Haire, Bertram Henry

Lance Corporal Bertram Henry Haire 

was born in Carndonagh, Co. Donegal on 10th December 1887 to Henry Haire, Bank Manager and Elizabeth Alexandra Haire nee Church. They had married on 18th April 1876 at (Tamlaght) Finlaggan Church of Ireland, Limavady.

In 1901 Bertram (13) was living in house 37, Market Square, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal (Northern Bank) with his parents and 3 siblings; Alicia (22), Gerald (12) and Elizabeth (9). A servant, Mary Gager was also living in the house. Henry Haire's occupation is recorded as Bank Manager.

Northern Bank, Carndonagh branch (prominent building on left)

also see this link

In 1904 Bertram joined Northern Bank at Bailieborough. Transfers followed to Raphoe (1906 - Junior), Kingscourt (1910 - Junior), Head Office (1911), Kingscourt (1912 - Junior), Whitehead (1913 - Junior), Head Office (1913), Claudy (1914 - Junior) and Head Office (1914).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Whitehead branch

Northern Bank, Claudy branch

By 1911, Bertram was living on his own in house 16, Market Street, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. He is recorded as a Bank Cashier. His father, Henry Haire (62) is living in 17 Market Square, Carndonagh with his daughter, Julie (28).

On 5th September 1914, Bertram volunteered and enlisted into the South Irish Horse for 'one year or the duration of the war'. The 'Forces War Record' indicates he was treated for 'dental caries (tooth decay)'

B H Haire - Forces War Record

A Pension Card exists for Bertram Henry Haire recording that he was issued with Service Number 1112 and had been promoted to Lance Corporal. His address is Northern Banking Company, Grafton Street, Dublin. It is also annotated 'now residing in Canada, 18th November 1920'.

B H Haire - Pension Card (front)

B H Haire - Pension Card (back)

Following demobilisation, Bertram re-joined Northern Bank on 1st April 1919 at Head Office. There is no record on his Staff Record card that he worked in Grafton Street branch.

He resigned from the bank on 28th February 1920 and was awarded £100 and £45 (3 months salary).

Bertram Haire departed on the ship 'Corsican' on 15th Oct 1920 from Liverpool, England to Quebec, Canada. 

B H Haire, 32, Labourer

B H Haire - Arrivals Card

Bertram Haire (74) died on 10th May 1962 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was cremated at Garden Chapel, Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Sloane, Andrew Young

Lieutenant Andrew Young Sloane

was born in Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh on 18th January 1894 to John Moorhead Sloane, National School Teacher & Farmer and Eliza Anne Sloane nee Moorehead (of Smithborough, Co. Monaghan). The bank Staff Record card records his date of birth as 18th March 1894. His parents had married on 4th April 1893 at Stonebridge Presbyterian Church, Clones.

A brother, John Moorehead Sloane was born on 4th February 1895. He died on 19th November 1896 aged 21 months.

In 1901, Andrew (7)  lived in house, 9, Rosslea Village, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh with his parents and 3 siblings; Thomas W (4), Anna E (2) and Maggie H (2). Two servants are also living in the property; Mary Duffy and Annie Hamilton.

A sister, Ethel Matilda Sloane was born on 22nd August 1903. She died on 16th March 1911 aged 7 years and 7 months.

A brother, Robert James Sloane was born on 1st March 1905. He died on 13th December 1905 aged 6 months.

By 1911, the family property was known as house 48, Rosslea Town, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh. Andrew is living with his parents and younger sister, Maggie H (10). Two servants are also living in the property; Mary Anne Mullan and Katie Casey. Annie and Thomas are residing in the Fever Hospital at
house 1.2 in Clonboy (Clones Rural, Monaghan). 2 further siblings are in the hospital; Jack John Sloane (9) and Rebecca Sloane (4). All are being treated for diphtheria and whooping cough.

Andrew's father, John M Sloane died on 13th May 1911.

Andrew joined Northern Bank at Head Office on 14th March 1913. Transfers followed to Kilrea (1913 - Junior) and Ballynahinch (1913 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Kilrea branch

Northern Bank, Ballynahinch branch

On 1st December 1914, whilst in Ballynahinch branch, he volunteered and enlisted into the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) as a Private aged 19. His Service Number was 02852.

A Y Sloane - Medal Index Card

His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 10th February 1915. He later transferred to the Canadian Artillery, was promoted to Sergeant, and then Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Further promotion to Lieutenant followed.

Andrew saw service in Ypres 1915, Festubert 1915, Somme 1916, Messines 1917, Cambrai 1917 and the Allied Retreat 1918. He was injured 4 times; gassed, gunshot wound, a further gunshot wound and another gassing. 

Demobilisation came in February 1919. He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

A Y Sloane - Medal Roll

A Y Sloane - Pension Index Card (as a result of his injuries)

Following demobilisation, Sloane re-joined the Northern Bank on 23rd April 1919 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Lisburn (1919 - Junior), Boyle (1920 - Cashier), Head Office (1922), Ball’s Branch (1924 -  Accountant), Head Office (1924), Shaftesbury Square (1925 - Paying Teller), Ballynahinch (1931), Limavady (1931 - Cashier), Newry (1940 - Sub Manager) and Keady (1943 - Manager), Larne (1949 - Manager).

