Duff, Donald McDonnell

Commander Donald McConnell Duff (RNVR)

Duff was born at St Patrick's, Mohill, Co. Leitrim on 7th February 1899 to William John Duff, Bank Inspector and Amelia Marie Duff nee Polson. They had married on 12th December 1894 at The Parish Church, Mohill. William's occupation is Manager, Northern Bank and his address was recorded as Ballymena.

In 1901 Duff (2) was living in house 296, Ormeau Road, Belfast with his parents and 3 siblings; Mary (5), Alice (3) and William (0). Rose Kane, a servant and Catherine Pentland, a visitor were also in the house.

By 1911 the house was detailed as 195 Ormeau Road, Belfast. The parents, Donald and 5 siblings; Scott (6) and John (4) were the new additions to the family. Emily Campbell, a servant was also in the house.

On 12th December 1914, Duff  joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Belfast

Transfers followed to Shaftesbury Square (1915), Head Office (1918), Newtownstewart (1918), Shaftesbury Square (1920), Head Office (1922), Ball’s Branch (1935) and Head Office (1939).

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

Ball's branch, Dublin

 

Duff joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1925. 

On 27th August 1939, he was called up on Active Service with later promotions to Paymaster, Lieutenant Commander (RNVR) and Paymaster, Commander (1943).

 
He is the elder brother of William Archibald Duff.

Donald Duff died on 31st July 1948. PRONI Wills records:

Duff Donald McConnell of 24 Skegoniel Avenue Belfast bank official died 31 July 1948 at the Abbey Sanatorium Whiteabbey Administration Belfast 6 October to Rhoda Grace Mary Duff the widow. Effects £1014 0s. 7d.

Knight, Robert Irwin

Lieutenant Robert Irwin Knight (known as Irwin)

Knight was born at 'Tievemore', Glenburn Park, Belfast on 22nd November 1914 of Castle Park, Belfast to John Radcliffe Knight, Cashier and Mary Lindsay Knight nee Armstrong. They had married on 25th April 1906 at Clifton Street Presbyterian Church. 

In 1911 the parents lived in house 49, Rosemount Gardens, Belfast with their daughter, Hannah Florence (0) and Mary's mother, Hannah Armstrong.

Following his education at Belfast Royal Academy, Knight joined Northern Bank at Head Office on 1st March 1935. He worked in various branches including Fivemiletown, Lisburn and Downpatrick.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Fivemiletown branch

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

Whilst in Fivemiletown, Knight was appointed Assistant Secretary of Fivemiletown Golf Club.

On 3rd May 1939 Knight volunteered at the YMCA, Belfast and enlisted into the 8th Heavy Anti Aircraft (HAA) Regiment, Royal Artillery with Service Number 1463058

R I Knight - Royal Artillery Service Number Record
(Courtesy of Find My Past)

On 25th August 1939 he was ‘Called up on Active Service' into the 21st Battery. His rank and promotions are recorded as Gunner, Lance Sergeant and Sergeant. 

Officer Cadet Knight was commissioned on 27th September 1941 with the London Gazette Supplement of 10th October 1941 recording his commissioning as 2nd Lieutenant with Service Number 207997. 

Following the end of the war, Knight resigned from the bank on 19th December 1945.

On being discharged from the army on 23rd February 1946, he was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant.

The Londonderry Sentinel of 19th October 1946 reports Knight, Belfast Royal Academy as being awarded £5 for passing a recent examination.

 
The London Gazette Supplement of 11th June 1948 reports Knight as being awarded the Efficiency Medal (Militia).

The Electoral Roll of 2002-05 records Knight as living at 23, Newry Road, Banbridge.

1923 saw a book of Knight's wartime diary being published with the title 'Knight Errant - A Bank Clerk Goes to War':

ISBN: 9-781399-966061

O'Neill, John Rory Pyrde

Flight Lieutenant John Rory Pryde O’Neill

O'Neill was born at Kelvin Parade, Cliftonville Road, Belfast on 16th June 1911 to James Alexander Thompson O'Neill, Factory Manager and Laura Isobel O'Neill nee Pryde. They are recorded as living in house 20, Kelvin Parade in the earlier 1911 Irish Census. They had married on 8th September 1909 at a Church of Ireland in Belfast (Illegible handwriting).

