Turpin, Aubrey Lawrence

2nd Lieutenant Aubrey Lawrence Turpin

was born at Ludlow Street, Navan on 30th September 1891 to Thomas Digby Turpin, Bank Accountant and Jane Turpin nee Somerville. They had married on 14th October 1890 at Mallow Church of Ireland. Thomas is recorded as being a Bank Clerk.

In 1901 Aubrey (9) is living in house 1, Lawn View Place, Ballymena with his parents, grandmother Charlotte Turpin and his brother, Dermot Owen (6). A servant, Mary Smith is also present. His father's occupation is now described as a Bank Cashier.

Aubrey would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1909.

By 1911 Aubrey is living in the Bank House at house 39, High Street, Portadown with his parents, his brother and the same servant. Thomas’ occupation is now Bank Manager and Aubrey’s occupation is described as a Bank Assistant. 

Belfast Bank House & branch, Portadown

In 1915 Aubrey was reported to have been working in Dungannon branch for the past 5 years.

Belfast Bank, Dungannon branch

Aubrey volunteered and enlisted into the 19th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and in due course, attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 24th December 1916.

A L Turpin - Medal Index Card

The Belfast News Letter of 14th December 1915 reports:

Aubrey's brother, Dermot also volunteered and enlisted into the army. The Mid-Ulster Mail of 22nd July 1916 reports the 'wounding, not serious' of Dermot who is now in hospital.

Aubrey was awarded the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal.

A L Turpin - Medal Roll

Following his demobilisation, Aubrey re-joined the bank and was working in Castleblayney (see Medal Index Card). The Belfast Banking Company Limited sold its southern branches to the Royal Bank of Ireland in 1923. It is possible that the young man in this 1918 photo is Aubrey.

Belfast Bank, Castleblayney branch

This Freemason record from 1923 exists on Ancestry:

Aubrey married Miss Janetta (Netta) Victoria Bell on 30th January 1922. They later had a daughter, Doreen Elizabeth (10th December 1922) and a son, Aubrey Lawrence Digby (24th July 1925).

Aubrey died on 7th April 1963 and is buried in St. Patrick's, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. Netta died on 28th January 1977.

Europeana 1914-1918 Project

The Europeana 1914-1918 team have advised me that they have published my story. 

You can view it by clicking this link:

https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/2020601/https___1914_1918_europeana_eu_contributions_4903

Best regards,
The Europeana 1914-1918 team

About the Europeana 1914-1918 Project

Background

Europeana 1914-1918 is based on an initiative at the University of Oxford where people across Britain were asked to bring family letters, photographs and keepsakes from the War to be digitised. The success of the idea – which became the Great War Archive – has encouraged Europeana, Europe’s digital archive, library and museum, to bring other national or local institutions across Europe into an alliance with Oxford University. The collaboration brings European stories online alongside their British, German, Slovenian, Luxembourgian, Irish, etc. counterparts in a World War One stories collection.

What we are doing

The project is collecting memorabilia and stories from the period of the Great War (1914-1918).  This phase of the project is focussing on European items: letters, postcards, photographs and stories from Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, Slovenia and the UK.

Milligan, Frederick Albert Woods

2nd Lieutenant Frederick Albert Woods Milligan

was born at Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada on 4th January 1896 to William George Milligan and Elizabeth Milligan nee Campbell.

In 1901 Fred (5) was living with his great-aunt Jane McKenney in house 2, Culfore, Ballymascanlon, Co. Louth and his parents and his sister, Bertha Alma (9).

In 1911 Frederick is boarding with the Armstrong family in house 24, Drumcar, Co. Louth.  

Following his education at the Educational Institute, Dundalk, Frederick joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Enniskillen and Drogheda branches. Gertrude Plunkett signed the Bankers Guarantee. She may have been a relation or family friend, the Honourable Gertrude Plunkett (*) of Ballymascanlon House, Dundalk.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Frederick volunteered and enlisted into the Leinster Regiment with Service Number was 7/2205. His Medal Index Card records his first theatre of war as France from 1916.

F A W Milligan - Medal Index Card

He was serving with the 7th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a 2nd Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 29th April 1916 aged 19. Frederick is buried in the Philosphe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas De Calais, France.   

The Belfast News Letter of 11th May1916 reports:

Frederick is remembered on Ireland's Memorial Record:

Administration of the estate was granted at Armagh to Susan V McKenney, Spinster.  Milligan's effects were £81 14s 8d.

