Best, Walter John

Sergeant Walter John Best 

Best was born at Buncrana, Co. Donegal on 3rd June 1912 to David Best, Railway Servant and Rebecca Jane Best nee Dinsmore. They had married on 6th April 1909 at Muff, Co. Donegal. A son, David was born on 4th October 1910 at Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

In 1911 the parents and 1st born, David Thompson Best (0) were living in house 342 in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. A sister of his father, Sarah Anne Best (17) was also living in the property.

Best was educated at Foyle College, Londonderry and was a member of the 1st Eleven Rugby team. The Londonderry Sentinel of 9th October 1930 reported Walter as obtaining his Junior Certificate.

On 8th June 1931, Best joined Northern Bank at Head Office. The address on his Staff Record card was William Street, Raphoe.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Newtownstewart (1931 - Junior), Dungannon (1932 - Junior), Markets (1934 - Junior), Portadown (1938 – relief), Head Office (1938 – relief), Kells (1938– relief), Carrick-on-Shannon (1938 – relief), Head Office (1939) and Crumlin Road (1939 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

Northern Bank, Law Courts, Victoria Street, Belfast branch

On 22nd July 1940, Best was ‘Called up for Active Service’ into the North Irish Horse as a Trooper with Service Number 7904280.  Promotion followed to Lance Corporal, Corporal and Acting Sergeant (Gazette 23rd September 1943).

The Belfast News Letter reported on 24th September 1943 that Acting Sergeant W J Best had been ‘Mentioned in Despatches’.  

Best was serving with "A" Sqn. North Irish Horse, Royal Armoured Corps as a Sergeant when he was Killed on Active Service on 23rd May 1944 aged 31 during the first day of the assault on the Hitler Line, Italy.

Best is buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

Photograph taken by Paul Reed while visiting Cassino War Cemetery, 2003.

The Londonderry Sentinel of 13th June 1944 reported:

The North Irish Horse 'war diary' records the following:

" ....On Thursday evening, 25th May, a burial service was held in the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Cemetery where a plot had been reserved for the North Irish Horse.  The cemetery lies about four and a half miles to the south of Pontecorvo and is enclosed on three sides by oak trees, the open side looking across the Liri Valley towards the historic Monastery Hill and Mount Cairo.  It was fitting that the men of the North Irish Horse should be buried near their Canadian comrades in arms, who fought and fell with them in the Adolf Hitler Line.  The 23rd of May took heavy toll of the regiment. Thirty-two of our friends were buried in that plot of land.  A simple and moving Service of Consecration was held at the cemetery and the site has left associations deeply imprinted upon the minds of the Canadian and British Troops concerned. ...."

The thirty-two men were later reburied in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

Best is also remembered on a family headstone at St Eunan's Cathedral, Raphoe, Donegal.

Images and information from the findagrave website.

Magee, Frederick William Henry

Captain Frederick William Henry Magee

Magee was born at Abbey Street, Armagh on 19th September 1882 to David Magee, Head Constable, Royal Irish Constabulary and Essie (Esther) Magee nee White. They had married on 9th September 1881 at Duncairn Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

In 1901 Magee's parents are living in house 29, Church Street, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. A servant, Thomas Cummins also lives in the property. David Magee's occupation is now District Inspector, RIC.

Magee joined Northern Bank on 3rd February 1900 in Head Office. At that time, his address was recorded on the bank staff record card as Strokestown. 

Northern Bank Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed with Londonderry (1900), Ballyclare (1900) and Mohill (1900). 

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Ballyclare branch

Northern Bank, Mohill branch

In 1901 Magee was boarding with the Payne family in house 15, Hill Street, Mohill. 

Transfers followed to Head Office (1903), Holywood (1905), Whitehead (1907), Head Office (1911) and Ball’s Branch (1911).

Northern Bank, Holywood branch (gable wall)

Northern Bank, Whitehead branch

By 1911, Magee was living in house 9, Promenade, Templecorran, Co. Antrim with his parents and a servant, Ella McAllister. He is recorded as a Bank Official. 

