Keeling, George Dennison

George Dennison Keeling

Keeling was born at 107 South Parade, Belfast on 19th April 1897 to John William Keeling, Marine Engineer of 12 Florenceville Avenue, Belfast and Elizabeth Frances Theodora Keeling nee Lamont. They had married on 14th May 1896 at Newtownbreda Church of Ireland.

In 1901 Keeling (4) is living in house 71, South Parade, Ormeau, Belfast with his parents and a sister Dorothy (2).

William Keeling died 'at sea' on 20th June 1906 (Ancestry family tree).

By 1911, Keeling was residing in a boarding school at number 19.1, St. Laurence Street, St. Laurence Gate, Drogheda, Co. Louth. There were 4 teachers and 20 pupils in the school on Census Day 1911.

On 23rd October 1913, Keeling joined Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers to Shaftesbury Square (1914) and Head Office (1915) followed.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

On 1st January 1915 Keeling volunteered and enlisted into the 6th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) with Service Number 2686. He later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders.

G D Keeling - Medal Index Card

The Belfast News Letter of 8th October 1915 reported his address is recorded as 48 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast.

The London Gazette records a 2nd Lieutenant G D Keeling relinquishing his temporary commission as of 7th May 1916.

 The bank Staff Ledger records Keeling as re-joining the bank on 3rd July 1916 and was based again in Head Office.

 On 6th January 1917, Keeling volunteered again.

The picture on the Roll of Honour indicates that Keeling may have been awarded the Military Medal.

Military Medal

Keeling re-joined the Northern Bank on 3rd February 1919 at Head Office and was then transferred to Downpatrick (1919) and then back to Head Office (1919).

Northern Banking Company Limited, Downpatrick

Keeling is remembered on the Roll of Honour in St Jude's Parish Church, Belfast.

[Photo courtesy of John McCormick]

Keeling resigned from the bank on 28th February 1920 and 'left for Canada' to 'settle there' with other members of his family. His 'Passenger Declaration' card records George's occupation as a 'Bank Clerk' with an intention to start 'Farming or Lumber'.

G D Keeling - Passenger Declaration - 1920

G D Keeling - US & Canada Arrivals Card - 1920

The 1921 Canadian census records Keeling as living at house 400, 35 42 Cambridge Street, Vancouver, Canada with his mother, Elizabeth and siblings; Dorothy and Beatrice. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Cashier earning Cad$1,200.

On 14th march 1934 Keeling married Gladys Ruth Davey (Ancestry family tree). A son, Barry Dennison Keeling was born on 16th March 1944 (Ancestry family tree).

George Keeling died in Vancouver, Canada on 27th May 1966 aged 69.

Grant, James Herbert

2nd Lieutenant James Herbert Grant MM

Grant was born on 18th April 1888 at 3 Downshire Park or Place, Belfast to James Grant, Clerk and Mary Grant nee Walsh. They had married on 17th July 1878 at Hillsborough Parish Church.

In 1901 Grant (12) was living in house 96, Donegall Pass, Windsor Ward, Belfast with his parents and 7 siblings; Amelia Florence (3), Mary Rosena (5), Eliza Eleanor (21), Frederick William (19), Arthur Hill (15), Robert John (10) and Andrew Walter (7). An uncle, Robert Grant was also in the house.

Grant would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1906 serving in Drogheda and Lurgan.  His father, James signed the Bankers Indemnity and following his death, Andrew Walter (brother) signed as well.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Indemnity Ledger - J H Grant

Belfast Bank, Drogheda branch

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch

Grant had a brother, Andrew Walter Grant of Northern Bank, Willowfield, Belfast (also O’Connell Street, Dublin – Manager). He also features in this publication.

Mark Duffy (a 'Belfast' Black Watch researcher) has kindly sent me a photograph that he believes is Andrew Grant.

"Cpl Grant 1/6. Fate Unknown. Was with me in Aberdeen in 1914" 
[Written on photo reverse, no further information].