Milligan is also remembered on the Drogheda War Memorial.  My thanks to John McCormick of the Facebook group 'War graves & memorials, Northern Ireland' for the following photograph.



(*) Gertrude (1841-1924) was an Irish aristocrat from Co. Louth. She was one of six children to Thomas Plunket (1792-1866) a junior Church of Ireland Clergyman who later became the Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry and after his father died became the 2nd Baron Plunket. Her mother was Louise Jane Foster of Fanevalley, Co. Louth and MP for Dunleer. She was the granddaughter of William Plunket, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, who became the first Baron Plunket. Gertrude lived with her sister, Katherine who inherited from her mother one of the family’s ancestral homes, Ballymascanlon House, near Dundalk.

Keown, Henry Eugene

Lieutenant Henry Eugene Keown

was born in 1891 to Thomas Heron Keown, Resident Secretary, Life Assurance (1901 Irish Census) and Sarah Jane Keown nee Lewis. They had married on 15th March 1883 at St Mark's Church, Dundela, Belfast. Thomas' occupation is reported as a Bank Clerk. His address is Dundela Villas, Belfast.

In 1901 Henry (10) was living in house 7, Rosetta Avenue, Belfast with his parents and 3 siblings; Thomas Heron (15), Richard Lewis (14) and Jeannie Sterling (3). There were 2 servants, Agnes Gartlan and Beatrice Ellen Dunleavey also present in the house.

Henry would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1908. His father and later his mother and sister also signed the Bankers Guarantee. He is recorded as working in Head Office and Central branches.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

Belfast Bank, Central branch (Donegall Square North)

In 1910, Henry became the local Scoutmaster for the Bloomfield Patrol.

By 1911 Henry was living in house 42, Dundela Avenue, Belfast with his parents and 2 siblings; Richard Lewis and Jeannie Sterling. A servant, Kate Supple was also present in the house. Henry's occupation is recorded as a Bank Official and his father's as a Branch Manager Insurance.

On 'Ulster Day', 28th September 1912, Henry signed the Ulster Covenant at the City Hall, Belfast giving his address as Dundela Villas, Strandtown, Belfast.

In September 1915, Henry volunteered and enlisted into the 7th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and attained the rank of Lieutenant. His Medal Index Card records Henry's first theatre of war as France from May 1916.

H E Keown - Medal Index Card

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Keown as serving in the 6th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles. The booklet also states that he was 'previously wounded' with his last known address 'in France'.

The Belfast News Letter of 26th May 1915 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 15th September 1916 reports:

Henry was awarded the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal. The Medal Roll records that he was attached to the Dublin Light Infantry for a while.

H E Keown - Medal Roll

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, Keown returned to work in the bank.

In addition to banking, Keown returned to Scouting. Aidan Campbell in his book, 'Belmont' describes the picture below:

"A later photograph of the 10th Scout Troop  in 1921 in front of a large semi-detached property called 'Dundela Villas' on Dundela Avenue. .... Scoutmaster Harry Keown is sitting in the second row (with moustache and holding dog) outside his family home".

[Photo courtesy of 10th Scout Troop, Andrew Totten]

Henry was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club on 26th March 1945 paying 5 shillings subscription. In March 1947, he was working in Central branch.

Retirement came in 1952 and he died on 15th May 1965. Probate recorded him appointing his sister as executor.

The Belfast Telegraph of 11th May 1978 reports the death of Jeannie Keown, sister of the late H E Keown.

MacIlwaine, Frederick McDonnell

Sergeant Frederick McDonnell MacIlwaine

was born at Queensland, Australia on 24th June 1883 to Edward Nangle MacIlwaine and Julia Alura Gaussen MacIlwaine.

Edward (father) died on 9th February 1893 at 25 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast aged 43.

Frederick joined the Belfast Banking Company on 1st November 1900 and is recorded as working in East End, South End and Lisburn branches. His mother and later Robert Inkerman Calwell of Scottish Temperance Buildings, Belfast and Arthur Douglas MacIlwaine of 1 Wellington Place, Belfast signed the Bankers Guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet (1)

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet (2)

Belfast Bank, East End branch (Albertbridge Road)

Belfast Bank, Lisburn branch

In 1901 Frederick (17) is living in house 37, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast with his parents and 2 siblings; Julian M (12) and Julia I J (9). A servant, Helena M M Mooney is also present in the house. Frederick's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

In 1911 the family are living in house 69, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast. Mother and 4 children; Edward Moore (25), Alex Gillilan Johnston (24), John Mackey (22) and Julia Thomson Jane (22). A servant, Eliza Jane F J Murphy is also present in the house.

