Gabbey, Hugh Maurice

Major Hugh Maurice Gabbey (known as Maurice)

Gabbey was born at 97 South Parade, Belfast on 11th April 1907 to Hugh Gabbey, Engineer and Sara Ethel Gabbey nee Gelston. They had married on 23rd June 1906 at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church.

In 1911 Gabbey (4) lived at house 90 South Parade, Ormeau, Belfast with his parents, Hugh (49) and Sara (31) and his sister, Sara Ethel (1). A servant, Mary Kelly (20) also live din the property. The census record has their surname transcribed incorrectly as Garbey [Error notified on 4th January 2022).

Gabbey was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI - Inst).

He joined the Belfast Banking Company on 15th December 1924. His mother signed his Bankers Guarantee giving her address as Dundela Villas, Strandtown, Belfast and later as 22 Cairngorm Crescent, Glengormley.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Gabbey's early years were served in Head Office until his career was interrupted by the Second World War.

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

The Belfast Telegraph of 15th June 1938 reported the wedding of Maurice Gabbey to Miss Maureen Creighton Jackson at Craigavad Parish Church:

The Belfast News-Letter of 16th June 1938 published this photo of the wedding party:

There are a great deal of sporting reports featuring Gabbey in the local press [British Newspaper Archive].

1939 saw Gabbey volunteering and enlisting into the 21st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery with Service Number 87357. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in April 1939.

Gabbey was one of those fortunate to return unscathed from the French beaches and he saw action in Burma where he commanded a battery from 1942 to 1945. By 1944 he had been promoted to Major.

8th Belfast HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Gabbey is mentioned in this 16mm film just after 6' 40" in. He is described as a bridge player. 

Acknowledgements to lennonwylie

Gabbey was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club on 24th April 1946 paying 5 shillings subscription. At that time he was recorded as being in Castle Place branch. 

Belfast Bank, Castle Place branch

The following year, he was recorded as working in Head Office. He served as an Inspector (1953), Manager, Waring Street (1959), Managing Director (1966) and Director of the Belfast Banking Executor and Trustee Company Limited.

In the 1966 annual accounts of the Belfast Banking Company he is recorded as being Managing Director of the Belfast Bank.

Gabbey's interests outside the bank were rugby football, tennis, soccer, contract bridge, Chamber of Commerce, Royal British Legion. He was also Governor of the War Memorial Building in Waring Street, Belfast.

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link’ of Summer 1972 contains a photograph of Gabbey . 

His wife is a former member of staff of the Belfast Bank and also of Midland Bank Limited. 

Maurice Gabbey died on 2nd December 1974.

H M Gabbey - June 1971

The author, C S Lewis also lived at Dundela Villas.

Gilchrist, Richard

Richard Gilchrist

Gilchrist was born on 15th August 1925. His address is recorded on the bank staff ledger sheet as Tullycarnon, Ardglass. 

The Belfast News-Letter of 18th December 1934 published this photo of a Mr R P Gilchrist, Ardglass; possibly Richard's father.

On 4th May 1942 Gilchrist joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

A transfer to Ballymena followed in early 1943 as Junior. 

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

In 1943, Gilchrist applied to the bank to be permitted to join the RAF. He subsequently resigned from the bank and joined the RAF.   

Following demobilisation and on 1st November 1947 Gilchrist called in to the bank and spoke to Mr Scott and advised him that:

"he was going to stay at home and manage the farm instead of coming back to the bank. There is no other member of the family available for the work of the farm."

Gilchrist resigned from the bank.

Boyd, Thomas McMeekin

Thomas McMeekin Boyd

Boyd was born on 30th March 1922 in the Ballymena Registration area to Mr Boyd and Mrs Boyd nee Robinson.

On 15th April 1941, Boyd joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address as recorded on his bank staff ledger sheet was The Manse, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Whitehead (1941 - Junior), Head Office (1942) and Ball’s Branch (1942 - Relief).

Northern Bank, Whitehead branch

Northern Bank, Ball's branch

On 26th September 1942, Boyd resigned from the Bank when he was ‘Called up’ into the RAF. 

Boyd re-joined the Northern Bank from Active Service on 21st October 1946 at Head Office.

 
Boyd  advised the bank on 31st March 1947 that he had been offered employment with an Airline Company. He subsequently resigned from the bank on 30th June 1947.

Roll of Honour - February

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.

08/02/1944 - Anderson, Norman Alexander - updated

12/02/1918 - Collier, Reginald John C - updated