Bagshaw, Robert

Trooper Robert Bagshaw

was born in Manchester on 28th December 1884 to Nathaniel Bagshaw, Merchants Clerk and Alice Rebecca Bagshaw nee Salmon.

Birth Registration - R Bagshaw

The Belfast News-Letter dated 18th February 1899 reported the death of Robert's father, Nathaniel on 17th February 1899 at his residence, Chichester Hotel, aged 43.

Robert joined Northern Bank on 17th May 1900 in Head Office.  

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

On 25th March 1901, Robert's mother Alice Bagshaw, widow, married Andrew Alexander Magowan, Book-keeper.

In 1901, Robert (16) was living in house 122, 'Craythorpe', Upper Newtownards Road, Knock, Belfast with his step-father, Andrew Magowan, his mother and sister Amy (17). His occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

A transfer to Royal Avenue (1902 - Junior) was followed by Head Office (1908 - Junior), Shaftesbury Square (1911 - Junior) and Head Office (1915).  

Northern Bank, 109-113 Royal Avenue branch

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

By 1911, he was living in house 113, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast. The Census record describes his occupation as a ‘Solicitors Typist’ and his sister, Amy (27) is described as a Bank Clerk. (Probable transcribing error).

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Robert signed the Ulster Covenant at the Old Town Hall, Belfast. 

Whilst in Head Office, aged 30, he enlisted on 8th December 1915 as a Trooper into the North Irish Horse with Service Number 71657. He was later to transfer to the Corps of Hussars.

Medal Index Card - Robert Bagshaw

This website reports:

"On 25 November 1915 Bagshaw enlisted in the North Irish Horse (No.1989 – later Corps of Hussars No.71657).  He embarked for France in 1916 or early 1917, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.

Bagshaw remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 3 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve."

He saw action at Arras 1917, Ypres 1917 and Cambrai 1917. Bagshaw was demobilised in February 1919 and was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. 

Medal Roll - Robert Bagshaw

Following demobilisation, Bagshaw re-joined the Northern Bank on 24th February 1919 and was posted to Falls branch as Cashier. Further transfers followed with Head Office (1919). 

Northern Bank, Falls branch, Divis Street, Belfast

In 1922 Robert was transferred onto Relief Staff and in March 1923 he was appointed as an Interim Manager.

1929 saw his final transfer to the Accountants Room where he stayed until his retirement.

On 27th April 1933 Robert married a former bank official, Miss Mary Graham at Cloughwater Presbyterian Church.  

Mary was to die suddenly on 31st October 1939 at her residence, 101 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast. She was interred in the New Cemetery, Ballymena. The Ballymena Observer dated 10th November reported on her death:

Ballymena Observer - Mrs Mary Bagshaw nee Graham

Robert Bagshaw retired on 31st January 1941 and died on 25th November 1959 aged 74.

Maguire, Frank Patrick

2nd Lieutenant Francis (Frank) Patrick Maguire

was born at Castle Street, Ballyshannon on 25th September 1894 to Michael Maguire, Solicitor and Mary Anne or Marion Maguire nee Gallagher.

In 1901 Francis (6) lived in house 3, Castle, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal with his parents and 2 siblings; Margaret Mary (10) and Kathleen Rose (7). Two servants; Mary Anne McManus and Margaret McKenna were also present in the house.

Marion Maguire (mother, aged 47) died on 7th November 1906 at Castle Street, Ballyshannon. 

In 1911 the property is described as house 10, Castle Street, Ballyshannon. His father, Michael is living with his 2 daughters; Margaret and Kate. A student, Patrick John Bradley also lives in the property.

Frank joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Castleblayney branch. Frank's Bankers Guarantee was signed by the Very Rev Canon E Maguire of Tamney, Letterkenny. 

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Castleblayney branch

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records him as working in Londonderry branch.

Belfast Bank - 'Roll of Honour' booklet

Belfast Bank, Londonderry branch

Frank volunteered and enlisted into the 5th Bn. Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) as a Private with Service Number was 5317. His first theatre of war is recorded as France. He was later to be promoted through the ranks to Sergeant before gaining his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on 31st July 1917.

Medal Index Card - F P Maguire

He was serving with the 5th Bn. Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) as a 2nd Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 27th April 1918. 

He is buried in the Cinq Rues British Cemetery, Hazebrouck, Nord, France.

Maguire is also remembered in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast on the Belfast Banking Company Memorial window and plaque.

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

The Register of Soldiers' Effects records Frank's pay and gratuity totalling around £78.

Register of Soldiers' Effects - M P Maguire

Seymour, William Matthew

2nd Lieutenant William Matthew Seymour

Seymour was born at Ballynafeigh Royal Irish Constabulary barracks on 4th October 1896 to William Seymour, Sergeant (RIC) and Lydia Seymour (nee Brooks). They had married on 17th August 1881 at Trinity Church, Co. Roscommon. William's occupation was that of a Sub-Constable.

