Unpublished Danske Bank Staff Magazine (Insight eZine) Article - April 2013

The 2010s decade holds centenaries that are of huge importance to the people of Ireland both North and South. Amongst the commemorations are Titanic (2012), Ulster Covenant (2012), the Great War (2014 to 2018), the Easter Rising (2016) and the creation of Northern Ireland (2021).

The Great War is one event that affected the lives of many bank officials from all the banks in Ireland. In 1914, our bank was actually two banking institutions; the Belfast Banking Company Limited and the Northern Banking Company Limited. The Northern had branches all over Ireland whilst the Belfast had branches in the north of Ireland and Dublin.

War was declared in August 1914 and from then on, many young men of each bank together with some who were considerably older volunteered for active service. It must be recognised that all were volunteers apart from one Northern messenger who was already an army reservist. Altogether, nearly 200 men left their banking roles and went off to war. Before the war was over, 33 men were either killed in action, reported missing or had died on active service. Many were wounded in action, some being injured 2 or 3 times.

Following the armistice in 1918, the remaining men were repatriated back to Ireland and back into banking life. Some decided on careers away from banking.

Memorials to the men who died or were reported missing were made. With those memorials, Rolls of Honour were drafted recording the names of the men who served during the war. These memorials were paper based and incorporated photographs of each official.

At the onset of the Second World War in 1939 and for the period to 1945, nearly 100 officials from both banks again volunteered for active service. 13 of these men were either killed in action or were reported missing.

Following the end of the war, each bank drafted and created memorials / rolls of honour and cast them in bronze. They contained the names of the officials from each conflict in the style of surname and initials.

These memorials were installed in each Head Office; Waring Street (Belfast Banking Company) and Victoria Street (Northern Banking Company). In due course, following the closure of each building, they were installed in their current location, outside the ‘Vault’ staff restaurant in the basement of Donegall Square West, Belfast.

In 2010, I decided that the time was right to try and identify all those officials named on the memorials.  I wanted to take away the anonymity that just a surname with initials gives. Each name represents a former colleague and someone who also had family and descendants. Some of those descendants may also have worked in the bank.

In all, I researched and have now posted over 300 mini-biographies with associated articles, and whilst my initial idea had been to publish a book, it quickly became obvious that fresh details for each man can come to light very quickly and for the ease of updating, I decided on an external website. Each mini-biography may contain information from a variety of public sources e.g.

• National Archives of Ireland – 1901 & 1911 Irish Census, Soldiers’ Wills
• The National Archives – Medal Index Cards
• Public Records Office for Northern Ireland – Ulster Covenant
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• London Gazette
• Belfast Newspaper Library – cuttings from the Belfast News Letter (courtesy of Nigel Henderson)
• The Link – staff magazine of Northern Bank
• Ancestry.com
• General Records Office for NI (GRONI)

During my research, I wanted to bring the story up to date and include the mini-biographies of the 3 Northern Bank officials who were killed as a result of the Northern Ireland Conflict.

The website address is: http://northernbankwarmemorials.blogspot.co.uk/ or just Google ‘Northern Bank War Memorials’. It has been running since November 2012 and has followers throughout the world. It is most pleasing when a descendant of one of the men contacts me and gives more information or photographs. 

Please feel free to circulate this address to former colleagues.

Gavin Bamford

April 2013 - updated 2022

Chrysanthemum Day

Chrysanthemum Day - 29th September

Before the poppy was the symbol of Remembrance, the Chrysanthemum was the flower used to remember the men and women who were serving (and died) during the Great War. These advertisements are from the Northern Whig, September 1916.

[Thanks to Nigel Henderson]

Centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign - 'Last Post' Commemoration event

Centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign
- 'Last Post' Commemoration event - 26th April 2015

In association with Last Post, Super Act, Heritage Lottery Fund, National Museums NI, Living Legacies, Davey Music and Michael MacBroom, History Hub Ulster commemorated the bank officials from the Northern Banking Company Limited who served during the Gallipoli Campaign.

Invitations to the event were published by Last Post, Living Legacies, History Hub Ulster via websites and social media.

