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Sunday 3 April 2022

Smyth, William Thorpe


Lieutenant William Thorpe Smyth

was born  circa 1896/97 to William Smyth and Margretta Smyth. 
based on William serving in France from mid-1916 it has not been possible to verify the Irish censi details.
William may have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1915 and is recorded as working in head Office and Newry branch. His father and mother signed the Bankers Guarantee with their addresses being recorded as Curragh, Dungall, Ballymena; The Vow, Ballymoney and Cambrai, Newhill Road, Ballymoney.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Newry branch

William volunteered and enlisted into the Connaught Rangers before transferring to the 7th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 

The Ballymena Weekly Telegraph of 27th November 1915 reports that William Thorpe Smyth, son of 
Wm Smyth, The Curragh, Ballymena has been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Connaught Rangers.

His first theatre of war is recorded as France from July 1916. He later attained the rank of Lieutenant.


W T Smyth - Medal Index Card
The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records William as having been 'previously wounded'.

On 20th February 1918, William Thorpe Smyth (full age, soldier) married Mary Edith Livingstone at Dundalk Presbyterian Church.

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

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, William returned to work eventually ending up in Accountants Department with retirement coming in 1942.

Wm T Smyth died on 21st February 1963. His address at that time was 19 Ashley Gardens, Belfast. His estate, sealed in London was £79 3s 4d and left to his widow, Mary Edith Smyth. His estate, sealed in Belfast was £2,061 16s and left to his widow, Mary Edith Smyth.

The couples son, Benjamin served in the RAF VR during the Second World War:

SMYTH, Flying Officer (Pilot), BENJAMIN THORPE, 170709. 113 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 29th March 1945. Son of William Thorpe Smyth and Mary Edith Smyth, of Belfast, Northern Ireland. 28. G. 19.  [Taukkyan War Cemetery].

Scott, John Marshall


Lieutenant John Marshall Scott
was born at Abbey (Newry Registration District) on 28th August 1885 to Albert Scott, Merchant and Georgina Scott nee Hill. They had married on 26th June 1882 at the First Presbyterian Church, Seapatrick, Banbridge.
In 1901 John (15) lived in house 82, Vergemount Hall, Clonskeagh, Pembroke West, Dublin with his parents and 3 siblings; Albert George (17); Ernest Hill (14) and Hilda Joy (2). A servant, Mary McCoy was also present in the house.  
The 1911 Irish Census records the family living in house 1, Clareville Road, Terenure, Dublin. His sister Hilda Joy is the only sibling living at home. John’s occupation is described as a Banker. A boarder, George H Harrison and a servant, Bridget E Kearns are also present in the property.
John would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1911 and worked in Pembroke, Dublin and Rathmines, Dublin. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as Dublin. Later, his mother would sign the guarantee giving her address as 1 Clareville Road, Rathgar, Dublin.



Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheets


Belfast Bank, Pembroke, Dublin branch


Belfast Bank, Rathmines, Dublin branch

John volunteered and enlisted into the 1st Bn. Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians). On 1st July 1916 John was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant (on probation). His first theatre of war is recorded as Salonika, Greece from 15th September 1916.


Medal Index Card - Lt J M Scott
 
 The Freeman's Journal of 4th January 1916 reported that John Marshall Scott, Leinster Regiment was 'missing, believed killed'. Fortunately this was not true and on 2nd August 1919 Capt & QM Lt J M Scott returned to the UK with the 1st Bn Leinster Regiment.
John was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. 
In 1923 the Belfast Bank sold all its southern branches (and staff) to the Royal Bank of Ireland. John's address on the Medal Index Card is recorded as Royal Bank House, Duggan Place, Rathmines, Co. Dublin.
John, Bank Manager married Mrs Freda Forster King, widow, on 3rd June 1924 at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Mrs King was the widow of Major Stanley King, Middlesex Regiment.

Scott & King - Marriage Registration