Morrison, James Leslie

James Leslie Morrison

Morrison was born at 141 Ravenhill Road, Belfast on 12th September 1921to James E N Morrison (Custom & Excise Officer) and Florence Mary Morrison nee Steel. They had married on 12th June 1919 at St James' Church, Belfast. His address is recorded as 5 Ireton Street, Belfast and hers as 141 Cavehill Road, Belfast.

Morrison would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1938/39. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and gave his address and occupation as 21 Lansdowne Road, Belfast and civil servant.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

The Forces Ward Record website records a Driver J L Morrison (Service Number T/95408) as serving in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). He was reported as 'Missing' on 24th December 1941 in the Western Desert only to be reported as 'Previously reported Missing now not Missing' on 21st January 1942.

No further information can be found.

Lloyd B C

B C Lloyd joined the Belfast Banking Company.

Update at 28th September 2021:

British Newspaper Archive - nothing relevant using many combinations of words

Forces War Records - 127 x 'B C Lloyd'

PRONI Will Calendars - nothing

Unfortunately without further details this man cannot be researched.

Please contact me gavinbamford@btinternet.com should you have any information on this official.

Kirk, E D or Ed

E D Kirk joined the Belfast Banking Company.

His name could possibly be Ed Kirk.

Update at 28th September 2021:

British Newspaper Archive - nothing relevant using many combinations of words

Forces War Records - 170 x 'E D Kirk' & 111 x 'Ed Kirk'

PRONI Will Calendars - nothing

Unfortunately without further details this man cannot be researched.

Please contact me gavinbamford@btinternet.com should you have any information on this official.

Henderson, Thomas Evans Carlisle

Captain Thomas Evans Carlisle Henderson

Henderson was born at High Street, Lurgan on 28th October 1913 to William Charles Henderson, Bank Official and Kathleen Evelyn Gertrude Henderson nee Evans. They had married on 26th December 1912 at St Anne's Church, Killann, Co. Donegal. William's occupation was recorded as Bank Official, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. The Londonderry Sentinel of 7th January 1913 reports on their marriage and states Thomas as working for Belfast Bank, Lurgan.

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch (Belfast Bank House)

The Belfast News-Letter of 2nd July 1926 records Henderson as being awarded a scholarship to Belfast Royal Academy from Skegoniel Public Elementary School. 

Having passed his bank entrance examination in 1931, Henderson joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Limavady and Rathfriland branches. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and gave his address and occupation as 24 Kansas Avenue, Belfast – Bank Official. William C Henderson later joined in the guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Rathfriland branch

Henderson is recorded in the Belfast Telegraph of 1st April 1939 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Anti Aircraft Regiment (Londonderry, Ballymena and Coleraine), Territorial Army.

The Londonderry Sentinel of 27th May 1939 carried this picture that includes Henderson:

The Forces War Records website records T E C Henderson serving with the Royal Artillery in 1939 as a 2nd Lieutenant and in 1942 as a Lieutenant.

It is not known if Henderson first returned to the bank following his demobilisation. PRONI Wills records him as residing and working in Locust House, Sharjah, Persian Gulf as the Officer in Charge, Desert Locust Survey.

The London Gazette Supplement of 29th April 1949 records him receiving the honorary rank of Captain.

The Northern Whig of 4th July 1950 records Captain T E C Henderson:

Henderson died on 30th December 1953. He is buried in the Old Christian Cemetery, Manama,

AL-ʿĀṣimah, Bahrain.

PRONI Wills records:

Henderson, Thomas Evans Carlisle of Locust House, Sharjah, Persian Gulf. Officer in Charge, Desert Locust Survey. Died 30th December 1953. Probate Belfast 26th November 1956 to William Terence McQuiston, bank official. Effects £1123 3s. 5d.

T E C Henderson - London Probate

The Belfast News-Letter of 28th December 1954 carried an 'In Memoriam' notice in respect of Thomas and his brother, Flying Officer W C Henderson RAFVR.

Coates, J

J Coates joined the Belfast Banking Company.

Update at 26th September 2021:

British Newspaper Archive - nothing relevant using many combinations of words

Forces War Records - 470 x 'J Coates'

PRONI Will Calendars - nothing

Unfortunately without further details this man cannot be researched.

Please contact me gavinbamford@btinternet.com should you have any information on this official.

Bryans, Sydney Thomas

Flying Officer Sidney Thomas Bryans

Bryans was born in the Eglinton district of Londonderry on 14th August 1919 to Joseph Bryans, Clerk and Ella Jane Bryans nee Hoffman. They were married on 14th September 1914 at Tralee Church of Ireland.

Bryans joined the Belfast Banking Company on 4th May 1937. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him and gave his address as Hilden, Northland Road, Londonderry.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Bryans volunteered and enlisted into the RAF Volunteer Reserve with Service Number 1062413. London Gazette entries record him receiving a commission with Service Number 144392.

Following his return from Active Service, he was transferred to Limavady branch on 23rd September 1946.

In 1948 Bryans left the bank and re-joined the RAF as an Instructor.

Bryans died on 5th October 1950 in an airplane accident at Sydenham Aerodrome (RAF Sydenham / Royal Naval Air Station). He had been instructing 2 officer cadets from Queen's University Officer Training Corps (OTC).

Various newspapers reported on the accident:

Derry Journal - 6th March 1950

Irish Independent - 6th March 1950

Belfast Telegraph - 8th March 1950

Belfast Telegraph - 16th March 1950

The family placed 'In Memoriam' notices on an annual basis.

Londonderry Sentinel - 5th March 1953

PRONI Wills record:

Bryans, Sidney Thomas of Hilden, 84 Northland Road, Londonderry. Flying Officer, Royal Air force died 5th March 1950 at Sydenham Aerodrome, Belfast. Administration Belfast 20 July to Joseph Bryans commercial traveller. Effects £957 18s. 11d.

Flying Officer Instructor Sidney T Bryans is buried in Londonderry. He is remembered on the Armed Forces Memorial and their Roll of Honour.