References and Acknowledgements

References, Acknowledgements and Disclaimer

This is a PRIVATE website using 'Google Blogger' software for ease of use and at no financial cost from Google.

The site has NO connection with Northern Bank.

Should you feel any photographs have been copied without permission, please let me know by e-mail to gavinbamford@btinternet.com

Information has been obtained from many resources including:

Northern Banking Company – Centenary 1824 to 1924 – Edwin Darley Hill; 1925.

Belfast Bank – 1827 to 1970 – J Noel Simpson;

Commonwealth War Graves Commission – https://www.cwgc.org/

War Graves Photographic Project – http://twgpp.org/

North Irish Horse - https://www.northirishhorse.com.au/

Heavy Anti-Tank, Royal Artillery - http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/8th_belfast_haa_regt_nomroll23rd.htm

Officer promotions – http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

'The Link' - staff magazine of Northern Bank Limited.


My thanks must also go all who take the time to read these posts and also those on the Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/356466827778455 

Roll of Honour - Belfast Banking Company Limited - Booklet

 

Roll of Honour - Members of the staff of the Belfast Banking Co. Ltd. who have joined His Majesty's Forces.

This small, 20 page booklet would probably have been published near the end of the Great War. All details have now been transcribed into the individual biographies.

How many of these would be in existence now?

My apologies for the poor quality of some of the photographs.

Ulster and the War - Bank Clerks in the Army

Ulster and the War - Bank Clerks in the Army

The Belfast News Letter of 15th December 1914 reported:

"I Look Back" by Rea Bamford - 1950

"I Look Back" by G W R Bamford

The following article was written by Rea Bamford and published in the (Bangor) Spectator on 20th January 1950. The story covers a period in 1946 when he served in East Africa / Northern Rhodesia prior to being repatriated.

Other photographs from the collection of G W R Bamford can be found here.

 

 

Medals Awarded During the 2nd World War

The medals awarded during the 2nd World War were:

War Medal 1939-1945 was awarded for those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.  In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea.  It is sometimes described as the "Victory Medal" for WWII, although that is not its correct name.

Defence Medal was awarded for for service in WWII. It was instituted to recognise both military and some types of civilian service.

The following Campaign Medals were also awarded (in alphabetical order):

1939-1945 Star was awarded for for operational service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

• Army personnel had to complete 6 months service in an operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had participated in any airborne operations and had completed 2 months service in a fully operational unit.
• Air Force personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of (overseas) operational army command.
• Naval personnel qualified if they completed 6 months service, and at least 1 voyage was made through an operational area.
• Royal Observer Corps personnel for service of 1,080 days.

Africa Star was awarded for for a minimum of one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943.  The whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar is included, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, the Sudan, both Somaliands and Eritrea.  The areas not bordering the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star from 10 June 1940 to 27 November 1941.

Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for Commonwealth aircrew who participated in operational flights over Europe, from UK bases.  Two months operational flying was required between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944 in order to qualify.  The 1939-1945 Star must have been earned before commencing qualifying service for the Air Crew Europe Star. From 6 June 1944 (D-Day), operational flying over Europe qualified aircrew for the France & Germany Star.

Atlantic Star was awarded for six months service afloat, in the Atlantic or in Home Waters, within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945.  Also awarded to aircrew who have taken part in operations against the enemy at sea within the qualifying areas for Naval personnel, subject to two months service in an operational unit.  The 1939-1945 Star must have been earned before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star.

Burma Star was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. This medal was also awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:

• Hong Kong - between 26 December 1941 and 2 September 1945
• China and Malaya - between 16 February 1942 and 2 September 1945
• Sumatra - between 24 March 1942 and 2 September 1945

Second World War service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra after 8 December 1941 but prior to the above start dates was recognised by the award of the Pacific Star.

France & Germany Star was awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) to 8 May 1945.  The qualifying sea area is the North Sea south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand (South), in the English Channel and in the bay of Biscay east of longitude 6 degrees west, provided such service was directly in support of land operations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.  British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic Star nor the Air Crew Europe Star would be awarded to a recipient of the France and Germany Star.  Subsequent entitlement to the Atlantic Star was denoted by the award of the Atlantic clasp.  A clasp for the Air Crew Europe Star was not issued as that Star could not be earned after 5 June 1944.  Army personnel who entered Austria may not qualify for this award, as their service is recognised by the grant of the Italy Star.

Italy Star was awarded for operational service (on land) in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia. Pantelleria, the Aegean area and Dodecanese Islands and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945.  Other areas to qualify for the award are:

• Sicily - between 11 June 1943 - 17 August 1943
• Sardinia - between 11 June 1943 - 19 September 1943
• Corsica- between 11 June 1943 - 4 October 1943

Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific Theatre between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, and also for certain specified service in China, Hong-Kong, Malaya and Sumatra:

• Hong Kong - between 8 December 1941 and 25 December 1941
• China and Malaya - between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942
• Sumatra - between 8 December 1941 and 23 March 1942

McLean (or MacLean), James Acheson

2nd Lieutenant James Acheson McLean (MacLean) MC

McLean was born on 22nd December 1885 the son of John McLean, Farmer and Martha Ann McLean née Acheson. They had married on 8th January 1884 at Ballywillan Presbyterian Church.

In 1901 McLean (15) was living in house 2, Park East, Beardiville, Co. Antrim with his parents, grandfather Daniel (86) and 4 siblings; John Burns (16), Daniel Hugh (13), Ann Martha (11) and Francis Edward (6). There were 2 servants also living in the house; William Brown (30) and Sarah Dornan (26).