In 1911, Grant is boarding with the McWatters family in house 2 Drumarg or Downs, Armagh Rural, Co. Armagh. He is described as a Bank Official. A possible colleague, Frederick Charles Robinson (Bank Official) is also boarding in this house.

In 1911 the family are still in Donegall Pass. His parents, 3 daughters, uncle and 1 servant are present.

On Ulster Day, 28th September 1912, Grant signed the Ulster Covenant at Armagh giving his address as Malart Villa, Armagh.

Grant volunteered and enlisted into the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers with Service Number PS/6051.  Promotion via Sergeant lead to him transferring as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Medal Index Card - J H Grant

Grant's Medal Index Card records his first theatre of war as France and Flanders from 14th November 1915. 

The London Gazette dated 16th November 917 recorded 6051, Cpl J H Grant, Royal Fusiliers (Hillsborough) as being awarded the Military Medal.

On 25th April 1917 Grant was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

1915 Star - Roll - Pte J H Grant

Victory Medal and the British War Medal Roll - Sgt J H Grant

In addition to the Military Medal, Grant was awarded and applied on 25th November 1922 for the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, Grant returned to to the bank.

Retirement came in 1951. 

He died on 19th January 1956. His grandson has written to me about his death: 

"James Herbert Grant (Bert) died 19th January 1956. Got off train at Ballygowan Halt station on 18th January 1956 on way to Corcreeny to visit Florrie (his sister) and got lost in a snow storm. He was found dead in a snow drift the next morning." [This would be the area of the Banbridge, Lisburn, Belfast Junction Railway].

James Herbert Grant is buried in the Grant family grave in Hillsborough Parish Church graveyard with other members of his family.

Grant family grave - Hillsborough Parish Church

McFall, Thomas Lamont

Newspaper image 

(courtesy of John McCormick)

Lieutenant Thomas Lamont McFall MM

McFall was born at Magherintendry, Bushmills, Co. Antrim on 15th November 1894 to John McFall, Farmer and Elizabeth McFall nee Nevin. They had married at Ballyclabber Meeting House on 8th October 1880.

   
Following his education at Coleraine Acedemical Institution, McFall joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Portaferry and Magherafelt (Belfast News Letter below) branches. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

McFall volunteered and enlisted into the 12th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with Service Number 12/24513.

The 'Northern Constitution' published on 3rd July 1915 carried this report that featured T L McFall:

McFall's first theatre of war is recorded as France from 7th June 1916.

T L McFall - Medal Index Card

Promotion to Lance Corporal, Corporal followed prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 4th October 1915. His promotion was reported in the London Gazette in August 1916.

The Belfast News Letter of 3rd September 1916 reported:

During November 1916, the following was reported:

"Capt. Alexander M Reilly ..... was severely wounded on November 22 1916. The battalion were in the front line just to the south of where the Spanbroekmolen Mine would be blown 6 months later, south of Ypres and suffered heavy bombardment".  

The war diary states:

"A direct hit was secured by the Boche on No 3 Company resulting in the deaths of 3 other ranks and Capt A M Reilly, Company Commander, 2nd Lieut T L McFall and 2 other ranks being wounded. Captain Reilly afterwards died from his wounds in No 2 Casualty Clearing Station".

The Belfast News Letter of 14th December 1916 reports:

McFall was serving with 9th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 7th August 1917 aged 22.

McFall is buried in the Potiize Chateau Grounds Cemetery, leper West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He had originally been buried in a smaller area of the cemetery with a wooden cross with badge identifying the grave. On 10th July 1919 his remains were re-interred in his current location.

He is also remembered in Dunluce Parish Church, Bushmills.

The Belfast News Letter of 20th August 1917 reports:

McFall was awarded the Military Medal in addition to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. According to the Medal Roll, the latter two were awarded on 31st October 1922.

