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.

Buller, Alexander McLean

Flight Lieutenant Alexander McLean Buller (Known as Rex)

Buller was born at Manorhamilton on 30th June 1921 (and registered in the Ballymoney District) to Alexander McLean Buller and Anne Beatrice Buller nee Houston. They had married on 26th September 1917.

A brother, John Francis Buller was born at Manorhamilton on 17th June 1918 

Buller joined the Belfast Banking Company on 15th April 1940. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and gave his address as Cloughmills Creamery (Manager) and later 105 North Road, Belfast. Alexander (Juniors) wife, Mrs Jocelyn M Buller later signed the guarantee giving her address as 'Sherwood' Shore Road, Jordanstown. He is recorded as working in Central branch.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Central branch (Donegall Square North)

Buller volunteered for 'Active Service' in 1941 (Forces War Record) and enlisted into the Royal Air Force with Service Number 1796227. 

The London Gazette Supplement dated 4th August 1944 reported 1796227 Alexander McLean Buller being commissioned as a Pilot Officer from 11th June 1944.

The London Gazette Supplement dated 2nd July 1946 reported A McL Buller, 180086 being promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant from 11th June 1946.

He was demobilised on 25th November 1946. 

Buller was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1948 paying 5 shillings subscription. 

The Belfast Telegraph of 4th April 1963 reported that Mr Alexander McL Buller was being sent to Banking School in Semmering, Austria.

He worked in Central, Head Office, Inspection Staff  and was appointed as manager to Ballyhackamore branch in 1967.

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

Belfast Bank, Ballyhackamore branch

Buller was appointed as an Advances Controller in 1971 as reported in the Belfast Telegraph of 24th May 1971.

The Belfast Telegraph of 9th November 1972 reported on his transfer from Ballyhackamore to Holywood branch. It was also reported that he is married and has 3 children.

Mrs J M Buller, the widow of A McL Buller, attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour.

Brown, Robert George

Robert George Brown (known as Bertie)

Brown was born on 6th April 1924 to Robert Brown (Merchant Tailor - Marriage Registration) and Martha Emily Brown nee Crooks. They were married on 6th August 1918 at the Gospel Hall, Cookstown. His address was recorded as of 1 William Street, Cookstown. 

Brown joined Belfast Banking Company in 1942. His Bankers Guarantee was signed by his parents on 15th April 1942. A new Declaration of Secrecy was to be signed on 'return from Forces'. He is recorded as working in Portadown branch.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Portadown branch

Brown volunteered for War Service and joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.

The Portadown Times of 4th April 1952 reports on the marriage of Robert George Brown, Accountant, Belfast Banking Co. Ltd. to Miss Ruth Gertrude Wilson of Hilden, Springfield Road, Warrenpoint at Warrenpoint Presbyterian Church.

The Belfast Telegraph of 17th October 1969 reports the transfer of Brown to Ballymoney branch. It also mentions that Robert had worked in Londonderry branch.

Belfast Bank, Ballymoney branch

Belfast Bank, Londonderry branch

Bratty, Ivan Warren

Gunner Ivan Warren Bratty

Bratty was born at  Queen Street, Lurgan on 29th June 1908 to William John Bratty, Clerk and Martha Bratty nee Wright. They had married on 27th December 1888 at Rathfriland Presbyterian Church.

In 1911 Bratty (2) was living in house 19, Windsor Avenue, Lurgan with his parents and 8 siblings; William John (20), Thomas (17), Susan Elizabeth (15), Agnes May (13), Annie (11), John Henry (9), Dorothy Madge (6) and James Claude (4).

Bratty joined Belfast Banking Company on 1st April 1925. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him. Later on, Bratty's wife would be asked to join in the guarantee. He is recorded as working in Ballymoney, Head Office and Markets branches. Various other addresses are recorded for him i.e. 4 Ferguson Drive, Belmont, Belfast and 12 Springfield Avenue, Bangor.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Ballymoney branch

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

Belfast Bank, Markets branch (Victoria Street)

Bratty was married for 2 years prior to enlisting into the 8th Belfast Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery on 23rd April 1939 with Service Number 1460417. He signed on for 4 years (Supplementary Reserve).

F W T Dolan served in the same battery.

Following his return from Active Service, Bratty is recorded as being a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1947 paying 5 shillings subscription.

He served in Central, Markets, Ballymoney and Head Office.

Belfast Bank, Central branch (Donegall Square North)

In 1955 Bratty lived at 40 Shandon Drive, Bangor.