On 20th September 1930 O’Neill joins Northern Bank at Head Office. His address is recorded as 69 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers follow to Ballynafeigh (1931 - Junior), Newcastle (1934 - Junior), Head Office (1935), Crumlin Road (1935 - Junior), Head Office (1939), Connswater (1940 - Junior) and Head Office (1940).

The Belfast News-Letter of 15th April 1932 reports on 'One-Act Plays' that feature J R P O'Neill as one of the actors.

J R P O'Neill is recorded in the '1938 Navy List' as being in the Ulster Division, RNVR from 7th March 1938.

The Northern Whig of 29th March 1939 records J R P O'Neill as a member of the committee of the Mission's Aid to Seamen.

According to the bank Staff Ledger, John volunteered and enlisted into the RAF (Executive Branch following his release from the bank on 19th December 1940 as an Acting Pilot Officer with Service Number 89563. 

In 1941, the London Gazette described his unit as the ‘Equipment Branch’. Promotions to Pilot Officer, Flying Officer and Flight Lieutenant followed.

Following demobilisation, O'Neill resumed duty with the Northern Bank on 13th August 1946 at Head Office.

O'Neill resigned in 1946 to take up a post with British European Airways (BEA).

He continued to take an interest in the Mission's Aid to Seamen and was part of the Eastcote and Ruislip District committee.

O'Neill's  father, J A T O'Neill died in February 1957 at his home, 55 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast. 

Thompson, Eric Nelson

Captain Eric Nelson Thompson

Thompson was born on 20th May 1922 in the Downpatrick registration district.

On 29th May 1941 Thompson joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Donegall Square (1941 - Junior), Head Office (1941), Maghera (1941 - Junior), Head Office (1942) and Bangor (1942 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Northern Bank, Maghera branch

Northern Bank, Bangor branch

Thompson volunteered and enlisted on 15th February 1944 after resigning from the bank for Active Duty.

In 1945, the London Gazette reports a Cadet Eric Nelson Thompson with Service Number (Other Ranks) 13119428 being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant with Service Number (Officer) 352446.

His unit is recorded as the Pioneer Corps. Promotion to Lieutenant from an Emergency Commission came in 1950 and he was granted the honorary rank of Captain (Royal Pioneer Corps).

 
On 1st October 1947 Thompson resumed duty with the Northern Bank at Head Office. A transfer to Lisburn (1947 - Accountant) followed with further moves to Newcastle, Lisburn and Antrim. In 1975 he was transferred from Antrim (Manager) to Ballyclare (Manager).

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Former Northern Bank, Antrim branch

Northern Bank, Ballyclare branch

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link’ (Summer 1981) records his retirement on 31st March 1981 with an article and a photograph.

E N Thompson died on 28th November 2013.

THOMPSON, ERIC NELSON - September 28, 2013, peacefully, at Clonlee Private Nursing Home, loving husband of the late Joyce, formerly of Templepatrick, loving and devoted father of Anne and Karen, dear grandfather of Monika and great-grandfather of Lena-Marie. 

A Service of Thanksgiving for his life will be held in Bairds Funeral Home, Antrim on Friday 4th October at 11.00 a.m., and afterwards to Belmont Cemetery. Family flowers only please. 

Donations in lieu, if desired, made payable to Cancer Research, c/o Bairds Funeral Directors, 71 Church Street, Antrim, BT41 4BE.

Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by the entire family circle. You will always have a place in our hearts.

Moore, William Edward

William Edward Moore

Moore was born at 'Redcot', Ballyholme, Bangor on 30th April 1914 to Peter Benjamin Moore, Secretary (Diocese of Down, Connor and Dromore) and Mary Elizabeth Moore nee Henry. They had married on 18th June 1913 at  Groomsport Church of Ireland.

Moore joined the Belfast Banking Company on 1st July 1932 and is recorded as working in Central branch. His father signed his Bankers Guarantee and gave his address as (Redcot), 16 Sheridan Drive, Bangor. 

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Central branch (Donegall Square North)

I can find no evidence online of Moore's war service.

Following his return from War Service, Moore is recorded as being a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club on 28th March 1946 paying 5 shillings subscription.