He enjoyed golf and was an office-bearer at Spa Golf Club, Ballynahinch. Whilst in Larne, he was a member of the charity, British Sailors' Society.

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Cheque drawn on Ball & Company

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Keady

Northern Bank, Larne branch

Andrew retired from the bank on pension on 31st March 1958. He later moved to South Africa where he died on 15th March 1984. He is buried at Clogh Church of Ireland Graveyard, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh.

A Y Sloane - Headstone

A Y Sloane - Probate

Harrip, John Wesley

Sergeant John Wesley Harrip

was born in Togherdoo, Dromore, Co. Tyrone on 20th May 1885 to David Harrip, Farmer and Caroline Harrip nee Henry. David had married Caroline on 4th December 1883 at Derryloran Methodist Church, Cookstown.

David Harrip died on 4th February 1886 aged 44. Caroline Harrip remarried a Neville Gibson on 25th June 1891 at the Independent Church, Magherafelt.

In 1901, John is living in house 25 Drumskinny, Dromore, Co. Tyrone with his mother, Caroline Gibson and her husband, Neville Gibson. There are 5 step-brothers of John's living in the house; Edward H, Neville H, Frederick J, Walter H & Henry C [Gibson]. A servant, Jane McGahey is also in the house.

John joined Northern Bank on 6th January 1903 at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Officer, Victoria Street, Belfast

The 'Freeman's Journal' published an advertisement on 12th February 1903:

J W Harrip - Skerry's College - Northern Bank Clerkship

Transfers followed to Clones (1903 - Junior), Downpatrick (1905), Newry (1907), Head Office (1907), Londonderry (1908), Southern (1910) and Head Office (1911). 

Northern Bank, Clones branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry

By 1911, John was boarding with the Lewis family in house 8, St. Anne’s Villas, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

Harrip played golf in the first Northern Bank golf outing on 21st March 1913 at Dunmurry:

Photo courtesy of LennonWylie

In July 1914, aged 29, John volunteered and enlisted into 'B' Company, 14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles (Young Citizen Volunteers [YCV]) as a Private for the duration of the war.  His Service Number was 14/14850. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 5th October 1915.

J W Harrip - Medal Index Card

Battalion records record his address on enlistment as Togherdoo, Dromore, Co. Tyrone and his next of kin as his mother with surname Gibson.

John was later transferred into the 16th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles (Pioneers). He was promoted to Corporal on 4th April 1916 and was a Signaller in the battalion. Further promotion to Sergeant followed.

John saw action at Somme 1916, Messines 1917, Langemarck 1917 (Ypres), Cambrai 1917, St. Quentin 1918 and Passchendaele 1918.

In August 1916 he was photographed by Cpl George Hackney at Ploegstreert, Belgium, close to Messines.  In the photograph he is managing the battalion mail and Hackney describes the men in the photograph as 'Postmen'.

A N Other & J W Harrip
Photograph by Corporal George Hackney
via Mark Scott Photography

Demobilisation came in January 1919.  He was awarded the 1914/15 Star (dis-embarked on 5th October 1915), the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.  

J W Harrip - Medal Roll

Although the Medal Index Card indicates his rank was Corporal, it is the Northern Banking Company Centenary Volume that records him as being promoted to Sergeant.  The original medals and leather service number tags have been framed along with those of another Northern Banking Company official, J E Bullick.

[Courtesy of David Wilson]

Following demobilisation, Harrip re-joined the Northern Bank on 20th January 1919 at Head Office (Interim Manager - 1921). 

The 'Northern Whig' published on 19th March 1921 carried an article about a visit to the Belfast Branch of the Comrades of the Great War.   

J W Harrip - Comrades of the Great War

John was promoted to Assistant Inspector (1927), Inspector (1932) and Assistant Chief Accountant in 1937 (Reported as Chief Accountant in Belfast Telegraph, 22nd November 1937). A transfer as Manager followed in 1940 to Connswater branch.

Retirement on pension came on 30th June 1948.

It is thought by Mark Scott that John Harrip is in these two photographs:

John continued his involvement with the Royal British Legion and was appointed Employment Officer in the Portrush branch in 1959 and Treasurer in 1962.

John Harrip died on 2nd September 1968 with probate being reported on PRONI as:

"Harrip, John Wesley of 36 Causeway Street Portrush county Antrim retired bank manager died 2 September 1968 at Hopefield Hospital Portrush Probate Belfast 21 November to John Thompson Gibson farmer. Effects £6341 19s."

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link (August 1981)’ contains a photograph of Harrip in a 1913 Northern Bank Staff Golf outing.

Also see the biography on J E Walsh.

Some of the information in this biography has been supplied by Mark Scott.

The photographs of George Hackney featured in a BBC NI television documentary shown in November 2014.