Aged 33, Magee was based in Ball's branch when he volunteered for a Commission in the Royal Field Artillery. The Northern Whig of 23rd October 1915 reported his commissioning. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 26th November 1915.

F W H Magee - Medal Index Card
(Address recorded as Northern bank, Sackville Street, Dublin)

He was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1917 and then to Captain in August 1917. Magee saw action in the Somme 1916 (Thiepval and La Boisselle), Messines 1917, Ypres 1917 (Passchendaele), Cambrai 1917, St. Quentin 1918, Amiens 1918, Bailleul 1918 and Courtrai 1918 (Allied Advance).

Demobilisation came in June 1919 and he was awarded the MID (Mentioned in Despatches), the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

The Belfast News-Letter of 8th September 1919 reported his award of the the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

2nd Lt. F W H Magee - Medal Roll 1

Capt F W H Magee - Medal Roll 2

Oak leaf MID on a British Victory Medal ribbon

Belgian Croix de Guerre

Following demobilisation, Magee re-joined the Northern Bank in Ball’s Branch, Sackville Street, Dublin later to be renamed O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Ball & Company, Henry Street, Dublin

Transfers followed with Head Office (1922) and to a new branch in Bangor (1927).

Northern Bank, Bangor branch (site now redeveloped)

The Belfast News-Letter of 1st September 1928 reported the engagement of F W H Magee, Northern Bank House, Bangor to Betty Douglas-Browne of Riverside, Holywood. Their wedding was reported in the Belfast News-Letter of 1st May 1929:

Further transfers followed to  Armagh (1933) and Dungannon (1941).

Northern Bank, Armagh branch

The British Newspaper Archive holds many press reports about Magee and his yachting interest.

Magee retired on 24th July 1945. He subsequently moved from Armagh to Dublin selling all his house contents as per this advertisement in the Portadown News of 16th October 1948:

Frederick Magee died aged 75 on 28th November 1957 and left his estate to his widow, Fannie Betty Magee.

Small, Thomas Milliken

Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant (RQMS) Thomas Milliken Small

Small was born in Keady on 24th March 1889 to Samuel Sturgeon Small, Draper and Katherine Emily Small nee Milliken. They had married on 24th August 1887 at Dundela Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

In 1901 Small lived in house 65, Main Street, Keady, Co. Armagh with his mother and 2 sisters; Louisa (17) and Johnena (7). A governess, Marguerite Hardy and a servant, Eliza Campbell were also in the property.

Small's father, Samuel was boarding in house 2.1 in Ardrea (Kilmore, Armagh). This may have been a small hospital as there were 20 other residents in the property on this day ranging from a matron, gentleman's attendant, attendants, ladies nurse, nurses, kitchen and domestic servants.

On 10th April 1907 Small joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Downpatrick (1907 - Junior), Head Office (1907), Ballymena (1907 - Junior), Grafton Street (1908 - Junior), Head Office (1909), Grafton Street (1909) and Head Office (1910). 

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin branch (tall building with chimneys)

Samuel Small died in Glen House, Keady on 20th October 1908.

In 1911, Small was living in house 6, Groomsport Road, Bangor, Co. Down with his mother and sister, Johnena. A servant, Catherine McParland is also in the house. Thomas' occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

Katherine Small, Thomas' mother died in 57 Ballyholme Road, Bangor on 1st February 1914.

The Bank Staff Record card records Small as volunteering and enlisting into the Ulster Volunteer Force on 11th September 1914.

Small had volunteered at Bangor and enlisted into the 13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles as a Private with Service Number 18782. His Army Service Record attestation form and medical record is displayed below.

T M Small - Army Attestation Form - page 1

T M Small - Army Medical Record

He was later posted to the 16th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles. Promotion to Company Quarter Master Sergeant and Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant followed. 