Four officials were identified as having served in this campaign.  They were, in alphabetical order:

Warrant Officer Class 2 Thomas W Cooper - survived the war

Private Charles Kevin Fitzsimmons - survived the war

Lieutenant Thomas Richard Jenkins - survived the war

Private William Frederick Matthews - Killed in Action

 We acknowledge that there may have been other officials from the Northern Banking Company Limited or the Belfast Banking Company Limited who also served in Gallipoli.

National Museums Northern Ireland (Ulster Folk Museum) were kind enough to permit History Hub Ulster to use their Northern Banking Company Limited exhibit. This building is a replica of the Northern Bank branch in Portglenone.

The 2015 Last Post project is aimed at commemorating the Gallipoli Campaign in the form of musical events that must include the playing of the Last Post,  Patrick Davey and Bronagh Davey (Davey Music) were kind enough to play the uilleann pipes and the Irish flute.

A flyer was provided for visitors to the museum who viewed the event with remaining copies left in the bank office.

Our cameraman for the day was Michael MacBroom. He provided the following videos for us.

History Hub Ulster - YouTube channel (long version) & History Hub Ulster - YouTube channel (highlights)

Thompson, Jackson Holmes

Sergeant Jackson Holmes Thompson

was born at Castlewellan on 5th August 1904 to Robert Thompson, Bank Manager and Martha Walker Thompson nee Holmes. They had married on 22nd April 1899 at Elmwood Presbyterian Church, Belfast. Robert's occupation is a Banker.

In 1901, Robert was living with his wife, sister-in-law, Jane Holmes and a servant, Rose Anne McLean in house 101, Main Street, Bryansford, Co. Down. Robert's occupation is recorded as a Cashier (Northern Bank).

In 1911 Jackson (6) is living in house 149, Castlewellan with his parents and 2 sisters; Margaret Evelyn (10) and Kathleen Mary (8). A servant, Mary McClements is also present in the property. Robert records his occupation as a Bank Manager. It is probable that they were living in the Bank House.

Northern Bank, Bank House and branch, Castlewellan

On 1st April 1922 Jackson joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address is recorded as Northern Bank, Downpatrick. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Larne (1922 - Junior), Downpatrick (1924 - Junior), Head Office (1924 - Relief Staff), Head Office (1925 - Foreign Dept.), Portrush (1928 - Cashier), Head Office (1928 - Cashier), Antrim (1929 - Cashier), Windsor (1930 - Cashier) and Londonderry (1937 - Accountant).

Northern Bank, Larne branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

  

Northern Bank, Portrush branch

Northern Bank, Antrim branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

The Belfast News-Letter of  19th May 1931 printed this photograph of Jackson playing golf for Northern Bank at Portrush:

In 1939 Jackson applied to the bank for permission to join the 9th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Royal Artillery with Service Number 1469066. The under-mentioned 'Tracer Card' records his joining date as 8th May 1939.

J H Holmes - WW2 Royal Artillery Tracer Card

On 2nd September he was ‘Called up on Active Service’ as a Gunner with promotions to Lance Sergeant and Sergeant following.  

The 'Tracer Card' indicates demobilisation as the end of 1945.

Jackson re-joined the Northern Bank at Head Office on 1st October 1945. Transfers followed to Connswater (1945), Donegall Square (1951), Willowfield (1958) and High Street (1961). 

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Northern Bank, Willowfield branch

 J H Thomson (sp) is mentioned in this newspaper article from 1966 re the opening of a new branch at 10 High Street, Belfast.

Jackson Thompson retired on pension on 31st March 1967.

Malseed, Robert (Bobby) Campbell

Robert (Bobby) Campbell Malseed

was born in 1922 to Henry Malseed and Frances Louisa E (?) Victoria Malseed nee Marks. They had married at 5 Deramore Drive, Belfast (brides home) on 12th October 1920.

Bobby was educated at Portora Royal and Belfast Royal Academy schools.

He joined the Belfast Banking Company in May 1940 and started in Larne branch. His father, Henry signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as Belfast Bank, Belfast and later Portrush Road, Portstewart.

