Irvine, Walter Frederick - Great War & Second World War Service

Major Walter Frederick Irvine MBE

was born at Bloomfield on 2nd June 1898 to Robert Irvine, Wine Merchant and Marianne Irvine nee Phillips. They had married on 24th April 1895 at St. Thomas' Church of Ireland, Belfast.

In 1901, Walter lived in house 11, Kirkliston Drive, Pottinger Ward, Belfast with his parents and his elder brother, Robert Philip. A servant, Jane Eliza Chambers also lives in the house.

On 21st September 1914, Walter joined the Belfast Banking Company. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as 4 Dunedin Terrace, Antrim Road, Belfast. Later signatories were Mary Anne Irvine of 403 Antrim Road, Belfast and Nora Margaret Irvine of 34 North Circular Road, Lisburn. Walter is recorded as working in Central branch and Head Office.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank , Central branch, Donegall Square North

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

Walter volunteered and enlisted into the 10th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. His first theatre of war is recorded as France. Promotion to a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant before transferring to the Royal Irish Rifles on 1st March 1917. He relinquished his commission on completion of service on 20th September 1919, but retained the rank of Lieutenant. 

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Irvine as serving with the 5th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. He is also recorded as being 'previously wounded' and also as a 'prisoner of war' whilst serving with the 12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles.

Belfast Bank 'Roll of Honour' booklet

The Belfast News Letter of 18th September 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 22nd April 1918 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 25th April 1918 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 13th December 1918 reports:

Following his discharge from the army, as an officer, Walter Irvine had to apply for his British War Medal and the British Victory Medal.  

Medal Roll - Lt W F Irvine

Between 1919 and 1939, Irvine returned to work for Belfast Banking Company. 

As Walter Irvine was a Lisburn resident, it is possible that he attended this service at the Lisburn War Memorial (temporary wooden one) in the 1920s.

Over 110 members of the Lisburn British Legion branch attended the annual Remembrance Service in First Lisburn Church on Sunday, 13th November 1938. Assembling at their Headquarters in Sackville Street, the ex-Servicemen were under the command of Captain W F Irvine, chairman.

Walter saw service again in WWII as a Captain in the Royal Ulster Rifles before transferring to the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 30th April 1941. On 20th July 1942, he transferred to the Pioneer Corps. On 16th June 1945, Walter relinquished his commission on grounds of disability. He was then granted the honorary rank of Major.

Following his demobilisation after WW2, Walter returned to work eventually ending up working in Accountants Department.  

Retirement came on 1st December 1959. He was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Walter Irvine died on 14th February 1984. He was the only official to have served in both wars.