Smyth, Robert - "Missing from the Roll of Honour"

Sergeant Robert Smyth

was born around 1876 (date and location not found) and was the son of George Rock Smyth and Elizabeth Smyth. His surname is sometimes recorded as Smythe.

Following his education, Robert may have joined the Northern Banking Company around 1893 (about 17 years old).

In 1901, Robert (25) was living in house 11, Cullybackey Road, Ballymena with his parents and 3 siblings; Lizzie Moore (23), Harriette (20) and George (29). Robert's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk. 

By 1911, the family address is now recorded as house 16, Cullybackey Road, Ballymena. Robert is living with his parents and his 2 sisters. Again, Robert's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk. Brother George is now living in house 2.1 Charlotte Street, Ballymoney with his wife and 3 young children aged 5 and under.

Robert, aged 38, volunteered and enlisted at London on 16th July 1915 into the 1st Bn. Welsh Guards as a Guardsman with Service Number 1820. He would have been aged 40 at this time. His address is recorded as 'Woodbine Cottages', Ballymena.

R Smyth - Enlistment Papers 
(Occupation - Bank Official)

Robert Smythe - Medal Index Card

Robert records that he served in France from 26th September 1916 to 15th April 1919 as a Corporal, Lance Sergeant and then a Sergeant. However, his 'first theatre of war' section on the Medal Index Card above has not been completed.

Robert Smyth - Military History Sheet

During his career in the army, Robert was promoted from Guardsman (Gdsm) to::

• 2nd November 1915 - Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal - at London
• 14th March 1916 - Promoted Corporal and appointed T/Sgt - at Tower of London

Unfortunately, Robert had a few disciplinary actions taken against him:

• L/Cpl - 23rd November 1916 - 'Continual  (?) regulation' and 'severely reprimanded'
• L/Cpl - 30th November 1916 -  Gross neglect of duty' and 'deprived of lance stripe'
• T/Sgt - 14th October 1919 - 'Conduct to the prejudice etc' and sentenced to be 'reduced to the ranks' with '112 days detention'
• Gdsm - 3rd February 1920 - 'Discharged for misconduct'

According to the Medal Index Card, Robert was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His 'Military History Sheet' is annotated '1914/15 Star' in section 9 - Medals.

Following his demobilisation, Robert applied for an Army Pension and completed the army document (below) known as a 'Statement By A Soldier Concerning His Own Case' [*] on 17th January 1920.  He stated that he had 'varicose veins and debility' and had also been treated in Ballymena Cottage Hospital for appendicitis.

In Section 7 of the document, Robert records his employer before joining the army as the Northern Banking Company Limited, Belfast.

[*]  The document was obtained (via Ancestry) by Alan Rosborough who is a researcher for the Cullybackey & District Historical Society.

  

The writer has a set of 13 pages from Robert's army career with copies of a few displayed above.

Great War Centenary - 4th August 1914 to 4th August 2014

Great War Centenary - 4th August 1914 to 4th August 2014

At 11 o'clock in the evening of 4th August 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany.

For individuals and employers, no one was sure of what was coming.

Within the Northern Banking Company, one of its officials, William Pattenden (a caretaker) would be called up immediately as he was already a reservist.

Over the course of the war, nearly 200 officials from both the Belfast Banking Company and its rival bank, the Northern Banking Company would volunteer for service. Some would be rejected for military service due to medical reasons.

On 15th December 1914 the Belfast News Letter reported:

(Courtesy of Nigel Henderson)

Of those nearly 200 men, 33 were to be die on active service or be reported missing.

If we bring ourselves forward 100 years and think of our current workplaces, be it a branch, a Head Office department, a back office, a call centre or a service centre, there would be perhaps 1 or 2 thinking of volunteering for service. One friend will maybe persuade another to join up. An office junior may be impressed by an older colleague and join up. Either way, young men are about to tell their manager or department head that they are going off to war.

Whatever way you choose to remember the centenary of the Great War starting, just take a moment to think about the bank officials that served and remember those that didn't return.

We will remember them.

Belfast Banking Company - Roll of Honour - 2000

I have just come across this photo from 2000 at around the time we moved the tablets to the canteen corridor location on 4th floor, of the (now Danske Bank) Northern Bank Head Office.

The photograph was taken prior to the Dedication Service by Dean Houston McKelvey of St Anne's Cathedral. 

Images of the Northern Bank War Memorial (Brass) - The Great War

The Great War - here are some more images of the Northern Bank brass 'Rolls of Honour' and 'War Memorial' in situ in the basement of the (now Danske Bank) Northern Bank Head Office, Donegall Square West, Belfast.  

Apologies for the poor angle, lighting, reflections etc, all due to the location in a narrow corridor.

Images of the Belfast Bank War Memorial (Brass) - The Great War

The Great War - here are some more images of the Belfast Bank brass 'Rolls of Honour' and 'War Memorial' in situ in the basement of the (now Danske Bank) Northern Bank Head Office, Donegall Square West, Belfast. 