In 1911 the family were living in house 1, East Park, Beardiville, Co. Antrim. Parents, brothers; John Burns (26), Daniel Hugh (23), Annie Matilda (20) and Francis Edward (15). I cannot find where James is recorded on the 1911 census.

Around 1914 McLean joined the Belfast Banking Company. He is recorded elsewhere as working in Sligo branch as a cashier.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee Ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Sligo branch

McLean enlisted at the outbreak of the Great War serving initially with the North Irish Horse and as a Corporal was selected for a commission. In 1914 he was appointed as a Temporary Second-Lieutenant with the 4th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. 

On 22nd April 1916 a report in the Coleraine Chronicle detailed the contents of a letter from McLean to the Reverend J Bell B.A.  

In it, he states “Since writing you we have been engaged in a few ‘scraps’. The Germans have been more or less active along the whole line. To capture a wood directly on our front line they made a bold movement, and gained some ground, which they held. The wood at this point was very dense, and the infantry work rather difficult, so the job was given to us. We were delighted, and after giving out infantry time to take cover, we opened fire. On this occasion I was given the observation work and the direction of the fire. The fire was kept up until the position was made too hot for the enemy. The system of fire adopted in this case was to swing the guns about from one place to another, so as not to give the enemy any chance of fortifying any particular point. The guns were next concentrated on the front of the wood, and by gradually increasing the range, swept to the opposite end. Our infantry at this time crept up under the shadow of our fire, and when daybreak arrived we were in full possession of the wood, which we still hold. The fight as far as we were concerned was purely sport, as the men are never happier than when the guns are in action. The French artillery may not be quite so accurate as ours, but their speed is terrific. I have had the honour to visit and lunch with officers of the French battery. On that occasion, when I was being shown around, the commanding officer ordered the gun into action. About a dozen men leapt from a dug-out, and twelve rounds were fired in less than half-a-minute. The gun used was the famous “75” which we read about in connection with the Verdun battle. The artillery of both sides, in this case, played a great part, and when the great day arrives you will find the lion’s share of the fight will rest with the artillery. If possible, we always have church service every Sabbath morning in a dug-out, and all are keen to attend. It is a very full house, our Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, being very strict on this point. I have had the unusual experience of having to leave the service and take eight men with me, owing to the guns being ordered into action by a telephone message”. 

The London Gazette reported on 26th September 1916 that McLean had been awarded the Military Cross (MC). The citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry in action. He attempted to save a wounded gunner from a burning gunpit, and successfully saved the gun. During an attack he led two platoons of another unit over the parapet, and handed them over to their officer, who was rallying his men in the open. On another occasion he fought a single howitzer with great determination for seven days under heavy shell fire, although himself wounded.” 

He was serving with the 9/148 Brigade Royal Field Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 30th September 1917. This was reported in the Coleraine Chronicle of 13th October 1917 and on the same day in the Belfast News Letter:

The Coleraine Chronicle reports on 19th January 1918 that Lt. McLean’s Military Cross was presented to his relatives at a presentation ceremony.  

McLean is buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Heuvelland West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Ireland's Memorial Records:

He is mentioned in ‘Bushmills Hero’s 1914 - 1918’ by Robert Thompson, Coleraine, published privately, 2003 (2nd edition). His name is sometimes spelt MacLean.

McLean Will Calendar record:

McClatchie, John Dermot

Lieutenant John Dermot McClatchie

McClatchie was born at 'Sunnyside', Lurgan on 11th April 1897 to James William McClatchie and Jane McClatchie nee Macoun. James’ occupation is a Bank Manager. They had married on 9th February 1888 at the Registers Office, Lurgan. The bank staff ledger sheet records his date of birth as 26th February 1897.

In 1901, McClatchie (3) was living in house 9, High Street, Lurgan with his parents and 2 siblings; William Arthur (12), Eileen Mary (8). A servant, Sarah Anne McQuade (39) was also living in the property. The building is recorded on the census form as Northern Bank.

Northern Bank House, Lurgan (& branch)

By 1911 the family are living in house 13, Market Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. It is again recorded as Northern Bank. There must have been a change in postal address between the 2 censi. John (13) is living with his parents and 2 siblings; Eileen Mary (18) and James Lister (5). There are 2 others living in the property as well; Eleanor Stuart Milne (17 - visitor) and Mary Jane Miller (50).

 
McClatchie joined Northern Bank and is recorded as working in Bray as the junior. His address is recorded as Northern Bank, Donegall Square (this may have been his fathers residence as manager).

Whilst in Bray, McClatchie volunteered and enlisted into the 4th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and was later posted to the 8th Bn. and later to the 15th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles as a Lieutenant. He was invalided once.

Demobilisation came in April 1919.

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

Medal Roll

Due to his injury a Pension Record Card was opened for McClatchie giving his address as 2 Warburton Terrace, Bray. His regiment is recorded as the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Pension Record Card

It would appear that McClatchie did not return to work in the Northern Banking Company. Various documents held via Ancestry.Com record him travelling and getting married in Japan. He was recorded as working for the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

16th September 1921 

- Depart London for Yokohama, Japan

8th November 1930 

- Marriage of John McClatchie to Gladys Mabel Titterington

1933 

- Depart Kobe, Japan for London

John, Gladys and daughter Faith

1946 

- Depart Southampton for Singapore

30th July 1949 

- Arrival at London from Sydney, Australia

John, Gladys and daughters Faith & Patricia Leslie

24th October 1960

- Arrival in New York from Cobh, Ireland

There was also a further son, Captain W A McClatchie MC. The Belfast News Letter of 26th September 1917 reports: