Southam, Ernest

Corporal Ernest Southam

Ernest Southam was born at 34 Upper Canning Street, Belfast on 6th January 1920 to Richard Francis Southam, Soldier and Mary Ann Southam nee Little. They were married at St Anne's Church of Ireland on 8th October 1906. Richard was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Irish Rifles based in Victoria Barracks, Belfast.

The 1939 Belfast Street Directory records Richard Southam as the caretaker of Northern Bank, 109-113 Royal Avenue branch.

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch

Southam, Service Number 7012844, served with the 1st (Airborne) Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles. He died in France on 23rd August 1944.

Casualty List extract - Cpl E Southam

Southam was married to Amelia Elizabeth Southam, of Brithdir, New Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Ernest & Amelia Southam

[Courtesy of Michael Clarke's Ancestry archive]

Southam is buried in a CWGC marked grave in the Tourgeville Military Cemetery, Calvados Region, France.

Corporal Ernest Southam - CWGC Headstone

[Courtesy of Find a Grave website]

At the location of Southam's death, there is a marker listing the names of Southam and two colleagues:

[Courtesy of Michael Clarke]

A family 'in loving memory of' card:

[Courtesy of Michael Clarke's Ancestry archive]

I am grateful to Richard Southam's grandson, Michael Clarke, for permitting me to publish a couple of the  images above. Michael writes:

"Many thanks, yes my Grandfather Richard Francis Southam worked for the Northern Bank, he served in WW1 and afterwards was RSM of the Lisburn C Specials and then worked for the bank. My Mother lived in the bank with some of her siblings and Parents, I was in it a couple of years ago and was allowed to go onto the top floor where they lived. I have a photo of my Grandfather on the roof [see below] and a letter [see below] from the Northern Bank thanking him for saving the Company car from the stationary building during the blitz and awarding him £10. My Grandfather took my Mum and one of my Uncles up onto the roof after the air raids had stopped one night and my Mum said it was like a scene from hell, everywhere was burning all over Belfast.

Coincidently, the writer, Gavin Bamford worked in 109-113 Royal Avenue branch in the 1970s/80s. After Gavin's father died in 1961, his mother took on a 'charlady' called Bella (can't recall her surname) who lived in the caretakers flat in the 1960s.

Richard Southam, as a caretaker, would probably also have been a 'fire-warden' for the bank keeping an eye out at night during the German blitz periods over Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland. This next photo shows Richard Southam on the roof of the Northern bank head office on Victoria Street / Queen's Square.

[Courtesy of Michael Clarke]

[Google Earth view of the former Northern Bank head office 

showing the dome where Richard Southam is standing]

The letter from the bank relating to the 'incendiary bomb' that landed on the roof of the bank 'Stationery Store' on the night of 4th/5th May 1941. This period was known as the 'fire raid'.

[Courtesy of Michael Clarke]

Coleman, William Desmond

William Desmond Coleman (known as Desmond)

Desmond Coleman was a Belfast Bank official (accountant) between the years of 1929 to the 1930s and although he is not recorded on the Belfast Bank War Memorial / Roll of Honour, he qualifies as a former official who served in WW2 with the Royal Artillery (22 Mountain Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery).

Coleman was born at Belfast Bank, Hill Street, Newry on 27th January 1912 to William Hanna Coleman, Bank Manager and Hester Lavinia Coleman nee Crossett. They had married on 31st August 1905 at Second Presbyterian Church, Cookstown whilst Wm H was working in the Belfast Bank, Cookstown branch.

On the previous census day, 2nd April 1911, the family were recorded as living at house no. 1 (Belfast Bank), Hill Street, Newry. The parents and 2 children; Margaret Kennedy (Peggy) (4) and Noel M (3) were present along with two servants; Sarah Henry (48) and Maggie Sloan (18).

June 1926 saw the marriage of Peggy Coleman to Mr J B Harris.

The Ballymena Observer published on Friday, 23rd August 1929 reports W D Coleman as entering the Belfast Bank at Head Office. A transfer followed in September 1931 to Kilkeel branch.

The Belfast Telegraph published on Saturday, 11th May 1935 reports on the banking examinations for W D Coleman, Belfast Bank, Kilkeel branch. 

May 1936 saw the marriage of Miss Noel M Coleman to Mr W D Wolseley, RUC. W D Coleman was an usher.

Wedding of Miss Noel M Coleman to Mr W D Wolseley
(Belfast Telegraph, 24th June 1936)

Promotion to Accountant in Kilkeel branch followed in 1937.

Coleman was elected Treasurer of Kilkeel Badminton Club in 1938.

The Frontier Sentinel published on Saturday, 16th September 1939 reported the loss of life of Mrs Burrows in the 'Athenia Disaster'. Mrs Burrows was the sister of Mr W H Coleman. The SS Athenia was sunk by the German Navy on 3rd September 1939 becoming the first British ship sunk during the Second World War. 

Coleman resigned from the Belfast Bank and joined the Imperial Bank of India at their Calcutta branch. He 'gave up an important position' to join the Royal Artillery at the outbreak of war and was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with Service Number 132871 in the Royal Regiment of Artillery from an Officer Cadet Training Unit on 16th June 1940. 

Newry Telegraph, 28th March 1942

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson]

The newspaper report says he was safe but CWGC records that he died on 16th February 1942. It is thought that the letter in the article was written after the Japanese invasion of Malaya but before the Fall of Singapore.

