Northern Bank - War Memorials / Roll of Honour : 02/09/22

Wednesday 9 February 2022

Breene, Thomas Frederick

2nd Lieutenant Thomas Frederick Breene

was born in Ballykett townland, Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland on 17th May 1888 to Thomas John Breene, Excise Officer and Mary Ann Breene nee McInerney. They had married on 16th August 1883 at St Michael's Church of Ireland, Limerick. Thomas is recorded as an Inland Revenue Officer on the marriage registration.

In 1901 Thomas (12) was living at 99 Fitzroy Avenue, Belfast with his parents and 6 siblings; Walter (16), Richard (14), Harold (11), John George (10), Aileen Clare (8) and Nicholas (6). A servant, Bridget Tubridy was also living in the house. Thomas' father's occupation is recorded as an Inland Revenue Officer, 1st Class, (Excise Department).

On 1st March 1906, Thomas joined Northern Bank in Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Balbriggan (1908), Londonderry (1910) and Kingscourt (1911 - Cashier).

Northern Bank, Balbriggan branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Frederick Breen is recorded in the 1911 Irish Census as boarding with the Haslett family in house 2.1 Rosemount Avenue, Londonderry.

In 1911, the rest of the family were still living in house 99, Fitzroy Avenue, Belfast. Parents and 4 children; John George (20 - Bank Clerk), Aileen Clare (18), Nicholas (16) and Cyril (8). John was eventually to emigrate to USA where he died in 1945.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Thomas' sister, Aileen Claire Breene signed the Women’s Ulster Declaration (Covenant) at All Saints School, Belfast.

Further transfers followed to Cushendall (1912 - Cashier), Head Office (1912), Dungloe (1912 - Cashier) and Head Office (1914).

Northern Bank, Cushendall branch (1922 burning)

Northern Bank, Dungloe branch

Thomas was a member of Queens’ University Officer Training Corps (OTC) in 1915. On 10th May 1915, Thomas volunteered and enlisted into the 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Machine-Gun Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant.

His first theatre of war is recorded as M. E. F. from 20th November 1915. Later newspaper reports record him as dying in France.

T F Breene - Medal Index Card

Thomas was killed in action on 1st July 1916.

This website records a diary entry that mentions the death of T F Breene.

"... At 9:10 am the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which had already experienced the front-line horrors of gas attacks in the last week of June, received orders to move up from its reserve position and towards the battle zone. Just after 1:00pm, reports were received that British troops had been spotted in the German forward trenches, and a patrol belonging to the 1st RWR set off into No Man's Land under Lt R R Waters of 'A' Company. Pinned down by machine-gun fire from Beaumont Hamel, the sortie was forced to withdraw having suffered a number of casualties, including the death of Lt T F Breene. In the ranks, Gloucester born A/Cpl Albert Henry Boucher (No. 8609) had also fallen. ..."

The Belfast News Letter of 7th July 1916 reports:

The Belfast News Letter dated 19th July 1916 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 8th January 1917 reports:

Administration (with the Will) was granted at Belfast to Mary Breene, Married Woman. Thomas' effects were £31 16s 0d.

Thomas was awarded the 1915 Star, British Victory Medal and the British War Medal and is commemorated on the 'Royal Warwickshire Regiment' wall section of the Thiepval Memorial.

T F Breene is remembered on the Queen's University Officers' Training Corps War Memorial and in Ireland's Memorial Record:

A retired official of Northern Bank, Peter Breene (PTSB) has kindly let me use two photographs of brothers of T F Breene.

Richard Simmons Breene and Harold (Hal) Breene

Richard was to become Chancellor Breene, rector of St Peters parish, Antrim Road, Belfast.

Hal was also a member of the Warwickshire Regiment. He had been badly effected by gassing during the war and was never in good health afterwards. He died aged 72 on board a ship to Madeira and was buried at sea.

McFall, Thomas Lamont

Newspaper image

(courtesy of John McCormick)

Lieutenant Thomas Lamont McFall MM

McFall was born at Magherintendry, Bushmills, Co. Antrim on 15th November 1894 to John McFall, Farmer and Elizabeth McFall nee Nevin. They had married at Ballyclabber Meeting House on 8th October 1880.

McFall joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Portaferry and Magherafelt (Belfast News Letter below) branches. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

McFall volunteered and enlisted into the 12th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with Service Number 12/24513.

The 'Northern Constitution' published on 3rd July 1915 carried this report that featured T L McFall:

McFall's first theatre of war is recorded as France from 7th June 1916.

T L McFall - Medal Index Card

Promotion to Lance Corporal, Corporal followed prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 4th October 1915. His promotion was reported in the London Gazette in August 1916.

The Belfast News Letter of 3rd September 1916 reported:

During November 1916, the following was reported:

"Capt. Alexander M Reilly ..... was severely wounded on November 22 1916. The battalion were in the front line just to the south of where the Spanbroekmolen Mine would be blown 6 months later, south of Ypres and suffered heavy bombardment".

The war diary states:

"A direct hit was secured by the Boche on No 3 Company resulting in the deaths of 3 other ranks and Capt A M Reilly, Company Commander, 2nd Lieut T L McFall and 2 other ranks being wounded. Captain Reilly afterwards died from his wounds in No 2 Casualty Clearing Station".

The Belfast News Letter of 14th December 1916 reports:

McFall was serving with 9th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 7th August 1917 aged 22.

McFall is buried in the Potiize Chateau Grounds Cemetery, leper West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He had originally been buried in a smaller area of the cemetery with a wooden cross with badge identifying the grave. On 10th July 1919 his remains were re-interred in his current location.

He is also remembered in Dunluce Parish Church, Bushmills.

The Belfast News Letter of 20th August 1917 reports:

McFall was awarded the Military Medal in addition to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. According to the Medal Roll, the latter two were awarded on 31st October 1922.