The Belfast News-Letter of 12th May 1947 reported on Moore passing the Preliminary Examinations of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland.

The Belfast News-Letter of 14th June 1948 reported on the wedding of William Edward Moore to Marjorie Vera Bell on 12th June 1948 at Drumbeg Parish Church.

 
Transfers followed to Newtownards (1957), Head Office (1960), Downpatrick (1963) and Newtownards (1970).

Belfast Bank, Newtownards branch

Belfast Bank, Downpatrick branch

Belfast Bank Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

William Moore was manager of the Belfast Bank, Newtwonards branch after the merger with Northern Bank on 1st July 1970.

The Belfast Telegraph of 10th February 1973 reports the engagement of Jacqueline Moore, daughter, of Northern Bank House to Alvin Barratt. At time, William Moore was Treasurer of the Combat Cancer Campaign.

Carson, John

Lieutenant John Carson (RN)

Carson was born at Ballykine (Upper) townland, Ballynahinch, Co. Down on 7th November 1912 to Robert Carson, Farmer and Mary (Martha) Carson nee Shanks. They had married on 4th February 1903 at Railway Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn.

In 1911 the parents were living in house 7, Ballykine Upper, Glasdrumman, Co. Down with their children; James (6), Robert Samuel (4), Ellen Jane (2) and Margaret Isabella (0).

 
On 7th April 1931 Carson joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Grafton Street (1931– relief ), Ball’s Branch (1931 - Junior), Newtownstewart (1934 - Relief), Shaftesbury Square (1935 - Junior), Omagh (1939 - Junior), Head Office (1940) and Newtownards (1942 - Relief).

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin branch

Northern Bank, Ball's branch, Dublin

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

Northern Bank, Omagh branch

Northern Bank, Newtownards branch

Carson volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Navy on 23rd May 1942 and served until 5th June 1946 when he was demobilised. His final rank is recorded as Lieutenant (RNVR).

 
Following his return from service, Carson re-joined Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers followed to Royal Avenue (1947), Antrim Road (1953), Head Office (1953), Donegall Square (1957), Knock (1963), Windsor (1963) and Randalstown (1967).

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch 

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Northern Bank, Knock branch

Northern Bank, Randalstown

On 10th January 1952, Carson was given permission by the bank to became the ‘Mine Watching Service Officer’ for Belfast. It is presumed that he continued his RNVR career after the war. The Belfast News-Letter of 24th October 1955 published this photograph of Lt J Carson (RNVR):

The Belfast Telegraph of 12th October 1960 published this photo of Lt J Carson (RNVR) with the then Minister of Home Affairs, Brian Faulkner:

A further transfer took Carson to Carrickfergus branch as the manager. A newspaper notice records him as Treasurer of the Northern Ireland Leukaemia Research Fund.

Williamson, Edward

Edward Williamson

Williamson was born at 3 Farney Terrace, Londonderry on 12th October 1910 the son of John Williamson, Sergeant, Royal Irish Constabulary and Harriet Florence Williamson nee Cole. They had married on 11th November 1919 at St. Colman's Church of Ireland, Kilcolman, Kings County (now Co. Offally).

In 1911 Williamson (0) is living with his parents in house 17, Rosemount Avenue, Londonderry.

Williamson joined the Belfast Banking Company on 18th July 1927. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as Drumnagee, Bushmills. Later on, Edwards mother joined in the guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

The Londonderry Sentinel of 29th March 1934 recorded the death of Florence, Williamson's mother on 27th March 1934 at 41 Great James Street, Londonderry.

Following his return from Active Service, Williamson was transferred to Central (1946), South End (1954 - Pro Manager), Head Office (1963).

Belfast Bank, Central branch (Donegall Square North)

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

In 1947, Williamson was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club paying 5 shillings subscription.

 
The Staff Magazine ‘The Link’ (Autumn 1972) records Edward's appointment from Joint Chief Cashier to Chief Cashier.

Belfast Bank note signed by E Williamson

Roll of Honour - October

It is with much sadness that the following bank officials died or were reported missing during either the Great War, World War II or the Northern Ireland Conflict.

07/10/1916 - Clarke, John Carton - Updated

11/10/1945 - Hunter, William Herbert - Updated

31/10/1914 - Pattenden, William - Updated