Carson, Henry

Acting Major Henry Carson

Carson was born at Mays Buildings, Cliftonville Road, Belfast on 25th November 1919 to George Moore Carson, Salesman and Ada Carson nee May. They had married on 25th April 1918 at the Church of St Silas, Belfast. George was recorded as a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. 

On 2nd May 1938 Carson joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address on the Staff Record card is Ballykinlar, Clough, Co. Down.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Raphoe (1938 - Relief), Grafton Street (1939 - Relief), Ball’s Branch (1939 - Relief), Head Office (1939), Newtownards (1939 - Junior) and Head Office (1940).

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin branch

Northern Bank, Newtownards branch

Carson was ‘Called up’ on 30th July 1940 and joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Staff Record card) with the rank of Fusilier. Promotion to Corporal (1943) before gaining a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant (1943). He may also have served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as Acting Major.

 
On 4th November 1946 Carson resumed duty with Northern Bank from Active Service. Transfers followed to Portrush (1949 - Relief), Head Office (1949), Larne (1951 - Accountant & Cashier), Ballyclare (1962 - Pro-manager) and Newtownstewart (1966 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Portrush branch

Northern Bank, Larne branch

Northern Bank, Ballyclare branch

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

In April 1950 Carson married a former official, Miss Hazel Fergus of Portadown.

The Larne Times of 27th October 1955 carries an advertisement for tickets to the British Lions XV versus Ulster at Ravenhill match with tickets available from H Carson, Northern Bank, Larne.

Allen, Anthony Edward Dalton

Anthony Edward Dalton Allen

Allen was born at Lower Sydenham on 16th September 1907 to Anthony Cowdy Allen, Manager of Linen Warehouse and Ellen Jane Allen nee Martin.

In 1911 Allen (3) lived at house 53 South Parade, Belfast. A servant, Helen Croosey also lived in the house. His name is written as Adrain.

Allen probably joined the Belfast Banking Company about 1925. Frederick Chas Cowdy signed the Bankers Guarantee for him and later, Anthony Lloyd Cowdy also signed. Anthony is recorded as working in Banbridge branch.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Banbridge branch

The Belfast Telegraph of 11th May 1935 reports in an advertisement that A Allen, Belfast Bank, Kilkeel has passed the Special Diploma in Foreign Exchange, Institute of Bankers in Ireland.

Belfast Bank, Kilkeel branch

Allen volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Artillery and was promoted in 1940 to a 2nd Lieutenant. Further promotions occurred taking him up to Captain. Following the war, Anthony continued his army service in the Territorial Army; Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's). 

The Northern Whig of 29th December 1941 announced the birth of a daughter on 21st April 1941 to Lieutenant A E D Allen, Royal Artillery, 3rd (Ulster) S L Regiment. (Late Belfast Bank, Banbridge).

The Mid-Ulster Mail of 7th April 1945 carries an advertisement for a 'General Maid with some experience'. apply Mrs Allen, Belfast Bank House, Cookstown.

Belfast Bank, Cookstown branch

Allen  was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1948 paying 1 shilling subscription.

Captain A E D Allen with Service Number 126642 retired from army service on 16th September 1952.

The Portadown Times of 13th January 1956 published an obituary for A E D Allen, Cashier, Belfast Bank, Banbridge.

Bates, Arthur Henry

Major Arthur Henry Bates

Bates was born at 27 Upper Mount Street, Dublin on 17th October 1907 to Arthur Henry Bates, Kings Council and Mary Kyle Bates nee Knox. They had married at St Patrick's Church, Jordanstown on 3rd April 1900. Arthur is recorded as a Barrister. He had been studying law since about 1873. Mary Kyle was the daughter of R Kyle Knox who was a Northern Bank official who had served in the Great War.

In 1911 Bates (3) was living in house 27.2 Upper Mount Street, South Dock, Dublin with his mother and 3 siblings; Victor (10), Theodore (8), Phyllis Victor (6). An aunt, Margaret Jane Bates (72) and 3 servants; Mary Christie (28), Jane Fitzgerald (25) and Maggie Doran (21) were also present in the house.

Arthur Bates Senior was visiting house 3, Annadale Avenue, Belfast on Census Day 1911.

The Northern Whig of 10th May 1912 reported that Arthur (Senior)'s brother Edward Bates of St Columba, Knock, Belfast had left his estate to his brother and to Henry I Johns of the Belfast Banking Company.

Bates (Junior) joined Northern Bank on 15th September 1925 at Head Office (Relief). Transfers followed to Markets (1925 - Junior), Head Office (1926), Markets (1926) and Head Office (1928).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Markets branch

Bates was transferred to the bank Solicitors Department in 1930.

The Belfast Telegraph of 19th May 1934 carries a report into a legal case where the Right Honourable Sir Dawson Bates and Arthur Henry Bates are the Plaintiffs. Arthur's brother Theodore Bates was killed in the accident.

