McCully, William Thomas Cochrane

Lieutenant William Thomas Cochrane McCully (RNVR)

McCully was born at Killough on 27th August 1914 to William McCully, Manager of Brickworks and Elizabeth McCully nee Cochrane. His birth registration only mentions the name 'William'.

 
On 8th March 1933 McCully joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address is recorded as Laharna, Killough, Co. Down. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Ballynahinch (1933 - Junior), Head Office – Relief Staff (1934 to 1936), Coleraine (1936 - Junior), Head Office (1941), Shaftesbury Square (1941 - Junior) and Head Office (1942).

The Belfast News-Letter of 21st December 1940 reports McCully as obtaining the 3rd place and prize in the Diploma in Foreign Exchange in the Institute of Bankers in Ireland examinations.

McCully was ‘Called up on Active Service’ on 1st March 1943 into the Royal Navy as a Rating. Promotions to Acting Sub-Lieutenant (RNVR) and Sub-Lieutenant followed.

 
Following demobilisation, McCully resumed service with the Northern Bank in 1946 at Portrush with a transfer to Bangor in 1948.

Northern Bank, Portrush branch

Northern Bank, Bangor branch

The London Gazette records McCully as a Temporary Lieutenant with seniority from 25th May 1948.

Lilley, Brian Martin

Lieutenant Brian Martin Lilley (RNVR)

Lilley was born at 40 Ardenlee Parade, Belfast on 22nd May 1921 to John Andrew Lilley, Secretary and Mrs Gertrude Lilley nee Boyles. They had married on 15th June 1920 at Newtownbreda Church of Ireland.

He was educated at Bangor Grammar School where he gained 12th place in Northern Ireland in Drawing in the Junior Leaving Certificate (Belfast News-Letter of 17th March 1937).

Lilley completed and passed his bank entrance examination held at Shaftesbury House College, University Street, Belfast in early 1939.

On 1st June 1939 Lilley joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address was recorded as 75 Groomsport Road, Bangor.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Windsor (1939), Head Office (1939) Maghera (1939), Limavady (1941) and Head Office (1941).

Northern Bank, Maghera branch

Cheques drawn on Northern Bank, Limavady branch

Lilley enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman in the RNVR (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) in 1941. He was ‘Called up on Active Service’ on 7th June 1941.

The Belfast News-Letter of 10th December 1942 reported the marriage of Brian Martin Lilley RNVR to Dorothy Elizabeth Graham at First Bangor Presbyterian Church on 7th December 1942.

The London Gazette records a Brian Martin Lilley (Service Number 432068), late RNVR being promoted to Lieutenant in 1953 with seniority back to 1947.

The Belfast News-Letter of 1st November 1951 carries an advertisement mentioning a 'B M Lilley' for Dare-Inglis Products Limited who sell tubular steel furniture.

Kelly, Francis

Corporal Francis Kelly

Kelly was born at 14 Vernon Street, Belfast on 5th June 1909 to Michael Kelly, Spirit Grocer and Catherine Kelly nee Duffy. They had married at St Eugene's Chapel, Draperstown on 7th September 1908.

On 3rd February 1930 Kelly joined Northern Bank at Head Office. At that time his address was recorded as 33 Vernon Street, Belfast.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Virginia (1930), Oldcastle (1931), Strokestown (1934) and Head Office (1939).

Northern Bank, Virginia branch

Northern Bank, Oldcastle branch

On 14th November 1939 Kelly was ‘Called up for Active Service’ into the Royal Ulster Rifles (Armagh) as a Rifleman. Promotion to Lance Corporal and Corporal followed. He was in the Royal Ulster Rifles for 2 years and later transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for a further 4 years.

 
Following demobilisation, Kelly resumed duty with Northern Bank at Head Office on 5th November 1945. Transfers followed on Relief Staff (1946), Lanesborough (1948), Head Office (1949), Bailieborough (1950) and Head Office (1951).

Francis Kelly retired on 30th November 1956.

Hutchinson, George Courtney

Flight Lieutenant George Courtney Hutchinson

Hutchinson was born on 23rd March 1926 to Courtney Hutchinson and Mrs Hutchinson, Moygashel, Dungannon (Engagement note - 1954).

On 23rd March 1943 Hutchinson joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address at that time was 1 New Bridge Street, Downpatrick.

Northern Bank Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Hutchinson was ‘Called up’ by the Air Ministry on 7th April 1943 and 'technically' resigned from the bank. His Service Number was 1796427 and he progressed to the rank of Sergeant before gaining a commission as a Probationer Pilot Officer (1946) with Officer Number 202620.

 
Following demobilisation in 1947, Hutchinson wrote to the bank and tendered his resignation in a letter dated 7th July 1947. He was to continue his career in the RAF becoming a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF Physical Fitness branch in 1952.

The Belfast Telegraph of 16th October 1953 published a photograph of Flight Lieutenant G C Hutchinson prior to him co-piloting a plane to New Zealand:

The Northern Whig of 15th April 1954 reports the engagement of Flight Lieutenant George Courtney Hutchinson to Mary Isobel Morton of Glenmore, Lurgan.

