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.

Carson, Henry

Acting Major Henry Carson

Carson was born at Mays Buildings, Cliftonville Road, Belfast on 25th November 1919 to George Moore Carson, Salesman and Ada Carson nee May. They had married on 25th April 1918 at the Church of St Silas, Belfast. George was recorded as a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. 

On 2nd May 1938 Carson joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address on the Staff Record card is Ballykinlar, Clough, Co. Down.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Raphoe (1938 - Relief), Grafton Street (1939 - Relief), Ball’s Branch (1939 - Relief), Head Office (1939), Newtownards (1939 - Junior) and Head Office (1940).

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin branch

Northern Bank, Newtownards branch

Carson was ‘Called up’ on 30th July 1940 and joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Staff Record card) with the rank of Fusilier. Promotion to Corporal (1943) before gaining a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant (1943). He may also have served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as Acting Major.

 
On 4th November 1946 Carson resumed duty with Northern Bank from Active Service. Transfers followed to Portrush (1949 - Relief), Head Office (1949), Larne (1951 - Accountant & Cashier), Ballyclare (1962 - Pro-manager) and Newtownstewart (1966 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Portrush branch

Northern Bank, Larne branch

Northern Bank, Ballyclare branch

Northern Bank, Newtownstewart branch

In April 1950 Carson married a former official, Miss Hazel Fergus of Portadown.

The Larne Times of 27th October 1955 carries an advertisement for tickets to the British Lions XV versus Ulster at Ravenhill match with tickets available from H Carson, Northern Bank, Larne.

Bates, Arthur Henry

Major Arthur Henry Bates

Bates was born at 27 Upper Mount Street, Dublin on 17th October 1907 to Arthur Henry Bates, Kings Council and Mary Kyle Bates nee Knox. They had married at St Patrick's Church, Jordanstown on 3rd April 1900. Arthur is recorded as a Barrister. He had been studying law since about 1873. Mary Kyle was the daughter of R Kyle Knox who was a Northern Bank official who had served in the Great War.

In 1911 Bates (3) was living in house 27.2 Upper Mount Street, South Dock, Dublin with his mother and 3 siblings; Victor (10), Theodore (8), Phyllis Victor (6). An aunt, Margaret Jane Bates (72) and 3 servants; Mary Christie (28), Jane Fitzgerald (25) and Maggie Doran (21) were also present in the house.

Arthur Bates Senior was visiting house 3, Annadale Avenue, Belfast on Census Day 1911.

The Northern Whig of 10th May 1912 reported that Arthur (Senior)'s brother Edward Bates of St Columba, Knock, Belfast had left his estate to his brother and to Henry I Johns of the Belfast Banking Company.

Bates (Junior) joined Northern Bank on 15th September 1925 at Head Office (Relief). Transfers followed to Markets (1925 - Junior), Head Office (1926), Markets (1926) and Head Office (1928).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Markets branch

Bates was transferred to the bank Solicitors Department in 1930.

The Belfast Telegraph of 19th May 1934 carries a report into a legal case where the Right Honourable Sir Dawson Bates and Arthur Henry Bates are the Plaintiffs. Arthur's brother Theodore Bates was killed in the accident.

Bates married a Miss Sylvia Pring on 8th September 1934 at Whiteabbey. This photograph appeared in the Belfast Telegraph of 10th September 1934:

Bates was reported in 1937 to be the Sub-Manager of the Stock Department of Northern bank.

The bank Staff Record card has an annotation that Arthur was allowed to apply for a commission in the army. Subsequently, on 21st August 1939, he was ‘Called up for Active Service’ and joined the 23rd Battery, Royal Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant with Service Number 87448. 

In 1940 he was promoted to Captain in the 8th Anti Aircraft Regiment. In 1941, he was to hold the rank of War Substantive Major.

Bates is recorded as serving with H M Gabbey (Belfast Banking Company).

On 12th November 1945, Arthur resumed duty in the Bank at Head Office with a transfer to Royal Avenue soon after.

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch

Bates resigned from the Bank in 1947 to join the firm of Messrs Josias Cunningham & Co as a partner.

Belfast Stock Exchange

In January 1974 Major Arthur Bates was appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as the High Sherriff for County Antrim.

Bates continued (or joined) the Burma Star Association in 1985.

Burma Star Association - Major A H Bates

Also see the website of LennonWylie for the 8th Belfast HAA Sqn Royal Artillery.

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/8th_belfast_haa_regt_memorabilia1.htm

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/8th_belfast_haa_regt_RHQMemorialBrochure.htm

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/WW2DiaryWright1.htm

Major A H Bates died in 2001.

Agnew, James Silas

Lieutenant James Silas Agnew

Agnew was born on 24th January 1922 of Portglenone to Robert Agnew, Farmer and Florence Agnew nee Henry. They had married on 21st August 1918 at Orritor Presbyterian Church, Cookstown.

Agnew joined Northern Bank on 15th April 1941 in Head Office. His first transfer was to Ballycastle as Junior in 1942.

Northern Bank, Ballycastle branch

On 18th July 1942, Agnew resigned from the Bank when he was ‘Called up for Active Service’ to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. The 1946 to 1956 annual Navy List records Agnew as a Temporary Lieutenant or Lieutenant.

Following demobilisation, Agnew resumed duty in the Bank on 20th May 1946 in Head Office.

The Belfast News-Letter of 12th May 1947 reports that J S Agnew won a 2nd place prize in an Institute of Bankers in Ireland examination. Further reports of examinations success continued into 1950.

Transfers followed to Londonderry (1949), Head Office (1949) and Coleraine (1951).

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

1951 newspaper advertising showed Agnew as organising the Route Hunt Ball at the Northern Counties Hotel, Portrush.

Agnew resigned on 17th May 1952.

He may have had a career in the Royal Navy. A James Agnew sailed on the Queen Mary to New York departing on 16th September 1953 giving his address as Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose Helston, Cornwall and c/o Bank of NSW, London.

Queen Mary - Passenger Manifest

A James Silas Agnew born 14th January 1922 died at Cambridge in February 2004 aged 82.

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.