Little, David Allen

2nd Lieutenant David Allen Little

was born at Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh on 2nd May 1900 to David Little, Farmer and Gertrude Little nee Wallace. They had married on 9th May 1894 at St. Matthew's Church of Ireland, Scarva.

In 1901 Little (0) lived in house 34, Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh with his parents and 2 siblings; John (4) and Flora (3). A servant, Maggie McKeown also lived in the property.

Gertrude Little died on 10th November 1904 at Poyntzpass aged 36.

Little would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1917 / 1918. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and he is recorded as worked in College Green, Dublin and Navan branches.

D A Little - Bankers Guarantee ledger

Belfast Bank, College Green, Dublin branch

Belfast Bank, Navan branch

Little volunteered and enlisted with the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards and attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

David Allen Little, Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh, retired civil servant died 2nd July 1952. Probate Belfast 15th December 1952 to John Little, postmaster and Harry Ledlie, farmer. Effects £1154 18s. 11d.

Leeman, Reginald Thackeray

Captain Reginald Thackeray Leeman

was born at Cathedral Close, Armagh on 7th November 1887 to Hans Garmany Leeman, Draper and Catherine Elizabeth Leeman nee Thackeray. They had married on 8th April 1885 at Armagh Church of Ireland Cathedral.

In 1901 Leeman (13) lived in house 27, The Mall, Armagh with his parents and 2 siblings; Percy G (14), May M (6). An aunt, Georgina Thackeray was also present along with a servant, Mary Coyle. 

Leeman would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1905. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him. His address is recorded as 6 Hartford Place, Armagh.

R T Leeman - Bankers Guarantee ledger

Leeman is recorded as working in Letterkenny branch and also have worked in Warrenpoint branch (1915 news article re golf).

Belfast Bank, Letterkenny branch

Belfast Bank, Warrenpoint branch

Leeman was a keen rugby player and in 1910 he played Inter-Provincial Rugby (serving in the BBCo Bangor branch). This was a report in the North Down Herald and County Down Independent - Friday 21 January 1910.

Belfast Bank, Bangor branch

By 1911 the family property was described as house 50, The Mall, Armagh. Along with the parents were May (16), Thomas Oswald (9) and a servant, Liemer McKenna.

In the same year, Leeman was boarding with the Chesnut family in house 15, New Row, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. He is described as a Bank Clerk. He may have worked in the Coleraine branch.

Belfast Bank, Coleraine branch

Leeman volunteered and enlisted into the Army Service Corps in 1915. He served with the Army Service Corps (31st Division) and attained the rank of Captain. 

His first theatre of war is recorded as 'Egyptian' from December 1915.

R T Leeman - Medal Index Card

Address recorded as 3 Victoria Street, Armagh

The Northern Whig of 12th February 1916 reported on Leeman and his elder brother, Percival:

The Millom Gazette reported on 12th October 1916 about Percival Leeman:

Following demobilisation, Leeman was awarded the 14/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Star. 

R T Leeman - Medal Roll 1

R T Leeman - Medal Roll 2

A Pension Record card also exists:

R T Leeman - Pension Card

The Belfast News-Letter of 4th April 1919 reported on the awarding of the Military Cross (MC) to Capt. Percival Leeman.

Reginald Thackeray Leeman, 60 Bryansburn Road, Bangor, Co. Down, retired manufacturers agent died 16th March 1964. Probate Belfast 25th May to Annie Alice Louise Leeman the widow. Effects £3980 13s.

Kennedy, Samuel Guiler

Lance Corporal Samuel Guiler Kennedy

was born at Gills, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry on 15th September 1897 to James Kennedy, Farmer and Mary Kennedy nee Tweed. They had married on 12th January 1893 at First Kilraughts Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney.

In 1901, Kennedy (3) was living in house 3, Gills, Somerset, Co. Londonderry with his parents and 3 siblings; Margaret S (7), William Y (5) and Charlotte E L (1). Also in the house was Mary Tweed (mother in law to James) and a servant, William Graham.

In 1911 Kennedy  is living in house 21, Ballysally, Portstewart with his parents and 5 siblings; William (15), John S (9), Hugh C (8), Mary T (6) & James (4). William James O'Hara and Robert J O'Hara, servants, are also in the house.