Bates married a Miss Sylvia Pring on 8th September 1934 at Whiteabbey. This photograph appeared in the Belfast Telegraph of 10th September 1934:

Bates was reported in 1937 to be the Sub-Manager of the Stock Department of Northern bank.

The bank Staff Record card has an annotation that Arthur was allowed to apply for a commission in the army. Subsequently, on 21st August 1939, he was ‘Called up for Active Service’ and joined the 23rd Battery, Royal Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant with Service Number 87448. 

In 1940 he was promoted to Captain in the 8th Anti Aircraft Regiment. In 1941, he was to hold the rank of War Substantive Major.

Bates is recorded as serving with H M Gabbey (Belfast Banking Company).

On 12th November 1945, Arthur resumed duty in the Bank at Head Office with a transfer to Royal Avenue soon after.

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch

Bates resigned from the Bank in 1947 to join the firm of Messrs Josias Cunningham & Co as a partner.

Belfast Stock Exchange

In January 1974 Major Arthur Bates was appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as the High Sherriff for County Antrim.

Bates continued (or joined) the Burma Star Association in 1985.

Burma Star Association - Major A H Bates

Also see the website of LennonWylie for the 8th Belfast HAA Sqn Royal Artillery.

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/8th_belfast_haa_regt_memorabilia1.htm

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/8th_belfast_haa_regt_RHQMemorialBrochure.htm

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/WW2DiaryWright1.htm

Major A H Bates died in 2001.

Agnew, James Silas

Lieutenant James Silas Agnew

Agnew was born on 24th January 1922 of Portglenone to Robert Agnew, Farmer and Florence Agnew nee Henry. They had married on 21st August 1918 at Orritor Presbyterian Church, Cookstown.

Agnew joined Northern Bank on 15th April 1941 in Head Office. His first transfer was to Ballycastle as Junior in 1942.

Northern Bank, Ballycastle branch

On 18th July 1942, Agnew resigned from the Bank when he was ‘Called up for Active Service’ to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. The 1946 to 1956 annual Navy List records Agnew as a Temporary Lieutenant or Lieutenant.

Following demobilisation, Agnew resumed duty in the Bank on 20th May 1946 in Head Office.

The Belfast News-Letter of 12th May 1947 reports that J S Agnew won a 2nd place prize in an Institute of Bankers in Ireland examination. Further reports of examinations success continued into 1950.

Transfers followed to Londonderry (1949), Head Office (1949) and Coleraine (1951).

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

1951 newspaper advertising showed Agnew as organising the Route Hunt Ball at the Northern Counties Hotel, Portrush.

Agnew resigned on 17th May 1952.

He may have had a career in the Royal Navy. A James Agnew sailed on the Queen Mary to New York departing on 16th September 1953 giving his address as Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose Helston, Cornwall and c/o Bank of NSW, London.

Queen Mary - Passenger Manifest

A James Silas Agnew born 14th January 1922 died at Cambridge in February 2004 aged 82.

Seale, Theophilus (Theo) John

Lieutenant Theophilus (Theo) John Seale

Seale was born on 19th March 1921 to William Pilkington Seale and Dorothy Margaret Seale nee Chambers. They had married on 12th November 1914 at St Mark's Church, Portadown. W P Seale's occupation is a Bank Clerk.

A daughter, Mary Seale was born on 9th September 1915 and a son, William Terence Chambers Seale (see later) was born on 25th May 1917. 

Theo attended Portadown College and played rugby for their team. 

Portadown College Rugby Team

The Belfast News-Letter of 9th April 1924 carries an advertisement from Mrs Seale looking for a 'useful mother's help' recording her address as Belfast Bank House, Tandragee.

Belfast Bank, Tandragee branch

Another son was reported in the Belfast News-Letter of 13th September 1927 as born on 10th September 1927 at Carleton Home. The family address is given as Belfast Bank House, Portadown.

Belfast Bank, Portadown branch

Seale was educated at Portadown College and was a member of their 1937/38 rugby team.

Portadown College team photograph

Following his education, Seale joined the Belfast Banking Company in  late1939 at Limavady branch (As reported by the Portadown Times of 10th November 1939. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee recording his address as Belfast Banking Company, Portadown.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

The Belfast Telegraph of 15th January 1940 carried a report about the inquest into a man who had been killed in a level-crossing accident between Lurgan and Portadown. Miss Moire [sic] Seale, a member of the A.T.S. told the reporter that there was no panic amongst the passengers.

Seale volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Irish Fusiliers and later promoted to Lieutenant with Service Number 268965. 

The Northern Whig of 2nd July 1941 reported that 'Mr and Mrs W P Seale, Belfast Bank, Portadown have been informed that their eldest son Sqn Leader Terence Seale, is reported missing'. See later.