Frederick is living in house [cannot be traced].

In 1914, Frederick volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Engineers with Service Number 28968 and later attained the rank of Sergeant. He served as a despatch rider. His first theatre of war was from 15th October 1914.

F McD MacIlwaine - Medal Index Card

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Frederick as having been 'previously wounded' with his last known address as 'Houghton'. He is recorded as working in Rathmines branch.

Belfast Bank, Rathmines branch

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, Frederick returned to work eventually ending up in the Accountants Department.

The Belfast News Letter of 3rd May 1915 below records detail of the family of 4 brothers serving in the army:

1. Lt J M MacIlwaine, Royal Irish Rifles - formerly worked for Northern Bank before moving to his cousin's stockbroker firm.
   
2. Capt E MacIlwaine, Royal Irish Fusiliers
   
3. Lt A G MacIlwaine, Royal Army Medical Corps
   
4. Cpl F McD MacIlwaine, Royal Engineers
   
   

Frederick was discharged from the army on 12th February 1919 and due to his injuries (injured left leg), a pension of 13/- per week was granted to him.

F McD MacIlwaine - Pension Record Card

He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal.

F McD MacIlwaine - Medal Roll

On 12th January 1921, Frederick married Miss Aileen Featherstonehaugh Moore at Armagh.

The Lisburn Standard of 13th December 1935 reports F D MacIlwaine as the Honorary Treasurer of the Poppy Appeal.

His wife, Aileen died on 5th April 1940 aged 41.

Retirement from the bank came on 1st December 1944.

Frederick died on 9th March 1950. The PRONI Wills database records "MacIlwaine Frederick McDonnell of 25 Bawnmore Road Belfast retired bank manager died 9 March 1950 Probate Belfast 17 July to Belfast Bank Executor and Trustee Company Limited. Effects £2023 19s. 3d."

He is buried in the family plot of William MacIlwaine (died 1885) at Belfast City Cemetery, plot H450 with his wife (died 1940).

O'Kane, Paul

Newspaper photo courtesy of Nigel Henderson https://sites.google.com/site/greatwarbelfast/home

Lieutenant Paul O’Kane

was born at Ballycastle on 1st March 1895 to Joseph Patrick O'Kane, Merchant Tailor and Catherine O'Kane nee Laverty.

In 1901 Paul (6) was living in house 18, Castle Street, Ballycastle with his parents and 7 siblings; Daniel (14), Mary (13), Joseph P (11), James (9), Kathleen (8), Fannie (3) and Annie (2). A servant, Sarah Stewart was also in the property.

By 1911 Paul was living in house 19, Castle Street, Ballycastle with his parents and 4 of his siblings; Joseph P, Fannie, Annie and John Malachy (8). A servant, Bella Gillen was also in the house. 

Paul would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1912 / 1913. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee. He is recorded as working in Newry branch.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Photo courtesy of Newry History Tour Facebook group (via John Henning)

 

Following the start of the war, Paul volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Irish Rifles. Paul's first theatre of war is recorded as France from 29th December 1916. His address is recorded on his Medal Index Card as 35 Cliftonville Road, Belfast.

Paul O'Kane - Medal Index Card

The London Gazette dated 28th June 1916 records P O'Kane as being confirmed in his rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Lt. O’Kane was serving with 4th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and was attached to 1st Bn. Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on 21st March 1918 aged 23. 

The Belfast News Letter of 25th March 1918 reports:

The Glen is highlighted on this map of the Limestone Road area of Belfast. The former Limestone Railway can be seen between The Glen and the Limestone Road.

Thanks to Richard Graham for this map.

The London Gazette dated 18th May 1918 records P O'Kane as being promoted to Lieutenant as of 1st July 1916 with a note that he had 'since died of wounds'.

Paul is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.  Immediately below his name is an inscription of a famous Comber Victoria Cross holder – Edwin de Wind VC.

O'Kane is also remembered on the Ballycastle War Memorial.  He is also recorded on the find a grave website.

Courtesy Nigel Henderson and Jacqueline Haugseng, I was sent a photo of the family grave in the Saints Patrick and Bridget Roman Catholic Cemetery in Ballycastle. The gravestone bears an inscription to Lt. Paul O'Kane.

Paul is also remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves and on Ireland's World War 1 Casualties

A Pension Card is held for Paul: