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Wednesday 6 April 2022

Victory in Europe Day - 8th May 2020 - 75th Anniversary



VE Day - Belfast (Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch top right)


The 8th May 2020 was the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Europe. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill broadcast to the nation at 3:00 pm on 8th May 1945. Many people around the UK had already been celebrating from the day before when news broke.

96 of our colleagues volunteered for service in the Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. 13 did not return.


Northern Bank – World War II
44 officials volunteered for service
of which
3 were killed in action

1 was reported missing


Belfast Bank – World War II
52 officials volunteered for service
of which
9 were killed in action


The returning men were repatriated in stages from 1945 to 1947. Some had returned for other reasons during the war. All the men had stories to tell. A few left the employment of the bank and went on to other roles. 

The links below tell only part of the story. Each man has an individual story that can be accessed via the website filters.






We Shall Remember Them - (Courtesy of Heritage Flight Simulation)


Lisburn VE Day - 70 years on - by Gavin Bamford

Irish Census 1901 and 1911 - Addresses


The 1901 and 1911 Irish Census records are accessible on the Irish Genealogy website, free of charge.

Census of Ireland
  • The 1901 census was taken on 31st March 1901.

  • The 1911 census was taken on 2nd April 1911.
Using this site and its excellent search facility, I was able to trace a great number of the officials to where they or their families lived in both census years.

You will see the addresses in the biographies detailed as 'house number' e.g.
  • Residents of a house 6 in Lisheegan (The Vow, Antrim)
House numbering, in the sense that we know it as today, did not appear until later in the 20th century. In the case above, this would be the 6th house along the road from where the census enumerator started his task. If you were looking for the property today, it may not be '6 Lisheegan Road'.

Tweedie, Brian Morrison

Brian Morrison Tweedie

was born on 27th August 1923 to Frank Tweedie and Mrs Tweedie.
Brian was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institute (INST) where he was a keen sportsman. The Ireland's Saturday Night of 15th May 1937 reported on him coming 2nd in the 220 yards (14 years) race.
The Belfast Telegraph of 16th March 1942 reported that. Brian would be playing in the Ulster Schools Rugby Final on St. Patrick's Day, 17th March against Portora Royal School.
On 13th April 1942 Brian joined Northern Bank at Head Office giving his address as 32 Old Cavehill Road, Belfast.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Irvinestown (1942 - Relief) and then Head Office (1942 - Secretary's Room).

In January 1943 he applied to the bank to be permitted to join the Royal Navy.

A formal resignation from the bank came in a letter dated 15th July 1946 to the bank from Brian indicating he was going to study dentistry at Queens' University, Belfast.
The Belfast Telegraph of 27th September 1956 reports the marriage of Brian to Miss Heather Christine McKinney of Ballymena at the First Presbyterian Church, Ballymena.

Brian died on 17th July 2016.

The following obituary appeared in the British Dental Journal published 31st January 2017 and written by P S D Henderson.
Brian was brought up on Skegoneill Avenue in North Belfast. He attended the local primary school and went on to RBAI (Royal Belfast Academical Institution), where he played in the 1942 Schools' Cup Rugby Final. During the second world war, Brian's family were evacuated to Rathfriland where he had many cherished memories of living with the Fegan family.
On leaving school, Brian joined the Northern Bank and was posted to Irvinestown. In 1943 he joined the Royal Navy and served on three landing ships, HMS Princess Astrid, HMS Eastway, and HMS Boxer.
Brian told the story of how his ship picked up a German U-Boat on radar, which they successfully torpedoed only to discover they had torpedoed a whale!
Brian was demobbed in 1946 and commenced his studies for dentistry at Queens University Belfast. Unfortunately, Brian contracted tuberculosis in the Navy and spent two years in hospital, qualifying from Queens in 1953.
Brian set up a very successful practice in Rathcoole and became a very active member of the Northern Ireland branch of the BDA. Brian served as Secretary, Branch President (1983) and was Trustee of the Benevolent Fund for many years serving on the Executive Committee.
Brian was elected to the International College of Dentists for services to dentistry, was awarded Life Membership of BDA in 1990 and was elected a Fellow of the BDA in 1998.  He was involved in the establishment of a general practice training unit in the School of Dentistry and worked part-time in a teaching post there.
Brian was a very keen golfer and an active member of Greenisland Golf Club where he was Captain in 1969 and was President for the club's centenary year – 1994.
Brian was a longstanding member of St. Peter's Parish Church where he served in many capacities. Brian, with his Navy background was called on every year to lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday.
Brian is survived by his wife (of nearly 60 years), Heather, son, Philip and daughters, Jenny, Caroline and Susie.

Stewart, James Crawford


Lieutenant James Crawford Stewart
was born at Bonds Hill, Londonderry on 28th December (or October) 1892 to Samuel Stewart, Merchant and Isabella Stewart nee Crawford. They were married on 19th November 1889 under special licence in the house of the bride at Rosnagalla House, Glendermott and registered in the Strabane register. The marriage was registered a second time in the Londonderry register.

In 1901, Isabella and her 2 children; James (8) and Jeannie E (10) were living with her parents (Crawford) and her 3 siblings (Eliza, Maggie and James Crawford) in house 2, Rossnagillagh, Glendermott, Co. Londonderry. There were also 4 servants present in the property; Henry Quigg, Joseph Mullan, James Friel and Maggie Roarty.

In 1911, Isabella is residing in house 6, Clarendon Street, Londonderry with her daughter, Jeannie and Samuel (9). There are 4 boarders; Artena Reid, Sara Thompson, James Dawson and Winifred Pollock and 1 servant, Lizzie Reid also present in the property.

James would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1911 working in Head Office. His mother signed the Bankers Guarantee giving her address as 11 Clarendon Street, Londonderry.


Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Head Office, 2 Waring Street, Belfast 

The 1911 Irish Census records a Londonderry man, James Stewart (18) boarding in house 34, Eblana Street, Cromac, Belfast.  His occupation is recorded as Bank Clerk.

James volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Irish Rifles with Service Number 40921. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from December 1916.

He later transferred to the Royal Field Artillery. The London Gazette of 11th February 1918 reports Stewart as being promoted from Officer Cadet to 2nd Lieutenant. He was later promoted to Lieutenant.

As an officer, James had to apply for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. This he did on 22nd April 1923.



James C Stewart - Medal Index Card

His Medal Index Card records his address as PO Box 2, Te Pulmy, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

It is presumed that James did not re-join the Belfast Bank following his demobilisation after the war. 

There are a number of ships passenger manifests that record a James C Stewart departing and arriving at various locations across the world e.g.:
Mr James C Stewart, 34, departed Sydney, Australia for London in December 1927 onboard the S S Renalla. His occupation is recorded as a Dairy Farmer and his address as New Zealand. His proposed address in the UK is recorded as Newbuildings, Londonderry.

Stirling, Thomas


Lieutenant Thomas Stirling
was born at 44a or 440 Govan Road, Govan, Scotland on 23rd July 1895 to Thomas Stirling (Senior - Night Watchman) and Annie Stirling nee Colvin. They had married on 7th September 1891 in the District of Govan.

In 1901 the family are living in the Govan area of Scotland.

In 1911 Thomas (15) is living in house 6, Liswatty Lower, Knockantern, Co. Londonderry with his parents and brother, William's (19). William and Thomas' (15) birthplace are recorded as Scotland.
Stirling would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1913 and worked in Newry and Head Office. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as Liswatty, Cloyfin, Coleraine.


Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee


Belfast Bank, Newry branch


Belfast Bank, Head Office

Thomas volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Irish Rifles and attained the rank of Lieutenant in their 20th battalion.

The Londonderry Sentinel of 3rd July 1917 reports the wounding of Thomas:


The Forces War Record database records a 2nd Lieutenant T Stirling of the Royal Irish Rifles as being wounded on 8th September 1917.
It also records a promotion to Temp Lieutenant for a T Stirling with seniority from 7th January 1918 whilst serving with the 15th (Service) Battalion (North Belfast) Royal Irish Rifles.

It also records a Temp Lt T Stirling as being Mentioned in Dispatches in the London Gazette (Issue 431442 page 8709) dated 8th July 1919. 

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Stirling as having been 'previously wounded' with his last known address 'in France'.


Belfast Bank - Roll of Honour booklet

PRONI records a Thomas Stirling of Liswatty, Cloyfin, Coleraine, County Londonderry farmer died 11 September 1941 Probate Belfast 4 March to William Charles Acheson and Finlay Sinclair farmers. Effects £466 13s. 4d. This man may have been Thomas' father.