Clarke, John Carton

Private John Carton Clarke

Clarke was born at Castlerock, Co. Londonderry on 2nd February 1897 to William Thomas Clarke, Grocer and Gemma Grace Murray Clarke nee Carton. They were married on 1st March 1894 at Castlerock Presbyterian Church.

In 1901 Clarke (4) was living in house 1, Castlerock, Freehall Watson Part of, Downhill, Co. Londonderry with his maternal grandparents, John & Drusilla Carton, his parents and his sister, Kathleen (6). A cousin, William Cooper was also present as were 5 others; John Beckett, Rachel Torbitt, Helen Campbell, Mary O'Brien and Francis McLaughlin.

By 1911, Clarke was living in house 4.1, Castlerock Town, Downhill, Co. Londonderry with his parents and 3 siblings; Kathleen, Robert and Aileen. His grandfather, John Carton and a servant, Cassie McLaughlin are also present.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Clarke signed the Ulster Covenant at Articlave Orange Hall. 

John Clarke joined Northern Bank in October 1914 and was posted to Carrickfergus as Junior.

In July 1916, Clarke volunteered and enlisted into the 9th Bn. Royal Fusiliers as a Private with Service Number 23278.

John Clarke - Medal Index Card

His unit is also recorded as 26th Royal Fusiliers. This website Carrickfergus Roll of Honour records Clarke as being in 9th Battalion - Royal Fusiliers - City of London Regiment. This regiment was in the 18th (Eastern) Division involved in the attacks in October 1916 on the stubbornly defended and vital position of and around the Schwaben Redoubt. On 7th October there was a determined counter-attack by the Germans to recapture the Redoubt. It appears that Private Clarke was killed during this assault.

Clarke went missing on 7th October 1916. 

Clarke was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is remembered in name on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 8C, 9A and 16A.

John Clarke - Ireland's Memorial

John Clarke - Medal Roll

A Pension Record card exists for John Clarke's next of kin, Mr Wm T Clarke. He was also allocated John's final pay and allowances totalling £6 18s paid out in 2 instalments.

John Clarke - Pension Record Card

John Clarke - Register of Soldiers' Effects

Clarke's bank Staff Record card ends with the words 'missing believed killed 7th October 1916'.

Anderson, Norman Alexander

Private Norman Alexander Anderson

Anderson was born at Queen Street, Coleraine on 27th July 1914 to Archie Anderson, Fowl Dealer and Penelope Anderson nee Elliott. They had married on 7th February 1899 at St. Anne's Parish Church, Belfast.

3 years before, in 1911 the family were living in house number 12, New Market Street, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. Norman's parents, 6 elder siblings and 2 boarders were in the house. The children were James (12), Elizabeth (8), Archie (6), Alice (4), Florence B (2) & John Noel (0). The boarders were William Maxwell and William Wallace.

Following his education at Coleraine Academy and Garvery College, Belfast, Anderson joined Northern Bank on 1st March 1935 at Head Office and then Newry (1935 - Relief). Transfers followed to Head Office (1938 - Relief, Letter Dept. & Chief Cashiers) and Connswater (1939 - Junior).

In June 1940 he was granted permission to enlist. On 31st October 1940, Norman was ‘Called up for Active Service’ and joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with Service Number 6984621. He was serving with the 1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry as a Private when he went missing on 8^th February 1944. 

The Londonderry Sentinel of 14th March 1944 reported Anderson as 'missing'.

N A Anderson - Londonderry Sentinel, 14th March 1944

[Newspaper cutting courtesy of Nigel Henderson]

A certificate was issued by the War Office on 14th October 1946 confirming his date of death as 8th February 1944. 

Anderson is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial, Italy and on the family headstone.

Family headstone, Agherton Cemetery, Portstewart
[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson]

Cassino Memorial, Italy

Patterson, William

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

William Patterson

Patterson was born on 4th November 1868 to George Patterson and Elizabeth Patterson nee Lennox.

Patterson would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1890 / 1895. The Staff Guarantee ledger records William Patterson, Solicitor, Belfast as having the guarantee signed by John Lennox (Holywood, Gentleman) and James Lennox (Holywood, Builder).

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

In 1901, a Solicitor (aged 32 and single) named William Patterson was living in house 12, Lennox Place, Holywood. William was living with Elizabeth Patterson (71), presumably his mother and two women, a niece of Elizabeth, Alicia Latimer and a sister of Elizabeth, Mary Latimer.

In 1910, this website records a William Patterson, solicitor living in Stewart's Place, Holywood.

In 1911, a Solicitor (aged 42 and single) named William Patterson was living in house 31, High Street, Holywood. William was still living with Elizabeth Patterson (82), presumably his mother.

The Holywood, Lennox and Solicitor connections tie in with other information held by the writer.

Patterson volunteered and enlisted into the army.

He was reported missing (date unknown).

The website In Flanders Field report the following instances of the name William Patterson with their 'deceased' date in the first column:

01/07/1916	LISBURN, CO. ANTRIM	11TH ROYAL IRISH RIFLES
01/07/1916	HILLSBOROUGH, CO. DOWN	9TH ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
09/08/1916	BALLYMACARRETT, CO. DOWN	ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS, 1ST BATT
08/09/1916	ELPHINSTONE, MIDLOTHIAN	ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS, 1ST BATT.
07/06/1917	DROMORE, CO. DOWN	10TH ROYAL IRISH RIFLES
21/03/1918	BALLYMACARRETT, BELFAST	ROYAL IRISH RIFLES, 1ST BATT.

Unfortunately there is still not enough information to identify the correct soldier.

Hill, Adam Cyril Darley

2nd Lieutenant Adam Cyril Darley Hill

Hill was born in Northern Bank House, Grafton Street, Dublin on 5th December 1898 to Edwin Darley Hill and Deborah Hill nee Overend. They had married on 5th March 1891 at Bangor Parish Church, Bangor, Co. Down.

On 11th October 1915, Hill joined Northern Bank at Falls branch. His address is recorded as Deramore Drive, Belfast.

Northern Bank, Falls branch

On 2nd December 1915, Hill volunteered and enlisted into the 19th Bn. (Cadet Company), Royal Irish Rifles as a Private. 

A C D Hill - Medal Index Card

On promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, he was posted to the 4th Bn. (SR) Royal Irish Rifles.

The Belfast News Letter of 9th September 1916 reports:

The Belfast News letter of 11th September 1916 reports:

Hill was attached to the 7th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and fought in battles at Wytschaete, Messines (1917) and Ypres (1917) before being reported as missing on 16th August 1917 aged 19.

The Belfast News Letter of 27th August 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 5th December 1917 reports:

Hill was awarded the Parchment Certificate of the 16th (Irish) Division, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Cemetery and also on the Memorial in St. Columba’s College Chapel, Whitechurch, Dublin.

A brass memorial plaque to Hill is also installed in St Thomas' Church of Ireland, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast.

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Researcher, History Hub Ulster]

Adam Hill is also commemorated in St Nicholas Parish Church, Carrickfergus.  The following newspaper cutting and photographs are of an 'oak lectern' presented to the church by E D Hill and Mrs Hill.

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Researcher, History Hub Ulster]

Adam Hill is also commemorated on the family grave.

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Researcher, History Hub Ulster]

The CWGC headstone for A C D Hill at Tyne Cot Cemetery

Church Roll of Honour

Also see Arthur F D Hill (those who applied for service) for further information.