Belfast Bank, Larne branch

Belfast Bank, Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

In 1941 Bobby volunteered and enlisted into the North Irish Horse regiment with Service Number 7905067. He saw action in North Africa and Italy. 

Bobby wrote about his army service and his return to civvy life in an article for the bank staff magazine. It is reproduced below.

Following demobilisation in 1946, he returned to work in Markets branch. 

Belfast Bank, Markets branch

Bobby was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1947 paying 5 shillings subscription.  

He also served in Magherafelt (1947), Ballymoney (1967 - Manager), Coleraine (1969 - Manager), Londonderry (1973 - Manager) and Lurgan (1979 - Manager) branches. 

Belfast Bank, Magherafelt branch

Belfast Bank, Ballymoney branch

Belfast Bank, Coleraine branch

Belfast Bank, Londonderry branch

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch

A profile and picture was published in the staff magazine ‘The Link’ (Summer 1979). 

A rugby picture of Bobby was published in the staff magazine ‘The Link’ (Summer 1982). 

Malseed retired on 30th April 1985 with a picture being published in the staff magazine ‘The Link’ (Summer 1985). 

Mrs L V Malseed, the widow of R C Malseed attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour.

1940 and All That by Bobby Malseed (7905067)

The following article appeared in the Staff Magazine, The Link (Winter 1985).

It all started in 1936 or so when my generation, who were brought up on the old saying that the sun never sets on the British Empire and saluting the flag on Empire Day, had only two thoughts in mind, i.e. get a job and then join up if war came.

I joined the Bank in May 1940 just before Dunkirk and after six months of dipped pens, passing irregular endorsements on cheques, failing to copy letters correctly and losing the National Insurance Cards I heard the call of King and Country very clearly. 

New Year’s Eve was spent behind a desk writing up Pass Books. With the pile of books growing higher and the singing of the soldiers outside getting louder as they welcomed in the New Year I knew my place was with them. 

After five years of hostilities I spent a final year in the Army of Occupation in Germany where there was a thriving Black Market with twenty cigarettes fetching 100 Marks and a bottle of Scotch costing 17 Marks. A good life was had by all. (The immorality was deplorable). 

At this stage it is only right to mention that during our service in the Forces the Officials at home were kind enough to subscribe to a Tobacco Fund organised by the late Hubert McManus (Hugh’s father) and I think we got 500 cigarettes per month and, believe me, they were very welcome. We never thought as we practically ate them in the tank that smoking was bad for our health and there were many other things around at that time that should surely have had a Government Health Warning. I remember going on leave from Italy and leaving instructions that my cigarette parcel was to be opened and shared leaving me 100 for myself – when I returned I was very surprised to see a lady whose character reference would surely be ‘trustworthy for any business engagement she would be likely to enter into’ smoking Gallaher Greens. 

On return to Markets Branch in October 1946 dressed in my demob suit (which everybody was given on demobilisation) it was difficult to adjust to the new life. 

You can imagine my predicament at 24 years of age just about being able to differentiate between a lodgement docket (white) and a cheque (pink) with the stale joke in my mind regarding the accountant who had a note on his desk about the Credit side being next the window which never struck me as being very funny as it was too near home for me. 

However, the staff were all very kind to me and took great patience to explain many times how to do my daily tasks. 

There were Welcome Home parties given by the churches and I will always remember Malone Rugby Club’s Welcome Home Dinner held in Thompson’s Restaurant where we received free Guinness which was very important to us in those days when ‘little things meant such a lot’. We also had our own annual Ex-Service Dinner which was very much enjoyed and, strangely enough, those “informal” occasions did not appear to affect our careers. I think that when we came home everybody hoped that we would blend into Society as soon and as painlessly as possible. 

As most of us are now well over 60 the meaning of ‘they shall grow not old as we that are left grow old’ becomes much more vivid. Those of us who parade on Armistice Sunday look round at our grey-haired comrades and think of how smart they once looked in the various uniforms and how the great bond of understanding and friendship has blossomed over the years between us and a great feeling of thankfulness to be alive is always prevalent.