Coleman was serving with the Royal Artillery (22 Mountain Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery) when he was Killed in Action on 16th February 1942, aged 30. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial at Kranji and on the Second World War memorial window in Downshire Road Presbyterian Church, Newry. He is also commemorated on a personal memorial window in the same church.

W D Coleman Family Memorial Window

Downshire Road Presbyterian Church, Newry

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson]

His death was verified by the War Office on 8th March 1946 Lieutenant William Desmond Coleman 

W D Coleman of Moyne, Rostrevor Road, Warrenpoint. Probate was granted to William Coleman, father, retired bank manager on 3rd December 1942. Estate was £1,067 17s 2d.

Taylor, William Alexander - Accidental Death in Northern Bank, 14 Donegall Square West, Belfast

William Alexander Taylor

Taylor was the step-father of Herbert John Blythe, Northern Bank official who served during the Great War.

I was undertaking research on Herbert Blythe and discovered that his mother had married William Taylor following the premature death of Henry's father, George Blythe. By coincidence, William Taylor was a manager in Northern Bank, Banbridge and lived in the managers house above the branch at house 1, Bridge Street, Banbridge (Irish Census, 1901).

William Taylor was later transferred to the Northern Bank's main city centre branch at Donegall Square, Belfast.

Northern Bank, 14 Donegall Square West, Belfast
- Managers accommodation was at the top of the building

Taylor was not present in the 1911 Irish Census. His family were living in house 54 Botanic Avenue, Cromac, Belfast. I wanted to find out where William Taylor was on census day, April 1911.

Subsequently I found the Death Registration for Taylor that recorded that on 3rd September 1910, William Alexander Taylor, aged 50, died at 14 Donegall Square West, Belfast from 'fracture of skull and laceration of brain' by 'accidentally fell down the shaft of a lift'.

Death Registration of William Taylor

Further investigation using the excellent archives of British Newspaper Archive uncovered the story of the accidental death of Taylor.

On Monday, 5th September 1910 this death notice was published in the Northern Whig:

"TAYLOR - September 3rd. at the Northern Bank, Donegal! Square, Belfast, William Alexander Taylor, son of the late Dr. William Taylor, of Articlave, Londonderry. Funeral strictly private. No flower's by request."

The Belfast News-Letter of the same date reported:

SAD FATALITY IN BELFAST. 

Bank Manager's Tragic Death. 

"We regret announce the death of Mr. William Alexander Taylor, manager of the Donegall Square West Branch of the Northern Bank which occurred under painfully sad and tragic circumstances on Saturday night.

Mr. Taylor, along with his family, resided on the premises, and it appears that about a quarter to ten he was in his sitting room, which is situated on the third floor, when one of his daughters went in to him and told him there was a fire somewhere at the rare of the bank. The deceased had only come into the house about quarter of an hour before, and had then gone to his apartments means of the lift. In the meantime the lift had been taken to the fourth floor, but Mr. Taylor was not aware of this, and as soon as his daughter raised the alarm of fire he started to make an investigation. Rushing to the landing, opened the door of lift and stepped out. and before he could realise his mistake he had been precipitated down the well on to the ground below. The members of his family who were present when left the sitting-room heard him make an exclamation, and hurrying downstairs they were shocked to find him lying unconscious the bottom of the well through which the lift moves.

Dr. B. Mitchell, of University Square, was promptly summoned, and arrived with the utmost haste. but all could do was pronounce life extinct. The deceased had fractured his skull result of the fall, and death had been almost instantaneous. has not been ascertained where the fire to which Miss Taylor referred occurred, but is presumed that there had been a slight outbreak - possibly caused by children - in the immediate neighbourhood the bank premises, and that this had caused her to become alarmed.

The deceased, who was 49 years of age was well known in the city, through his connection with the Northern Banking Company, in whose service had been for the lengthened period 33 years, and his untimely death under such peculiarly pathetic circumstances will very widely and sincerely regretted. He was held in high esteem the directors of the bank, and his courtesy and urbanity had earned for him the respect and confidence all with whom he came in contact both in commercial and social circles.

He was appointed manager of the Donegall Square West branch only about three years ago, after having for nine years acted in a similar capacity at the Banbridge branch, and previous to that had occupied the position of inspector. His promotion to the charge of the important branch Donegall Square West was the reward of many years efficient and faithful service, and the time it afforded intense satisfaction to his numerous friends.

Personally, Mr. Taylor was one of the most kindly and genial of men. A son of the late Dr. William Taylor, the deceased was native of Articlave, County Derry, but the greater part of his business career had been spent in other parts of Ulster. He was a member of the Church of Ireland, worshipping at the cathedral in Donegall Street. leaves a widow, one son and two daughters, and with them in the irreparable loss which they have them in the irreparable loss which they have sustained profound sympathy will felt.

The facts of the accident were yesterday communicated to the City Coroner (Dr. James Graham), who will hold inquest in the Old Recorder’s Court, Townhall Street, three o’clock this afternoon."

Probate was granted on 18th November 1910 to his widow, Elise Corinne Taylor to the amount of £599 2s 4d.

The story continued in other papers throughout the province. Following the inquest, the newspapers reported in great detail about the fore and the subsequent accident. The Northern Whig dated 6th September reported:

Northern Whig, 6th September 1910

The Belfast Weekly News dated 8th September 1910 reported the following:

Belfast Weekly News, 8th September 1910