Knox, Samuel Wright

Captain Samuel (Sam) Wright Knox

was born at Mount Sandel Cottage, Coleraine on 21st February 1869 to Robert Kyle Knox, Solicitor and Sara Knox nee Twigg. They had married at St George's Parish Church, Dublin on 17th January 1866.

Sam joined Northern Bank in 1885.

By 1901, Sam has married Lucy Grace O'Brien and they are living in house 11, Clifton Street, Belfast with Lucy's brother, Brian. Sam's children are Robert Kyle (2) and Lucy (0). A visitor, Mary McCoach and 2 servants, Isabella Bond and Ellen Ken are also in the house. Sam's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.  

By 1911, Sam was living in house 9, Somerton Road, Duncairn Ward, Belfast with his wife and 3 of his children; Dorothy Ann (10), Brian (6) and Mary Elizabeth (2). His mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mary Dickson and Hilda Eveline Dickson were also in the house along with a governess, Annie Jane Ferguson Sproule and 2 servants, Sarah Jane McWilliam and Catherine Pidd. His occupation is described as a Bank Director. 

Robert and William were boarding at a school in house 61.2, Ulverton Road, Dalkey, Dublin.

Children

• Dorothy Ann Knox was born on 16th August 1900 at 11 C1 Clifton Street, Belfast. Her birth was registered on 12th February 1917 with the authority of the Register General. Sam's occupation is recorded as a Captain in the 16th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. 
  
  
• William O'Brien Knox was born on 9th November 1901 at 11 Clifton Street, Belfast. His birth was registered on 12th February 1917 with the authority of the Register General. Sam's occupation is recorded as a Captain in the 16th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. 
  
  
• Robert Kyle Knox was born on 19th July 1898 at 74 Antrim Road, Belfast. Sam's occupation is recorded as an Accountant. Robert would later join the Northern Bank and serve with distinction in the Great War.
  
  
• Brian Knox was born on 14th May 1904 at 'Avondale', Fortwilliam Park, Belfast. Sam's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.
  
  
• Mary Elizabeth Knox was born on 8th February 1909. Sam's occupation is recorded as a Banker.

Sam was based in Head Office when he volunteered and enlisted into the 16th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

He was then attached to Royal Artillery at Flamertigue (Ypres) 1917 and is recorded as seeing action at the Somme 1916 (Thiepval), Messines 1917 and Ypres 1917 (Passchendaele). 

Sam was wounded twice and then invalided out of the service in February 1918. 

He resigned his commission to resume civic duties and was granted the honorary rank of Captain on 14th March 1918. 

The Belfast News Letter of 14th March 1918 reports:

In 1921 he was serving as a Director of Northern Bank.

When the Ulster Tower was opened in 1921 at Thiepval, France, trees were planted in memory of the officers and men who died there.  Tree markers were made and erected with the trees. At a later date, after the trees had died out, the markers were disposed of in a skip. Some were rescued and are now in the Albert Museum, France. This marker records a tree planted on behalf of the 'British Legion' by Capt S W Knox.

Picture courtesy of Valerie Quinn & John McCormick

The 1925 published 'Northern Banking Company Limited, 1824-1924 Centenary Volume has this photo of S W Knox in it.

Belfast Boat Club - Roll of Honour

The Northern Whig of 24th August 1929 reported the death of Captain S W Knox on 23rd August 1929:

Sam was a keen sportsman involved in rowing for Trinity College, cricket, football and was a member of Royal Belfast, Royal Portrush, Royal County Down and Malone Golf Clubs.

Lyness, William James

An article based on this biography appeared in the History Hub Ulster website

Captain William James Lyness MC and 2 Bars, Croix de Guerre

was born at Tullyard, Moira on 22nd July 1895 to William John Lyness, Farmer and Frances Mary Lyness nee Logan. They had married on 26th November 1884 at St John's, Moira.

In 1901 Jimmy (6, as he was known) was living in house 15, Tullyard, Moira with his parents and 6 siblings; Thomas (14), Lizzie (11), Henrietta (10), Isaac (7), Richard (3)  and Frances (1). An uncle, Robert Lyness and 2 servants, Sandy Kirkwood and Hessie Murphy were also living in the house.

In 1911 the family were living in house 1, Tullyard, Moira. The parents and 5 children; Eveline (22), Anna Elizabeth (21), Richard (13), Frances (12) and Ida (9). A servant, Margaret Burns was also living in the house.

Jimmy was at school at house 7.2, Derry, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. This was the boarding department of Lurgan College.

On 'Ulster Day', 28th September 1912, members of the Lyness' family, Isaac, James and Thomas signed the Ulster Covenant at the Moira Demesne and Market House.

1913 brought Jimmy Lyness success in obtaining a pass in his bank examinations.