The Portadown News of 24th January 1942 reports that L/C (L/Cpl) T J Seale has received a parcel from home, 'with many thanks'.

Seale was serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Royal Ulster Rifles; attached 1st (Airborne) Bn., when he was killed on 1st June 1944 aged 23. The Portadown News of 10 June 1944 reports that Theo had been working in the Belfast Bank, Enniskillen branch.

Belfast Bank, Enniskillen branch

The Official War Diary of the 1st Bn. Royal Ulster Rifles (1944 to 1945) records Seale was killed with 1 other soldier. 

See below for excerpts from the War Diary - WARNING - GRAPHIC.

Seale is buried in Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire, England.

Headstone - T J Seale

Theo is also commemorated on the Portadown War Memorial.

Seale 's brother, Squadron Leader Terry Seale from Portadown College was killed in action on 30th June 1941 whilst serving in the RAF. He had joined the RAF in 1935.

The above memorial is from St Marks Church, Lurgan.

The Portadown News of 1st September 1945 reports that Junior Commander Moira Seale (A. T. S.) is a Staff Officer working in Berlin.

See below for excerpts from the War Diary - WARNING - GRAPHIC

Memories of events .... by former Captain R E H Sheridan (Royal Ulster Rifles)

Within the page, Seale is mentioned a few times. An unedited except follows (GRAPHIC).


Our spell at Broadwell was marred by a tragic accident, which caused the death of an officer and a sergeant, and injuries, some serious, to a Company Commander and a number of others. This happened on the 1st June. At the time, I was sitting in the Briefing Hut attending to some Battalion Headquarter business, when I heard a loud thump somewhere in the vicinity. I got up and walked to the door and looking out saw a large cloud of black smoke rising above one of the tents about 50 yards from where I was standing. Obviously there had been some form of explosion, so I called out to Corporal Hooper who was in the hut with me no~ to leave the hut unattended, and hurried across to the lines of tents from where the smoke was still rising. As I approached I heard the Regimental Sergeant Major, RSL Griffiths, shouting, "keep clear", "keep clear", and then saw a number of bodies lying near a tent which was badly torn and smoking in several places. Two of the recumbent bodies were obviously badly mutilated, but I could recognise Lieutenant Theo.Seale, a Platoon Commander, and his Platoon Sergeant, Sgt.Dwyer. Almost immediately Captain Rees, the Medical Officer, arrived, and despite the obvious risk to his own safety, walked up to the body of Sgt. Dwyer and kneeling down placed his fingers on Dwyer's neck to check his pulse. After a moment he walked the few paces to Theo. Seale and did the same, then call over two stretcher bearers who were being restrained by the RSM. He then stood up and turning to me said that Dwyer was dead. Theo Seale was still alive but he didn’t give much for his chances. By this time, several others who were wounded were being carried or helped away from the scene, and the RSM was leading a small group combing the area for detonators.

A particular problem was the disposal of a number of grenades scattered near the point of the explosion and the uncertainty as to whether they had been primed and in which case made sensitive by the blast. Not without considerable risk to the men involved, these were collected and removed by the Pioneer Platoon for disposal by controlled explosion at a safe place away from the tented area. The body of Sergeant Dwyer and al the injured personnel were taken by Military ambulance to a special security wing established at a hospital, I believe in Oxford. The injured included Major Tom Warner, the Commander of "B" Company. The next day we beard that Theo Seal. had died, and replacements for all our casualties arrived from our Reinforcement Company at Bulford. Although the deaths of’ two popular and capable members of the battalion was deeply regretted by everyone, particularly the circumstances of their deaths, the morale of the troops was in no way diminished; if anything, the opposite. The loss of friends had to be expected in the days ahead, but was something for which the Germans would have to pay a heavy price. From statements made by witnesses, there was little doubt as to the cause of the accident. Theo Seale together with Sergeant Dwyer and several other men of the platoon had been priming their grenades, including what were known as "75" anti—tank grenades. These were metal box—like weapons about the size of a brick, which were primed by sliding a detonator into an aperture on one side so that when pressure was applied, the detonator fired and exploded the grenade. Sergeant Dwyer had been squatting on his haunches at the time. After priming a grenade, he had pushed it behind himself, and reached for another. As he did so, he overbalanced and sat on the first grenade causing it to explode, with fatal results for himself and his platoon commander.

