Hamilton, Walter Gamble

2nd Lieutenant Walter Gamble Hamilton

was born in Church Street, Dromore, Co. Down on 13th November 1883 (birth registration) the son of John Hamilton, Linen Manufacturer's Clerk and Emily Hamilton nee Daniel. The bank Staff Record card records his date of birth as 15th November 1884. His parents married on 27th February 1876 at 

In 1901 Walter (16) was living in house 3, Princes Street, Dromore, Co. Down with his parents and 3 siblings; Alice (20), Bruce (14) and Francis (22). Two boarders Alfred Davison and a William Larmour were also in the house. Walter's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

On 3rd June 1901, Walter joined Northern Bank in Head Office. Transfers followed with Grafton Street (1901 - Junior), Head Office (1904), Coleraine (1904 - Junior), Elphin (1908 - Junior), Newtownstewart (1911 - Junior), Head Office (1914 - Relief) and Shaftesbury Square (1914 - Accountant). 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin (tall building with chimneys)

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square, Belfast

In 1911, Walter was boarding with a Susie Marshall and her niece Jessie Wishart in house 8, Main Street, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. He describes himself as a Bank Official. There are 2 more boarders and 3 servants residing in the house / hotel.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Walter signed the Ulster Covenant at Newtownstewart Orange Hall.

The 'Northern Whig' published on 13th December 1913 reported Walter has discovering a fire in Newtownstewart:

W G Hamilton - Fire discovered

He was based in Shaftesbury Square branch when he volunteered and enlisted, aged 31, on 8th December 1915 into the North Irish Horse as a Trooper. His Service Number is recorded as 1988.

W G Hamilton - Medal Index Card
(address recorded as Northern Banking Co Ltd, Connswater branch)

Walter was promoted to Corporal before being gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant, Prince of Wales Leinster Regt (RC); attached Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He saw action at Messines 1917 and with the Allied Advances 1918. 

On 9th December 1918 Walter married Miss Alice Ann Chamberlain at St Martin-In-The-Fields, London.

W G Hamilton - Marriage Registration

St Martin-In-The-Fields Church, London

Demobilisation came in 1918 when he was invalided home. Walter was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

W G Hamilton - Medal Roll

The excellent North Irish Horse website carries a very detailed biography of him.

Walter Gamble Hamilton was born on 13 November 1883 at Church Street, Dromore, County Down, the fifth of six children of linen manufacturer's clerk John Hamilton and his wife Emily (nee Daniel). He was educated at the Intermediate School, Banbridge and the Royal Academical School, Belfast. In 1901 he was employed as a clerk with the Northern Bank, over the next fifteen years working at head office in Belfast and in branches at Grafton Street, Coleraine, Elphin, Newtownstewart and Shaftesbury Square.

Hamilton enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 29 November 1915 (No.1988 – later Corps of Hussars No.71656), understating his age by two years. On 5 February 1916 he was promoted to corporal. Three months later he fractured a rib, spending two weeks in Belfast Hospital.

On 3 August 1916 he embarked for France, where he was posted to the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment at Flesselles. A year later, when the regiment was dismounted and the men transferred to the infantry, Hamilton applied for a commission, expressing a preference for the Royal Irish Regiment. He left France for officer training on 24 September 1917 and after a period of leave reported for duty at No.7 Officer Cadet Battalion, Fermoy, on 9 November.

Hamilton was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on 1 May 1918 and posted to the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment. Two months later he embarked for France where, although formally posted to the 2nd Leinsters, on 29 July he was sent to join the newly re-formed 7/8 Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Steenvoorde.

Hamilton may have seen action in the early days of the Advance to Victory Offensive, but during August he fell ill with dysentery and was evacuated to England for treatment and convalescence. It was not until 21 February 1919 that a medical board at Chiseldon found him fit for home service.

In the meantime, at the end of 1918, he had married Alice Ann Chamberlain in London.

Following his demobilisation on 16 April 1919, Hamilton re-joined the Northern Bank. He died in Belfast on 6 November 1950.

At least one of Hamilton's four brothers served during the war. Sergeant Bruce Hamilton of the 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele on 16 August 1917.

Following demobilisation, Walter re-joined Northern Bank in May 1919. He was transferred to Connswater (1922 - Cashier). In 1936, he was appointed to Head Office as Head of Sort.

Walter G Hamilton died at 19 Sydenham Park, Belfast on 6th November 1950. Probate is recorded in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland as:

Hamilton Walter Gamble of 19 Sydenham Park Belfast retired bank official died 6 November 1950 at 51 Lisburn Road Belfast Probate Belfast 17 August to Alice Ann Hamilton the widow and Donald Bruce Hamilton engineer. Effects £2081 10s. 4d.

Hall, William Cecil John

Lieutenant William Cecil John Hall

was born in Lack, Kesh, Co. Fermanagh on 11th June 1893 to William Hall, Schoolmaster and Sarah Mary Hall nee Noble. They had married on 25th August 1892 at Colaghty Church of Ireland, Co. Fermanagh.