Later the family moved to Cranagh House, Coleraine.

The University of Ulster was built on the Cranagh lands and the house was later demolished.

Kennedy would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1913/1914. His father signed his Bankers Guarantee.

S G Kennedy - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Kennedy is recorded as working in Strabane branch. He may also have worked in Letterkenny branch.

Belfast Bank, Strabane branch

Belfast Bank, Letterkenny branch

On 2nd February 1916, whilst in Letterkenny, Kennedy volunteered and enlisted in the 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers with the Service Number 25960. He would later be promoted to Lance Corporal.

Kennedy's Army Service Record still exists and consists of at least 36 pages. The following pages are examples.

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 1

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 2

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 3

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 4

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 5

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 6

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 24 - letter from Canada

S G Kennedy - Service Record - 25 - Letter from Canada

Kennedy saw service in France during 1916. His medical record shows many entries through 1917 to 1918.

The following photograph shows Samuel in uniform standing with his family outside Cranagh House.  

Hugh Catherwood 5 Aug 1902; William Tweed 25 Dec 1895; Margaret Stewart 22 Jan 1894; Samuel Guiler 15 Sep 1897; Charlotte Elizabeth Long 17 May 1899;  John;  Stewart 3 Apr 1901; Mary Tweed 26 Sep 1904; James Sr.6 Mar 1866; Mary (nee Tweed 15 Mar 1868); James Jr.15 Nov 1906.

Family tradition said he was in the Easter Uprising in Dublin in 1918,

Following demobilisation, he emigrated to Pierson, Manitoba, where he worked for the Royal Bank of Canada. He came back home on 23rd December 1925 and married Edith Mary Small on 17th February 1926 at Terrace Row, Third Presbyterian Church, Coleraine. They then returned to Canada. There were no children   

Kennedy died on 6th April 1981 in Brandon, Manitoba.  

Also see William Kennedy who was a cousin working for the Northern Banking Company. William was killed in action.

*  Some of the information came from an anonymous person. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my data.

*  Following receipt of this information, this website was found - Kennedy-Stewart-Tweed. A further site was also of some use - Wikitree - Kennedy.

Irwin, John Cecil Brandon

Sergeant (Pilot) John Cecil Brandon Irwin

was born at 3 Bertha Row, Ballygrainey (Road), Holywood, Co. Down on 13th October 1919 to George Irwin, Painter and Lucinda Ann Irwin nee Brandon. They had married on 6th August 1918 at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor.

Irwin was an old boy of Sullivan Upper School and represented them at a Guild of Youth Rally in London during the King’s Coronation (1937). He was Captain of the School Rugby Football XV in 1937 / 1938 and in the same year he was awarded the School Cup for being the best all-round pupil.

On 4th April 1938 he joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address on the bank Staff Record card is recorded as Kathleen Place, Craigavad.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

On 1st May 1939 Irwin enlisted into the RAF Volunteer Reserve. He was called up for Active Service on 22nd June 1940 with the rank of Aircraft Man Class 2. Promotion followed to Leading Aircraftman and Sergeant Pilot with Service Number 951459.  

Irwin was serving with 57 Sqn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Flying on an operation to Essen, Irwin was killed on 4th July 1941 along with 4 other crew members. A 6th member was injured when the Wellington IC R1589 Crashed at 00.08 hrs at Larman's Fen, Southerly Road, Feltwell, Norfolk. The cause of the crash - instrument failure.

The excellent website 'The War Dead of North Down and Ards' carries a further biography in this link.

The 'Belfast Telegraph' of 7th July 1941 carried this obituary of John Irwin.

 John Irwin is buried in Holywood Cemetery, Co. Down and is commemorated on the Holywood War Memorial, Glencraig Parish Church War Memorial and in Sullivan Upper School. 

Holywood Cemetery

Grave of John Irwin with his brother William Thomas Irwin memorialised on the headstone

His brother, Flight Lieutenant William Thomas Irwin also saw service with the RAF (VR) and was killed in action on 3rd October 1943 aged 22. He was serving with 51 Squadron flying a Halifax II HR728 LX-D on an operation to Kassel when it crashed at Wietersheim - all 8 crew were killed.