He retired on 29th June 1971.

Ivan McClure Bratty (his son) attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour. He eventually became Head of the Dept. of Semantics at the Institute of Linguistic Research at Woollamalloo, Australia.

Boyd, Ronald Mills

Fusilier Ronald Mills Boyd

Boyd was born on 1st May 1923 to Mr Boyd and Mrs Boyd nee Malseed with the birth being registered in the Londonderry district. 

He joined the Belfast Banking Company around May 1941. James Malseed (Solicitor of Donegall Square West, Belfast and Letterkenny) signed his Bankers Guarantee and gave his address as ? House, Letterkenny. He is recorded as working in Larne branch.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Larne branch

R M Boyd, Portrush branch, is recorded in the Belfast Telegraph of 15th May 1942 as passing the Preliminary Examination of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland.

Belfast Bank, Portrush branch

The Forces War Record database has a record for a R M Boyd (Service Number 3195590) as serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and being wounded in an incident in North Africa on 14th May 1943. This is reported in the Londonderry Sentinel of 26th June 1943.

Ancestry has a Voters Roll record for a Ronald Mills Boyd with a birth date between 1921 to 1923 and living in 2003 to 2010 at 2 Clearwater, Londonderry.

The Funeral Times website records the death of R M Boyd:

Boyd Ronald Mills - 23rd August 2019 (Peacefully at Altnagelvin Hospital) Aged 96 Years. Loving Husband of the Late Val. Sadly missed by his Stepchildren, Suzan and Peter, Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews.

A Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday 4th September 2019 at 1.00pm in Adair and Neely Funeral Home, Foyle Road followed by Burial in Ballyoan Cemetery. 

Boyd, Alexander Ernest

Alexander Ernest Boyd

Boyd (see obituary at end) joined the Belfast Banking Company with his father signing his Bankers Guarantee for him and giving his address as Moneymore, Co. Londonderry. The bank also held a letter dated 26th November 1946 from Reverend Wm Thomas Boyd with an address of RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, England. William was Ernest's brother. He was a Chaplain in the RAF.

BBCo - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

The Forces War Records database records an Alexander Ernest Boyd with Service Number 2205561 enlisting into the RAF after October 1942.

Following his demobilisation after the war, Boyd worked in Armagh branch. The Portadown News of 14th August 1937 reports his transfer from Armagh to Lurgan branch.

Belfast Bank, Armagh branch

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch

The Portadown Times of 17th October 1952 has an obituary for Alexander Boyd, Ernest's father.. He was a Justice of the Peace (Magistrate).

Boyd is recorded as working in the Belfast Bank, Ballyclare branch.

Belfast Bank, Ballyclare branch 

Nixon, William James

Leading Writer William James Nixon

Nixon was born at Clough, Co. Down on 16th November 1922 to John Nixon and Mrs Nixon nee Rainey. They were married on 11th January 1922 with the marriage being registered in Lisburn. 

Nixon joined the Northern Bank on 8th April 1941 at Head Office.  

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Fivemiletown (1941 - Junior), Shankill Road (1942 - Junior), Head Office (1943) and Connswater (1943 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Fivemiletown (in there somewhere)

Northern Bank, Shankill Road, Belfast

Nixon resigned from the bank on 31st October 1944 to volunteer and enlist into the Fleet Air Arm branch of the Royal Navy. His final rank is detailed as Leading Writer.

Royal Navy - Leading Writer

On 27 January 1947 Nixon resumed duty with the Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers followed to Grafton Street (1947 - Junior), Coleraine (1948 - Assistant Accountant), Ballymoney (1949 - Accountant), Ballinamore (1953 - Cashier), Carndonagh (1956 - Cashier), Grafton Street (1956 - Cashier), Armagh (1958 - Cashier and Assistant Manager), Markets (1967 - Sub-manager), Dromore (1969 - Manager) and Trevor Hill, Newry (1971).

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin branch

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

Northern Bank, Ballymoney branch (Danske Bank)

Northern Bank, Ballinamore branch

Northern Bank, Carndonagh branch

Northern Bank, Armagh branch

Northern Bank, Markets branch

Northern Bank, Dromore branch

Northern Bank, Newry branch

The Belfast Telegraph of 17th August 1961 reported on the marriage of William Nixon to Miss Margaret Jean Moira Thompson of Tara, Donaghadee at Knock Methodist Church, Belfast.