In 1901 Cecil (7) lived in house 18, Lack Village, Lack, Co. Fermanagh with his parents and 2 brothers; Fred (2) and an un-named one (date of birth - 29th January 1901).

A brother, George Walter Hall, aged 11 months died on 28th February 1904 at Lack. The un-named child, now Theodore Walter Hall, aged 3 1/2 died on 24th June 1904.

By 1911, the family property was known as house 25, Lack Town, Lack, Co. Fermanagh. In addition to his parents, Cecil had 3 brothers; Frederick Vincent (12), Laurence Whitcombe Noble (5) and Rupert Walter Ewing (2).

On 18th April 1911, Hall joined Northern Bank at Head Office. A transfer to Grafton Street followed in that year.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin (tall building with chimneys)

Whilst based in Grafton Street, on 9th September 1914 aged 21, Cecil volunteered and enlisted into the South Irish Horse as a Trooper for 1 year or the duration of the war. His Service Number is recorded as 1117.

W C J Hall - Medal Index Card

He was promoted through the ranks from Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, Sergeant Major before being Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Reserve Cavalry. Later, he joined the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and was promoted Lieutenant. 

Cecil was injured 3 times; concussion twice and gassed once. 

Demobilisation came in June 1919 and he was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in the Great War.

Following demobilisation, Cecil re-joined the Northern Bank on 24th February 1919 at Portadown.

Northern Bank, Portadown branch in background
(scout leader is not known)

Transfers followed to Head Office – Foreign Department (1920), Lisburn (1927) and Windsor (1934).

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Site of the later Northern Bank, Windsor branch 

on the corner of Tate's Avenue, Belfast

Cecil was elected Treasurer of the local Royal British Legion branch in Lisburn. The 'Belfast News Letter' published on 22nd March 1934 carried a photograph of Cecil's leaving dinner from his post in Lisburn.

W C J Hall, Northern Bank, Lisburn - Leaving Dinner

Cecil's wife, Elizabeth Whalley Hall died on 7th February 1936 at 49 Adelaide Park, Belfast.

In 1936, Cecil had property stolen from his motor-car:

Belfast News Letter published on 21st August 1936

Grant, James Herbert

2nd Lieutenant James Herbert Grant MM

was born on 18th April 1888 at 3 Downshire Park or Place, Belfast to James Grant, Clerk and Mary Grant nee Walsh. They had married on 17th July 1878 at Hillsborough Parish Church.

In 1901 James (12) was living in house 96, Donegall Pass, Windsor Ward, Belfast with his parents and 7 siblings; Amelia Florence (3), Mary Rosena (5), Eliza Eleanor (21), Frederick William (19), Arthur Hill (15), Robert John (10) and Andrew Walter (7). An uncle, Robert Grant was also in the house.

James would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1906 serving in Drogheda and Lurgan.  His father, James signed the Bankers Indemnity and following his death, Andrew Walter (brother) signed as well.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Indemnity Ledger - J H Grant

Belfast Bank, Drogheda branch

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch

James had a brother, Andrew Walter Grant of Northern Bank, Willowfield, Belfast (also O’Connell Street, Dublin – Manager). He also features in this publication.

Mark Duffy (a 'Belfast' Black Watch researcher) has kindly sent me a photograph that he believes is Andrew Grant.

"Cpl Grant 1/6. Fate Unknown. Was with me in Aberdeen in 1914" 
[Written on photo reverse, no further information].

In 1911, James is boarding with the McWatters family in house 2 Drumarg or Downs, Armagh Rural, Co. Armagh. He is described as a Bank Official. A possible colleague, Frederick Charles Robinson (Bank Official) is also boarding in this house.

In 1911 the family are still in Donegall Pass. His parents, 3 daughters, uncle and 1 servant are present.

On Ulster Day, 28th September 1912, James signed the Ulster Covenant at Armagh giving his address as Malart Villa, Armagh.

James volunteered and enlisted into the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers with Service Number PS/6051.  Promotion via Sergeant lead to him transferring as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Medal Index Card - J H Grant

James' Medal Index Card records his first theatre of war as France and Flanders from 14th November 1915. 

The London Gazette dated 16th November 917 recorded 6051, Cpl J H Grant, Royal Fusiliers (Hillsborough) as being awarded the Military Medal.

On 25th April 1917 James was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

1915 Star - Roll - Pte J H Grant

Victory Medal and the British War Medal Roll - Sgt J H Grant

In addition to the Military Medal, James was awarded and applied on 25th November 1922 for the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, Grant returned to to the bank.

Retirement came in 1951. 

He died on 19th January 1956. His grandson has written to me about his death: 

"James Herbert Grant (Bert) died 19th January 1956. Got off train at Ballygowan Halt station on 18th January 1956 on way to Corcreeny to visit Florrie (his sister) and got lost in a snow storm. He was found dead in a snow drift the next morning." [This would be the area of the Banbridge, Lisburn, Belfast Junction Railway].

James Herbert Grant is buried in the Grant family grave in Hillsborough Parish Church graveyard with other members of his family.

Grant family grave - Hillsborough Parish Church