Hutchinson retired from the RAF on 13th November 1957.

There are a number of newspaper reports of the Observer Commander G C Hutchinson in the early 60s. It is probable that George moved from the RAF to the Royal Observer Corps.

Belfast Telegraph of 17th July 1963

Hunter, David James

Lieutenant David James Hunter (RNVR)

Hunter was born at Lodge Road, Coleraine on 7th April 1914 to Robert Hunter, Coal Merchant and Robina Hunter nee Kean. 

On 1st March 1935 Hunter joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address on joining the bank was Waterford House, Lodge Road, Coleraine.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Shankill (1935 - Junior), Connswater (1936 - Junior), Randalstown (1939 - Junior) and Head Office (1941 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Shankill Road branch

Northern Bank, Randalstown branch

On 5th June 1940 Hunter volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR).

Hunter was ‘Called up for Active Service’ on 19th May 1941 and later gained a commission to become a Sub-Lieutenant.

Hunter was married at 1st Randalstown Presbyterian Church on 11th February 1943 to Miss Kathleen McRoberts Carson of The London House, Randalstown.

Following demobilisation, Hunter re-joined the bank at Head Office on 18th June 1946. Transfers followed to Falls (1947 - Accountant), Crumlin Road (1950 - Accountant), Ballymoney (1953 - Teller) and Head Office (1961 - Teller).

Northern Bank, Falls branch

Northern Bank, Crumlin Road branch

Northern Bank, Ballymoney branch (on right)

Hunter left the bank on 31st January 1963. 

Hunter died on 6th June 1965. PRONI Wills records: "Hunter, David James of 19 Springwell Park Groomsport county Down representative died 6 June 1965 at Bangor Hospital Bangor county Down Probate Belfast 3 August to Kathleen McRoberts Hunter the widow. Effects £1080 2s."

Duff, William Archibald

Bombardier / Clerk William Archibald Duff

Duff was born at Mohill on 12th November 1900 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 (0) was living in house 296, Ormeau Road, Belfast with his parents and 3 siblings; Mary (5), Alice (3) and Donald (2). 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, William 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 17th January 1916 Duff joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Royal Avenue (1917), Portaferry (1917), Head Office (1918), Connswater (19180, Head Office (1918), Downpatrick (1918), Royal Avenue (1924), Shaftesbury Square (1928), Head Office (1931), Markets (1931), Randalstown (1935) and Head Office (1939).

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square, Belfast

Northern Bank, Markets branch

Northern Bank, Randalstown branch

 

In 1936 Duff joined an Anti-Aircraft Regiment and on 1st September 1939 he was called up for Active Service with the 8th Belfast Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. His Service Number was 1459531. He signed on for 4 years (Supplementary Service).

 
He is the younger brother of Donald McConnell Duff.

William Duff of Northern Bank House, 152 Crumlin Road, Belfast died on 21st July 1958 and left an estate of £7,734.

We Will Remember Them

This post is to remember our colleagues who served, died in any conflict since the Great War be it as part of the armed forces or as a civilian just doing their job.

Specifically on this day, 11th November 2023, we remember those of our colleagues who courageously left their bank roles and went off to war. Today's Northern Bank was created in 1970 with the amalgamation of the Belfast Banking Company with the Northern Banking Company.


The following section of text is taken from page 203 of the Northern Bank Centenary Volume 1924 as it best describes those men who volunteered for war.

War Record

We have included in this volume a reproduction of the War Memorial, which hangs in the hall of the cash office at Head Office. A perusal of the record of those who served will, we feel confident, engender a feeling of pride in the part the officials of the Bank took in the operations of the Great War. Many banks have published separate war volumes recording the service of the members of their staffs. In the case of kindred institutions across the water the numbers of those who so served run into figures larger perhaps by comparison than those we shew. But it must be remembered that, with very few exceptions, every man who went from an Irish bank was a volunteer. In the case of the Northern Bank there was but one such exception – William Pattenden, Head Office porter, a reservist of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He was called up on the outbreak of war and went with the British Expeditionary Force, only to fall a few days after landing – the first casualty we had to record. Ninety-nine officials in all, or 25 per cent. of staff, volunteered; seven of the number were rejected on medical examination, and, of the remainder, fifteen made the supreme sacrifice. We honour the names of those who volunteered, and, we hold in reverence the memory of those who fell, - many, alas, of whom were but lads on the threshold of life.

The following poem is by Laurence Robert Binyon, 1869-1943

For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Acknowledgements to The Western Front Association website.

Also see Chrysanthemum Day.

Roll of Honour - November

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.

02/11/1977 - Kerr, Walter Craig - updated

13/11/1916 - Robinson, William Wadham - updated

14/11/1942 - McCune, Charles Knox - updated

23/11/1917 - Gilmore (Gilmour), Alexander (Alex.) William Francis - updated