Mid Ulster Mail - 7th June 1913

Jimmy joined the Belfast Bank and is recorded as working in College Green, Dublin branch. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, College Green branch

Jimmy served with the Royal Irish Rifles and attained the rank of Temporary Lieutenant (1916), Captain and Adjutant (1918). The bank photograph at the top of this page records him as being in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. His Medal Index Card records Royal Irish Rifles.

W J Lyness - Medal Index Card

The Belfast News Letter of 20th January 1917 reports:

Jimmy embarked for France on 19th March 1917 saw action at Messines, Langemark, Cambrai and the Somme (1918).

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet details Jimmy as serving with the Royal Irish Rifles and that he had been awarded 'military honours' with his last known address as 'in France'.

The Belfast News Letter of 1st August 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 19th August 1917 reports:

The London Gazette of 17th September 1917 records his 1st citation as:

T./2nd Lt. William James Lyness, K. Ir. Rif.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when clearing a wood with his platoon.  In spite of the! very strong resistance which he met, his dispositions and leadership were excellent, and after heavy fighting at various points he captured a large number of prisoners and guns of various calibre. His splendid gallantry and coolness proved invaluable as an example to his men."

The London Gazette of 18th October 1917 records Jimmy as being awarded a bar to his Military Cross with the citation to this 2nd award being published on 7th March 1919:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When visiting his outpost line he was fired on by the enemy at forty yards range, whereupon he obtained a Lewis gun, stood up in full view of the enemy and fired it from his shoulder until it jammed. He then rushed the enemy post with two bombers, and cleared them out.  He had already led a successful attack on the two preceding nights, and it was entirely due to his initiative and personal courage, in spite of three days without sleep, that his posts were established and our position made secure.”

The Belfast News Letter of 19th October 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 9th March 1918 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 13th September 1918 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 8th October 1918 reports:

The London Gazette of 10th January 1919 records a 3rd citation as:

T./Lt. (A./Capt.) William James Lyness, M.C.; 12th Bn., R. Ir. Rif.

"When the right flank of the brigade war held up he went forward to reconnoitre and unexpectedly met with a nest of machine guns and about fifty of the enemy, who opened very heavy fire. With great difficulty he made his way back, got a Lewis gun and a man with a supply of magazines and went

forward again, engaged the strong point, firing eleven magazines, killing the majority of the enemy, and capturing a machine gun.  He then led the flank forward about 500 yards and straightened out the line.  The man with him was killed and he was wounded.  He showed great gallantry and determination.

(M.C. gazetted 17th September, 1917.)  (1st Bar -gazetted 18th October, 1917.)

The Belfast News Letter of 31st January 1919 reports:

The London Gazette of 19th June 1919 records Lyness as being awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

Jimmy Lyness was demobilised with effect from 28th March 1919. The London Gazette describes it as 'relinquishes the acting rank of Captain on ceasing to be employed'. A further entry in the London Gazette states 'Temp. Lt. W. J. Lyness, M.C. relinquishes his commission on completion of service, 6th November 1920, and is granted the rank of Captain.

There is a Pension Card in the name of Capt Wm J Lyness MC that records him being the Adjutant ./ Chaplain in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. This may link in with the Belfast Bank photograph above.

W J Lyness MC - Pension Record Card

The Lisburn Standard of 13th September 1918 records:

"Captain and Adjutant W. J. Lyness, M.C.. Royal Irish Rifles, wounded, is a son of Mr. W. J. Lyness, Tullyard House, Moira, and nephew of Mr. R. Logan, Belfast Bank, Bangor. Before the war Captain Lyness was on the Belfast Bank's Dublin staff. He was a cadet in Colonel Shannon-Crawford's battalion prior to receiving his commission. Captain Lyness, who has been adjutant of his battalion since 22nd March, has a fine record of service, having won both the Military Cross and a bar thereto.

His brother, Lieut. I. Lyness, of the Tank Corps, also holds the Military Cross. Captain Lyness has been wounded in the shoulder by a bullet, but his injury is not serious."

 

On 30th July 2014, I met with Richard Lyness of Messrs R & J Lyness. Richard is the nephew of Jimmy Lyness.  Richard told me that Jimmy returned to banking after the war but may have changed banks from the Belfast Banking Company to the Royal Bank of Ireland. This was probably as a result of the Belfast Bank selling its 'southern' branches to the Royal Bank of Ireland in 1923.

Jimmy retired as a bank inspector.

Richard also advised that the medal group and other military gear was presented to the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum. This museum is currently (2022) moving to Bryson House, Bedford Street, Belfast.

A visit to that location on the same date found the medal group to be displayed in a cabinet on their wall. My thanks go to them for allowing me to take the photograph of the medal group.