-President as evidenced in this Belfast Telegraph article dated 15th December 1950 reported that the IBOA
A family member (below) advises that William later became Manager in Lurgan branch.
William Millikin appears in this link to a 1951 Golf Outing. It was a comment on this photograph that prompted this update to William's biography.
"My wife’s grandparents are in that photo, she wondered who Mrs W H G was until we realised the formality of the day which gave the husband’s initials to his wife. Pity they couldn’t spell correctly - the surname was Milliken! He was manager in Lurgan where "__" went on to serve in for many years. Her parents wedding reception was held on the first floor of the branch in the same year!"
Belfast Telegraph dated 15th December 1950 - IBOA - Wm H G Milliken
A family member (below) advises that William later became Manager in Lurgan branch.
Northern Bank, Lurgan branch
William Millikin appears in this link to a 1951 Golf Outing. It was a comment on this photograph that prompted this update to William's biography.
"My wife’s grandparents are in that photo, she wondered who Mrs W H G was until we realised the formality of the day which gave the husband’s initials to his wife. Pity they couldn’t spell correctly - the surname was Milliken! He was manager in Lurgan where "__" went on to serve in for many years. Her parents wedding reception was held on the first floor of the branch in the same year!"
Northern Bank Golf Outing - May 1951
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