Apologies for the poor angle, lighting, reflections etc, all due to the location in a narrow corridor.

Roll of Honour on Waring Street Wall circa 1996

Roll of Honour on Waring Street Wall circa 1996

Up until the move to Donegall Square West, the various Rolls of Honour and War Memorials were installed on the walls of the old Belfast Banking Company Head Office in Waring Street, Belfast.

Here is a picture of the brass Belfast Banking Company memorial from circa 1996 found recently in a staff magazine from that period:

The 2 bank officials are dressed in period costume.

What do others think of this website?

Here are just a few of the comments received in relation to this website:



What an inspiring project you have there...Bloody well done.

Great job with this, a lot of hard work and long hours have gone into this piece. I am forwarding to the NI War Memorial, as I am sure it will be of interest. I suspect there is no similar work.

Thank you again for your hard work. I hope that others appreciate the research that you are doing.

That is a great site that you have.

Just had a look at the site. Very impressive.

Very interesting website.

Nice blog!

An excellent piece of work and a very fitting tribute to your late father....well done.

Just had a quick look at the site this morning, it looks really interesting ...

I for one, think your efforts have been first class.

Well done for creating the blog to record the biographies of the men of the Northern Bank/Belfast Bank. Your efforts will ensure that these men are not forgotten.

I like what you have done with your blog, even more so, as it is how I intend the layout of my research to be presented .....



My thanks to all who have commented.

Gavin Bamford

Alexander, George

2nd Lieutenant George Alexander

was born at 37 Lavinia Street, Belfast on 8th April 1897 to Francis Alexander, Clerk and Charlotte Alexander nee Galbraith. They had married on 11th March 1896 at Albert Bridge Independent Church, Belfast. Francis was the first son of a 7th son.  

In 1901 George (3) was living in house 8, St. Ives Gardens, Cromac, Belfast with his parents and sister, Fanny Galbraith (2). 

By 1911 the family had moved to house 5, Stranmillis Park, Belfast. 

George applied to join the Northern Bank in 1912. He received a letter from the bank advising him that he had been successful in an examination held on 30th October 1912.

Later he attended a medical examination with a Dr Victor George Leopold Fielden of 84 Dublin Road, Belfast at a cost of 10/6 (£0.52.5). In the 1911 census, Dr Fielden described himself as a Medical Practitioner, Anaesthetist, Queen's University Belfast.

George started the bank at Head Office on 26th November 1912.  He was of Independent faith. 

In 1915 he enlisted as a Private into the 17th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles (Cadet Company) aged 18. 

On 5th August 1916 he was promoted to a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the 17th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles. His Warrant from the King is pictured below. The front of the document is dated 28th August 1916.

Within the actual warrant, it has been dated as 26th August 1916 (within the seventh year of the reign of King George V).

Later he was posted to the 6^th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles. George later served with the Salonica Expeditionary Force and was later promoted to Lieutenant. He saw action at Struma River (Macedonia).   

On 24th October 1916, George became a Prisoner of War in Bulgaria. The Belfast News Letter of 13th December 1916 reports:

 

George was released from being a Prisoner of War in 1918 and returned to the United Kingdom. A printed letter from the King dated 1918 was sent to him 'welcoming him on his release'. The envelope and letter are pictured below:

 

Following demobilisation, George re-joined the Northern Bank on 14th April 1919 and was posted to Newry branch. 

Transfers followed to Head Office (1921), Randalstown (1921) and Royal Avenue (1923). Whilst based in Royal Avenue branch, George studied for his Institute of Bankers in Ireland examinations. On 15th June 1926, Edwin D Hill (director and author of the Northern Banking Company Centenary Volume 1824 to 1924) wrote a hand written letter to George giving unofficial notice of his examination result.

On 26th June 1926, the bank wrote to George and congratulated him on securing first place in the preliminary examination. He received a cheque for £15 15/- (£15.75).

During 1930 George applied to join the Irish Bank Officials' Association (IBOA) Medical Benefits Fund and was accepted in a letter dated 9th December 1930.  The letter was addressed to Alexander at Head Office.

Later transfers were to Head Office (1930), Londonderry (1931), Head Office (1931) and Shaftesbury Square (1931). 

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

On 27th August 1931, George was found dead (poisoned by gas) at 5 Stranmillis Park, Belfast.  This was his sister’s residence. The 1918 Belfast Street Directory records ‘F Alexander’ as living at that address. He is buried in plot L1 16 in Belfast City Cemetery with his parents who had previously died in 1909 (Charlotte) and 1924 (Francis).

'ALSO THEIR SON GEORGE

DIED 27TH AUGUST 1931'

The Belfast News-Letter of 31st August 1931 included this tribute to George in a cricket sports column:

The Belfast News-Letter of 29th September 1931 included this tribute to George in a hockey sports column:

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link (Summer 1978)’ contains a photograph of George appearing in the Northern Bank Cricket Team of 1928.

Additional family information has been kindly supplied by Charlie Alexander.