Service was seen in the Somme 1917 (Thiepval), Messines 1917, Ypres 1917 and Courtrai 1918. 

Thomas Small was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal for service in the Great War.

T M Small - Medal Index Card

T M Small - Medal Roll

Following demobilisation in May 1919, he re-joined the Northern Bank on 10th June 1919 at Head Office. 

Thomas Small married Miss Margaret Magee of Knock on 6th July 1921 (Marriage Registration) at Knock Church of Ireland. The Bank Staff Record card records the marriage as taking place in June 1921.

He attended a dedication service at First Bangor Presbyterian Church as reported in the 'North Down Herald and County Down Independent' published on Saturday, 2nd April 1921.

'North Down Herald and County Down Independent' 

published on Saturday, 2nd April 1921

In 1926 he was appointed as Head of Correspondence Department.

A transfer to Dungannon as Manager followed in 1935.

 
He retired on pension on 30th June 1941 and later moved to Bangor where he enjoyed playing cricket, tennis and golf with his name being mentioned in many newspaper club reports.

 
Thomas Small of 24 Clifton Road, Bangor died at Ards Hospital on 31st August 1955 aged 66.

Ferris, William Thompson

Staff Lieutenant William Thompson Ferris

Ferris was born at Vicars Hill, Armagh on 12th March 1890 to Walter Ferris, Merchant and Rachel Ferris nee Kennedy. They had married on 19th November 1885 at First Presbyterian Church, Coleraine.

In 1901 Ferris lived in house 19, Mall, Armagh with his parents and a servant Sarah Wylie.  

On 17th May 1909 he joined Northern Bank at Head Office as Junior. Transfers followed to Lisburn (1910 - Junior) and Head Office (1914 - Junior).  

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch.  Later replaced in 1920s

By 1911, Ferris is living in house 21, The Mall, Armagh with his parents and a servant Susan Glaskin.  He is described as a Bank Clerk.  The family were of Presbyterian faith. 

Ferris played golf in the first Northern Bank golf outing on 21st March 1913 at Dunmurry:

Photo courtesy of LennonWylie

On 15th September 1914, Ferris volunteered and enlisted into the 6th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) as a Private with Service Number 2159.  His first theatre of war was in France from 2nd May 1915. He served with the British Expeditionary Force, was promoted to Lance Corporal and then Gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant. Further promotion followed to Lieutenant and then Staff-Lieutenant 1st Class. Ferris saw action in the Second Battle of Festubert May 1915, Vimy Ridge 1916 and the Somme 1916. An injury occurred on 29th July 1916 at High Wood.  The Belfast News Letter of 7th August 1916 reports:

Mark Duffy (a 'Belfast' Black Watch researcher) has kindly sent me a a couple of group photographs that include W T Ferris.

"William Thompson Ferris is rear right. Rear left is Harry Dann (Belfast), he won the Military Medal and was also taken POW. Front right is Arthur D. Hutchison, a Scotsman, he was working in the Irish Department of Agriculture in Dublin before the war. Front left may be Joseph Russell (Belfast) but not quite sure on him yet. All went out with the 6th Black Watch on 2nd May, 1915."

W T Ferris, 6th Bn. Black Watch

"This is a group from the Irish detachment of the 6th Black Watch. William T. Ferris No. 21."

W T Ferris, 6th Bn. Black Watch

Demobilisation came on 14th July 1919. He was Mentioned in Dispatches on 29th August 1919 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. His address in Army records was 2 Gosford Place, Edinburgh.

William T Ferris - Medal Index Card

William T Ferris - Medal Roll

Following demobilisation, Ferris re-joined the Northern Bank on 22nd September 1919 and was transferred to Newry as Junior and later as Cashier.

Northern Bank, Newry branch

On 12th July 1920, Ferris retired and took up his father’s business, 'Walter Ferris, wholesale grocer and spirits, Market Street, Armagh'. 

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link (August 1981)’ contains a photograph of Ferris in a 1913 Northern Bank Staff Golf outing.