Jones, James Greer

Lieutenant James Greer Jones

was born at Sovereign Street, Clonakilty, Co. Cork on 14th August 1896 to William Jones, Agent for Bank of Ireland and Elizabeth Johnston Greer Jones nee Dean. They had married on 9th April 1890 at St. Andrew's Church of Ireland, Dublin.

In 1901 Jones (4) was living in house 6, Academy Street, Navan, Co. Meath with his mother and 3 siblings; William (9), George D F (6) and Emma (3). A nurse, Julia Boyd is also living in the house. I can find no record of his father, William Jones.

There is a Passenger List from 1907 recording a child aged 11, James G Jones embarking in New York, USA and sailing via Liverpool to Dublin.

J G Jones, Child, 11

In 1911 Jones living in house 15, Academy Street, Navan, Co. Meath with his siblings; William and George. William is recorded as head of family. 

Elizabeth Jones is recorded as visiting the Allen family in house 16, Temple Gardens, Rathmines and Rathgar East, Dublin. 

Emma Jones is recorded as living in house 26 Slane Town, Slane with her maternal uncle, James Greer Dean and maternal grandmother, Katherine Dean.

Jones would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1914. His Bankers Guarantee has been signed by his mother Elizabeth with an address at Mount Charles, Slane, Co. Meath.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Jones is recorded as working in Dundalk branch.

Belfast Bank, Dundalk branch

Jones volunteered and enlisted into the 7th Bn. Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) and attained the rank of Lieutenant. His first theatre of war is recorded as ? January 1917.

J G Jones - Medal Index Card

Jones was awarded the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal. The address on his Medal Index Card is Gordon Head, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 

On 28th January 1919 he was awarded the Silver War Badge (number B80158). This was awarded when a soldier was injured and discharged from the army due to that injury.

J G Jones - Silver War Badge Roll

Jones did not re-join the bank after demobilisation. In August 1919 he sailed from Londonderry on the 'SS Columbia' to Canada. His occupation on the manifest is recorded as a retired army officer.

J G Jones, 22 - retired army officer

Another ship manifest records Jones as a Rancher.

J G Jones - Rancher

This 1921 Arrivals document records Jones as arriving in Canada.

J G Jones - Arrival in Canada

Jones married Jessie Kelso on 8th July 1929.

J G Jones - Marriage Registration

In 1932 Jones crossed from Canada in the USA. His occupation is recorded as a farmer.

J G Jones - Farmer

The Ancestry.com database records James Greer Jones as dying on 23rd April 1975 at Sechelt, Canada.

Holmes, Arthur Ernest

Gunner Arthur Ernest Holmes

was born at Mallow, Co. Cork on 2nd April 1899 to Captain William Holmes, and Martha Holmes nee Somerville. They had married on 28th January 1883 at St. Mark's Church, Armagh.

In 1901 Holmes (1) lived in house 49 Main Street, Mallow, Co. Cork with his mother and 5 siblings; William K H (17), Mary H (15), Alice E H (13), Gertrude M (9) and Leonard G (3). His father is presumably recorded as living in an army barracks possibly outside the UK.

In 1911 Holmes was living in 2 Goring Road, Llanelli, Wales with his parents and 3 siblings; Martha, Margaret and George. William Holmes (60) and Martha Holmes (52).

Holmes joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1916/1917. His Bankers Guarantee was signed by Major William Holmes of Downshire Park, Carrickfergus and later by Ellen Margaret Holmes (wife).

BBCo Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

He is recorded as serving in Western branch and Markets branch.

Belfast Bank, Western branch (Shankill Road, Belfast)

Holmes volunteered and enlisted as a Gunner into the Royal Garrison Artillery with Service Numbers 290 & later 292250.

A E Holmes - Medal Index Card

He was awarded the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal.

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, Holmes re-joined the bank eventually ending up as Manager of Victoria Street branch. 

Belfast Bank, Markets branch (Victoria Street, Belfast)

Holmes was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club on 26th March 1945 paying 5 shillings subscription. 

A E Holmes - 1950s BBCo photograph album

Retirement came in 1960 as Manager of  Markets branch (161 Victoria Street, Belfast).

 
Arthur Holmes died on 15th June 1979.

His son, Alan Holmes (Northern Bank [staff] pensioner) attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour.

Alan Holmes, 'The Link' 1975