Images of the 'Rolls of Honour' and 'War Memorials'

The 'Rolls of Honour' / 'War Memorials' are installed in a basement corridor of the Northern Bank (Danske Bank) Head Office, Donegall Square West, Belfast.  They are securely attached to the walls and are covered in glass to protect them. 

The width of the hall together with the reflective glass make it extremely difficult to take good photographs without reflections.

There is no memorial to the 3 civilian bank employees who were murdered during the Northern Ireland Conflict.

Northern Banking Company - Brass Panel with Raised Lettering - The Great War & WWII

Northern Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record - Panel 1

Northern Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record - Panel 2

Northern Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record - Panel 3

Belfast Banking Company - Brass Panel with Raised Lettering - The Great War & WWII

Belfast Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record

Northern Bank - Ladies of 1919

Northern Bank - Ladies of 1919

A number of Lady Staff photographed on the roof of the Northern Bank Head Office building in Victoria Street, Belfast.

Some of them may have joined the bank to cover the officials who had left for war service.

Northern Bank Golf Club Outing - May 1951

Amongst this group of golfers are a few ex-servicemen e.g. L McK White, J F Bristow, Wm H G Millikin and R P MacGregor.

Belfast Bank Football Team - 1930's

Amongst this group of footballers are a few ex-servicemen e.g. O. Mulholland, W A Rainey and I W Bratty.

Excerpts from Documents

25th September 1945

Temporary Lady Clerks

As the members of the permanent staff in the Forces will soon be returning to take up duty again, the Temporary Lady Clerks will, as a matter of course and in keeping with the terms of employment, be released from duty as the men return.

We are sending this notice now so that those ladies may have an opportunity of securing positions elsewhere and we shall be prepared to release them on short notice, if they are successful.

We wish to express to the Lady Clerks, our appreciation of the help that they have given in carrying on the services of the Bank to the Public during the War period.

 

 

19th March 1946

Staff

In order to avoid redundancy of staff by the return of Officials from Active Service, we have, as far as possible, restricted new entrants to our Service, and, therefore, decided not to hold an examination for Clerkships this year.  As the rate of demobilisation is somewhat slower than we expected in the case of younger men we now find that our Staff will be somewhat short during the Summer months when we are providing for holiday and sick relief.

We do not wish in any way to curtail or upset the usual holiday arrangements, and we appeal, therefore, to our Managers and Staffs, to examine the situation at their respective Branches and see if it would be at all possible to help us out of this temporary difficulty by lending us a hand for the current leave season, or by dispensing with relief.

Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated and materially help us to tide over a very difficult period.

Relocation of Northern Bank War Memorial - 1977

Relocation of Northern Bank War Memorial - 1977

Following the sale of the Northern Bank former Head Office at 16 Victoria Street, Belfast, it was necessary to remove and re-locate the Northern Bank War Memorial. This Memorial which bears the names of Officials who served in the 1914-1918 and the 1939-1945 wars has been placed beside the Belfast Bank War Memorial in Waring Street branch, Belfast.

The Dean of Belfast, The Very Rev. S B Crooks, M.A., T.D., kindly offered to officiate at a Dedication Service which was held in the Branch on 7th December 1977.

The service, which was attended by ex-servicemen and their guests, was followed by dinner in the Ulster Reform Club. As it has been decided to discontinue the annual dinner the evening was naturally filled with nostalgia.

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link’ (Spring 1978) contains photographs of veterans and guests of the Ex-Servicemen's Association. A few names are known. Please help by commenting.

Rededication Service in Waring Street branch

A, Brian White & David (?) Christie

D, E, F & G

H, Barry Lowry & Micky Thompson

Barry Lowry, Wesley Duncan, Stanley Dawson & N

O, P, Q & R

R & P

Wilson Ervin & V

Gold, David Arthur

Lance Corporal David Arthur Gold

Gold was born at Ballybay on 24th February 1880 to David Gold, Land Agent and Anne Jane Gold nee Johnston. They had married on 11th June 1868 at Ballybay Church of Ireland.

Gold joined Northern Bank on 10th March 1897 in Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Londonderry (1897 - Junior), Hillsborough (1898 - Junior), Ballycastle (1900 - Junior), Claudy (1901 - Junior), Head Office (1906) and Comber (1907 - Cashier), Head Office (1913) and Fintona (1914 - Cashier).

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Ballycastle branch

Northern Bank, Claudy branch

Northern Bank, Comber branch

Northern Bank, Fintona branch (1980s)

Courtesy of Allan McCullough & family

In 1901 Arthur Gold (as record in census) was boarding with a Margaret Archibald in house 33 North Street, Ballycastle. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

By 1911, Gold is boarding with the Brown family in house 1 Town Parks, Comber, Co. Down. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Cashier. Whilst in Comber, David played cricket for the North Down Cricket club with his name appearing in various newspaper sports reports.

David Gold (as per Medal Index Card) Gold was based in Fintona branch when he volunteered and enlisted into the 14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles as a Private with Service Number 14/17726. His first theatre of war is recorded as France form 5th October 1915.

D A Gold - Medal Index Card

He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and saw action in the Somme (1916). At some stage he received a gunshot wound and lost his right eye. 

His Army Service Record is complete and consists of over 20 pages, some with scorch marks arising from a fire during World War 2.

D A Gold - Army Service Record

D A Gold - Army Service Record

Gold was taken prisoner and became a Prisoner of War in Germany. His Army Service Record records his period off captivity from 2nd July 1916 to 23rd November 1918 when he was repatriated to the UK. During his period of captivity, Northern Bank staff attempted to trace him.