In 1901 Seymour (4) is living in house 453 Ormeau Road, Belfast with his mother and 4 siblings; Edith Mary (11), Kathleen (5) and John (18).

In 1911 Seymour is living in house 15, Stranmillis Park, Belfast with his parents and 2 sisters; Edith Mary and Kathleen.

Following his education at RBAI (Inst), Belfast, in March 1913, Seymour  joined Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers to Donegall Square (1913) and Head Office (1914) followed. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

 

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Whilst working for the bank, Seymour was also a member of the Queen's University Officer Training Corps (Queen's OTC) from 1st November 1915 to 21st January 1916.

Seymour enlisted into the 10th (Reserve) Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers as a Private with Service Number 10/23805. He later received his commission as a 2nd  Lieutenant and transferred to the 9th Battalion (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish Fusiliers. His first theatre of war is recorded as France.

W M Seymour - Medal Index Card

Seymour's father's address on the Medal Index Card is recorded as 'Lake Glen', Andersonstown Road, Belfast.

The War Office Daily Casualty List No. 5348 dated 27th August 1917 recorded 2nd Lt W M Seymour as entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916. The terms of this award being met by their naming in this list.

Aged 20, he was Killed in Action on 16th August 1917 on the opening day of the battle of 'Langemarck'.

Private Brady of the battalion reported:

"He was in command of VIII platoon. He was a young man and I knew him well; he was fair and very nice and well liked by everyone. I saw him during the attack; we were well over the ridge to the left of St Julien. I was only 10 yards off him when I saw him killed outright by a piece of shrapnel. I was wounded very shortly afterwards. I have heard since that we took our objective that morning but got driven back again, so perhaps the Germans would get his body."

Seymour was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders, Belgium.

The Northern Whig of 10th August 1918 reported:

Ulster Division Officer Missing

Second-Lieutenant W.M. Seymour 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, reported missing at Ypres on the 16th August, 1917. He was an old boy of the Royal Academical Institution, and left the Northern Bank (Donegall Square West Branch) to join up. His relatives had no definite news, but two or three vague contradictory messages through the British Red Cross Society and other sources. They regard it as possible that he was picked up wounded by the Germans as reported from one source, and that some returned prisoner might be able to give information. Any news would be most gratefully received by his brother, Mr. J. Seymour, Preparatory School. R.B.A.I., Inchmarlo, Marlborough Park, Belfast.

Newspaper text courtesy of John McCormick

The Belfast News Letter of 6th January 1919 reported:

Seymour is also remembered on the RBAI (INST) 1914-18 War Memorial:

Photograph courtesy of LennonWylie

Somers, William John Reeves

Corporal William John Reeves Somers

was born in Chichester, Sussex on 7th August 1884 to Walter John Somers and Mrs Somers, of Glenfarg Road, Catford, London.

William served in the Royal Navy (Pembroke) as an Errand Boy between 10th October 1900 and 17th September 1901. He is recorded as having 'a scar of a cut on his left thumb'.

Royal Naval record - W J R Somers

The 1901 English census records William as being in the Royal Naval Chatham Dockyard, Kent, England.

Later on, he joined the Belfast Banking Company and worked in Western branch (Shankill Road, Belfast). 

Belfast Bank, Western branch, Shankill Road

Walter married Katherine Annie Johnston on 20th December 1909 at the Registrars Office, Belfast. He gave his address as Peoples Palace, Donegall Road, Belfast.

In late 1914, William volunteered and enlisted as a Private into the 2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment with a Service Number of 6660 later to be L/6660. The National Archives also record a Service Number of 358816. His first theatre of war is recorded as from 31st August 1914.

 Wm J R Somers - Medal Index Card

William was serving as a Corporal when he was killed in action on 9th May 1915 in Richebourg L'avoue aged 31. William is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas De Calais, France. There is also a family grave in Ilford Cemetery, Essex, England. 

The Belfast Bank 'Roll of Honour booklet' records his death:

Belfast Bank 'Roll of Honour' booklet

Cpl Wm Somers was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal.

Wm J R Somers - Medal Roll 

The Register of Soldiers Effects records that Wm Somers pay totalling £12 8s 6d was distributed to his widow in 3 instalments between 1915 to 1919.

W J R Somers - Register of Soldiers Effects 

A Pension Record card was created for Wm Somers in respect of his widow, Kate Annie Somers (dob 12th February 1885) and his 2 children; William John (dob 17th October 1910) and Arthur Leonard (dob 14th April 1913). A pension of 18/6 later increased to 19/- was authorised.

Wm J R Somers - Pension Record Card 

Cpl Wm J R Somers is remembered on the Belfast Banking Company war memorial in St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.