McFall is remembered in the Ireland's Memorial Record:

The family headstone in Billy Church of Ireland:

Dervock Reformed Presbyterian Church

(courtesy of John McCormick)

 Coleraine Acedemical Institution
(courtesy of Nigel Henderson)

Additional photographs from LennonWylie:

Aggie McFall, James Nevin McFall and Tillie McNeill

Front centre Aggie McFall and front right Tillie McNeill

Thomas's father and two of his three brothers

James, their father John and Robert

Donaghy, Thomas Moffett

Sergeant Thomas Moffett Donaghy MM

Donaghy was born at Main Street, Limavady on 13th February 1912 to James Donaghy, General Draper and Catherine Donaghy nee McCullagh. They had married on 12th February 1903 at Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church.

The Northern Whig of 6th July 1929 reported that Donaghy 'assisted the best man' at his sister Kathleen's wedding in Limavady.

On 2nd June 1930 he joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address at that time was 6 Main Street, Limavady.

Transfers followed to Coleraine (1930 - Junior), Head Office (1930), Knock Sub-Office (1930), Maghera (1931), Oldcastle (1934), Head Office  (1938 - relief) and Grafton Street (1938 - relief).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

Northern Bank, Maghera branch

Whilst in Maghera, the Belfast Telegraph of 15th May 1933 reported that Donaghy had won a Special Prize for Neatness in the Final examinations of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland.

Northern bank, Oldcastle branch

Northern Bank, Grafton Street branch

 

On 9th January 1940 he joined the North Irish Horse and was ‘Called up’ on 16th January 1940. His rank on joining was Trooper (Driver mechanic). Promotions followed to Sergeant.

The Belfast Telegraph of 8th December 1944 reported that Donaghy had been 'wounded for second time'. 

Donaghy was awarded the Military Medal on 26th April 1945. The citation reads:

“On November 14th 1944, at map ref 418206 Sergeant Donaghy was Troop Leader of three tanks supporting A Company 6 Black Watch. His orders were to support A Company in clearing the houses on each side of the road and seizing the T junction 418206. At the junction several enemy tanks were known to be lying in wait. One anti-tank gun was known to be sited down the road which had not been swept for mines, and it was impossible to get off the road. A platoon of 6 Black Watch had managed to reach a house 200 yards short of the objective but were pinned down from Spandau fire from the enemy tanks. Sergeant Donaghy made a most gallant attempt to get to their assistance. The only way was straight up the road. As soon as he moved he came under high-explosive and armour-piercing fire from enemy tanks but continued up the road. Just before he reached the infantry his tank was hit and knocked out. Sergeant Donaghy was wounded by blast and splash in the face and could not see out of one eye. He refused to be evacuated and after dark sufficiently repaired his tank to enable it to be towed to a defensive position for the night. He accomplished this in spite of intense fixed line Spandau fire down the road. He manned his tank throughout the night and did not go to hospital until ordered to do so next day. Sergeant Donaghy’s grim determination at all costs to carry out his task of supporting the infantry and his success in carrying out this task in face of strong opposition and in spite of his own wounds, showed devotion to duty and personal courage which were quite beyond praise.” 

Military Medal (MM)

The Belfast Telegraph of 20th July 1945 reports that T M Donaghy has been 'mentioned in despatches' for 'gallant and distinguished service in Italy'.

The bank Staff Record sheet records that he sustained an eye injury and lost the sight of one eye during his war service.

On 4th February 1946 Thomas resumed service with the Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers followed to Grafton Street (1946 - relief ), Head Office (1946- relief ), Head Office (1947), Lisburn (1948 - Relief), Head Office (1948), Claudy (1948 - Cashier), Larne (1952 - Cashier), Banbridge (1954 - Cashier), Head Office (1955) and Donegall Square (1956 - Cashier).

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Northern Bank, Claudy branch

Northern Bank, Larne branch

Northern Bank, Banbridge branch

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Donaghy (44) took early retirement on 30th November 1956.