10th August 1916 - Letter from Northern Bank to Infantry Record Office, Dublin

16th August 1916 - Memo from Infantry Records to Northern Bank

Demobilisation came in March 1919 and he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal for service during the Great War.

D A Gold - Memo re 1914-15 Star Medal

D A Gold - Memo re British War & Victory Medals

Following demobilisation, Gold re-joined Northern Bank. He also applied for a pension as a result of the loss of his right eye. His residence is recorded on the Pension record Card as Northern Banking Company, Ballymena.

D A Gold - Pension Record Card

D A Gold - Pension Record Card

Gold re-joined Northern Bank on 22nd April 1919 and after a short period in Head Office, he was appointed manager of Shercock branch.

Northern Bank, Shercock branch

On 21st January 1920 David Gold resigned from Northern Bank on pension. He had 23 years of service.

David Gold died on 11th January 1954.

Fisher, Luke Patrick Knight

Lieutenant Luke Patrick Knight Fisher

Fisher was born on 5th June 1875 to Robert Logan Fisher, Gentleman and Mary Cleary Fisher nee Knight. His birth was registered in the Cootehill district. Robert was born on 8th August 1843 and had married on 2nd October 1872 at Currin Church of Ireland, Clones.

On 15th May 1893 Fisher joined the Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Balbriggan (1893 - Junior), Ball’s (1895 - Junior), Head Office (1898), Comber (1898 - Cashier), Head Office (1900) and Dungiven (1900 - Cashier).

Northern Bank, Balbriggan branch

Cheque drawn on Ball & Co, Henry Street, Dublin

Northern Bank, Comber branch

Northern Bank, Dungiven branch

In 1901 Fisher was boarding with the Poston family in house 34, Dungiven, Co. Londonderry. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Cashier.

On 13th May 1903 Fisher married Miss Margaret Young Osborne at Limavady Church of Ireland. His father, Robert Logan Fisher's occupation is recorded as an Officer in the 8th Foot. The 8th Foot and the King's, was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1685 and retitled the King's (Liverpool Regiment) on 1st July 1881.

R L Fisher, 8th Regt of Foot

Further transfers followed to Falls (1904 - Cashier), Head Office (1911), Cushendall (1912- Cashier) and Head Office (1915).

Northern Bank, Falls branch

Northern Bank, Cushendall branch (1922 burning)

On 25th July 1908 Fisher sailed on the SS Lusitania from Liverpool to the US. The ships manifest is below:

SS Lusitania - 25th July 1908 - L P K Fisher

He returned to the UK on a sailing on 18th August 1909 from Boston, US on the Cunard ship, RMS Saxonia. Ref: Ancestry.com.

By 1911 Fisher is living in house 4, Waverley Drive, Bangor, Co. Down with his wife, Margaret and their 2 daughters; Annie Isabel Osborne (2) and Sarah Noreen Osborne (1). He describes himself as a Bank Cashier.

Fisher applied for and was granted permission by the Bank to travel to Australia. He was away from 1st May 1911 and returned to work on 8th September 1911. No reason has been identified.

Fisher signed the Ulster Covenant on ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, at Glenville, Cushendall.

 
On 7th November 1915, Fisher volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Engineers. He was later promoted to Lieutenant and may also have served in the Kings Liverpool Regiment. Luke relinquished his commission on 1st June 1919 on account of ill-health caused by wounds.

L P K Fisher - Medal Index Card

L P K Fisher - Medal Roll 1

L P K Fisher - Medal Roll 2

Due to his wounds, Fisher applied for a pension. A Pension Record card exists for him. It mentions his widow, Mrs Margaret Fisher.

L P K Fisher - Pension Record Card

Following demobilisation, Fisher retired from the Bank on 31st August 1919 having served 26 years. His Staff Record card has an annotation reading 'Bought a fruit farm. Not to take up office work'. There are no further details of this venture.

He was a member of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club.

The 'Belfast Telegraph' published on 21st July 1923 carried a photograph headed 'Group of Officers of the Composite Battalion County Brigade, Ulster C1 Special Constabulary' taken at Clandeboye Camp during their annual training.

Lieutenant L P K Fisher, Ulster Special Constabulary

The 'Western Mail' published on 26th August 1925 reported on the engagement of their daughter, Miss Mollie Fisher to Rev W R M Vonberg. The Fisher family address is also recorded.

Mr & Mrs L P K Fisher of Monk's Walk Cottage, Much Marcle, Herefordshire

The 'Belfast News-Letter' published on 5th August 1935 had a family notice advising of the sudden death of L P K Fisher of Layde House, Cushendall on 4th August (1935).

Mrs Fisher was still living in Cushendall when the engagement was announced on 1st October 1937 of their son, Patrick Robert Cosby Fisher to Rosemary Ellen Gertrude Banon (or Bannon) of Broughall Castle, King’s Co., and Dorincourt, Dormans Park, East Grinstead, England.

Patrick Fisher had been born on 28th February 1914 in Cushendall. Sadly, whilst serving in World War 2, Major P R C Fisher died on active service on 1st December 1942.

Major P R C Fisher, Officer Commanding,
9 Battery, 13 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

His mother, Margaret Fisher was now living at Ballyoran, Portadown when the announcement of the death was made.

Major P R C Fisher, RA - Ballymena Weekly Telegraph, 1st January 1943