I felt particularly sad about Theo Seale who I had known since my time in the Regimental Depot at Ballymena in 1940. He had joined the Regiment as a Volunteer and had quickly been identified as a potential officer and placed in the Cadet Platoon. His sister was an officer in the ATS at the Depot, and I could only reflect sadly on the tragic telegram which his parents in Portadown would shortly receive. The incident presented me with a problem. Had the deaths and injuries taken place "On Active Service" or "In Action"~, and on the answer to that question depended the reporting procedure I had to follow, as Adjutant of the battalion. If a fatal accident occurred whilst on training in England, it was treated as "Killed on Active Service". On the other hand, if a man was accidentally killed whilst in contact with and preparing to attack the enemy, in would be treated as "Killed In Action". Fortunately, a visit by the Brigade Major, Major Crookendon, resulted in a decision that there would be no Court of Enquiry, as would have been the case if a man had been killed on training, and that the fatalities had occurred "In Action". I n other words, an Airborne soldier, whether parachutist or glider borne, could be construed as in contact with the enemy when preparing to set off on his approach flight which might start a hundred miles or more from the actual point of battle.

McCord, William George

William George McCord

McCord was born at Ballymacrevan, Glenavy on 17th May 1913 to George Richard McCord, Farmer and Lily Susan McCord nee Harrison. They had married at Magheragall on 2nd September 1907.

The Northern Whig of 19th April 1930 reports that he passed the Belfast Bank examinations held on 28th February 1930 in an advertisement for Hughes Academy.

McCord joined the Belfast Banking Company on 1st May 1931. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him and gave his address as Eglantine Cottage, Lisburn. He is recorded as working in Head Office.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

McCord married a Clara Abbott of Hillsborough on 7th October 1939.

He volunteered and enlisted into the Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.

The 'Forces War Record' website records a William George McCord as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and rising to be a Captain & Temporary Major in the School of Anti-Aircraft.

Following his return from War Service, McCord was transferred to Central branch on 1st December 1945. 

Belfast Bank, Central branch

The Northern Whig of 9th January 1948 reports that Clara nee Abbott, wife of W G McCord, Micdene, The Green, Dunmurry has given birth to a daughter on 2nd January 1948.

A William George McCord, born 17th May 1913 died around August 2003 aged 90 at Hastings and Rother, East Sussex.

Kerr, Holman Gordon Stanley

[The Lurgan Mail, Saturday, September 27th, 1947

Courtesy - Old Lurgan Photos Facebook group]

Flying Officer Holman Gordon Stanley Kerr

Kerr was born on 8th January 1922. He was known as Gordon and was the son of Thomas John Kerr and Evelyn Margaret Kerr, of Lurgan, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. 

Kerr was educated at Lurgan College from 3rd September 1934 until 31st July 1940.

Soon after leaving school, Kerr joined the Belfast Banking Company and worked in Rathfriland branch. His father signed his Bankers Guarantee for him.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Banking Company, Rathfriland

Kerr volunteered and enlisted in the RAF with promotions taking him to Flying Officer with Service Number 185226. F/O Kerr served with 514 Sqn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

The following photographs have been given to me by Benjamin Cleynen, Belgium. Benjamin is a member of a local historical society..

Kerr was stationed at RAF Waterbeach, Cambridge, England. On the night of 5th March 1945, the crew flew Lancaster bomber aircraft (I NN775 JI-F2) on an operation to Geisenkirchen (Benzol Plant). 

Art by Michael Ferns

The plane crashed at Bunsbeek, Belgium and all seven crew were killed. Three bodies were recovered and placed in a communal grave with 7 headstones in Heverlee War Cemetery. Gordon was not one of them. The others, including Gordon are still in the buried remains of the plane. A memorial ceremony was held at the crash site on Remembrance Sunday, 11th November 2015 with officials attending from Germany, UK, Australia and the Belgian Air Force.

Referenced to: http://www.dankat.com/kerr/chap2.htm

On 11th November 2015, the Mayor of Bunsbeek, Belgium together with the British, Australian and German Ambassadors attended a Remembrance service to commemorate the crew from 3 aircraft (A Wellington, a Junkers 88 and Lancaster NN775) that crashed near the village.

Shortly, a special team will start to scan the area to identify the exact location of the Lancaster and if found, they will start the excavation and recovery.  This will be undertaken under the strict guidance of the RAF, RAAF and the Belgian Air Force.

See the Reuniting of the crew of RAF Lancaster NN775 for the November 2016 update.

Crash site

Benjamin Cleynen and his father at the crash site

The crew are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery.

The graves of the 7 crew lie together.

Flying Officer H Gordon S Kerr

Flying Officer F Clarke

Sgt C G Hogg

Sgt W Marsden

Flight Sgt A Olsen (RAAF)

Flight Sgt F Smith

Sgt H P Thomas

Gordon Kerr is also commemorated on the Lurgan War Memorial.

Overloon War Museum, The Netherlands

The remains of the aeroplane known as RAF Lancaster NN775 were moved to the Overloon War Museum, The Netherlands and are permanently on display laid out on a plane template.

Overloon War Museum - RAF Lancaster NN775 exhibit

(photos by Gavin Bamford on 25th July 2023)