Bamford, George William Rea

G W Rea Bamford - 1940s

Major G W Rea Bamford - 1960

Lieutenant G W Rea Bamford - 1944

Belfast Bank - Roll of Honour - WW2

Major George William Rea Bamford TD

Bamford was born in 34 The Mount, Belfast on 6th February 1920 to George William Bamford, Linen Salesman and Margaret Bamford nee McGowan (of Whitespots, Newtownards) both of 75 The Mount, Belfast.

Bamford's father, George Bamford outside 75 The Mount, Belfast

Bamford was educated at Mountpottinger National School, Albertbridge Road, Belfast and later at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst).

Bamford's School Jotter

Bamford joined the Belfast Banking Company Limited in 1938. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and also supplied a letter to the bank on 30th May 1946.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

It is probable that Bamford worked in the East End branch from the start of his career up to his enlistment in the army.

Belfast Bank, East End branch (Albertbridge Road, Belfast)

On 10th October 1939 Bamford volunteered and enlisted at Clonaver Park, Belfast into the '3 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC)' [Territorial Army] as a Driver with Service Number T103793. On his attestation form, Bamford gave his date of birth as 6th February 1919 indicating he was 20 years old, not 19 as he really was. [The family are not sure why he did this as he was over the age permitted to enlist]. On that day, Bamford was 5' 5.5" tall and weighed 116 lbs.

Army Attestation Form (page 1) - G W R Bamford - 10/10/1939

As a soldier, Bamford served at 'home' from 10th October 1939 to 24th November 1939 before being posted 'overseas' to France until 19th June 1940. His time overseas lasted until 19th June 1940 when he was returned 'home'.

Bamford was promoted to Lance Corporal on 9th August 1941 and back to Driver on 27th December 1942 when he was transferred to 202 Officer Cadet Training Unit, RASC to train as an officer.

1941 WW2 Xmas Christmas Card (Courtesy eBay)

On 19th March 1943 Bamford was 'discharged' as a soldier having been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with Service Number 268452.

The Army 'Record of Service - Officers' form records Bamford's 'Actual DOB' as 6th February 1920 against a 'Declared DOB' of 6th February 1919. His civilian occupation is recorded as an Accountant, Belfast Banking Company.

As an officer, his training record during war included a Waterproofing Course of Vehicles at Salop (Shropshire), 1943; weapon training course at Altcar (Merseyside), 1943 and a 3" Mortar Course at East Africa, 1944.

Bamford was transferred to the Royal Ulster Rifles from the RASC on 14th June 1944 following his promotion to Lieutenant. He embarked overseas to East Africa and was posted to the 2nd Battalion North Rhodesia Regiment.

Bamford's overseas service is recorded on another army document as:

• France - 6th December 1939 to 18th June 1940
• East Africa - 16th July 1944
• S.E.A.C. - 8th June 1945 (possibly the South East African Command)
• East Africa - 17th January 1946

Bamford records his army service in pencil in his 'Officers Record of Service Army Book 439' in this picture:

'Officers Record of Service Army Book 439'

Bamford was discharged from the Royal Ulster Rifles on 12th April 1946 to his home address, 17 Cyprus Gardens, Belfast.

Belfast News Letter - 20th December 1946

Following the war, Bamford was awarded the Defence Medal, the War Medal, the 1939-45 Star and the Burma Star.

Medal Ribbon

Bamford with his father, George Bamford

After demobilisation in 1946, he returned to work for the Belfast Banking Company but also continued his army career in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), Territorial Army (TA).

Based on his wartime and TA service, Bamford was later awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) and Bar.

Bamford worked in the following branches; East End (1946), Bangor (1947), Warrenpoint (1950), Markets (1952), North End (1953), Castle Place (1955) and Upper Newtownards Road (1960). Whilst based in this last branch, Bamford also worked as a Pro-Manager in the small sub-branch at Dundonald.

Belfast Bank, Bangor branch

Belfast Bank, Warrenpoint branch

Belfast Bank, Markets branch

Belfast Bank, Western branch (Shankill Road)

Belfast Bank, Castle Place branch (2nd from left)

Belfast Bank, Ballyhackamore branch (Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast)

Rea Bamford married Edith Malcomson on 7th September 1953 at Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, Belfast.  They had 3 children, Paul (1954), Gavin (1956) & Linda (1961).

He died on 28th December 1961 and was buried in Roselawn Cemetery and is remembered on a Roll of Honour in Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, Beersbridge Road, Belfast.

Photograph courtesy of Nigel Henderson

Medal Index Card

Service in the Territorial Army

Having been discharged from the army after the war, Bamford wanted to continue as an officer in the Territorial Army.  He applied for an 'Appointment to a Commission in the Territorial Army' on 15th March 1947.

Army form 

'Appointment to a Commission in the Territorial Army' (page 1) 

- G W R Bamford dated 15th March 1947

The Interview Board recommended Bamford for a TA commission at the rank of Lieutenant and to be posted to 931 (Ulster) Company RASC (TA).

The Army 'Record of Service - Officers' form records Bamford's TA career as follows:

• 1st September 1947 - Lieutenant
• 1st April 1948 - Captain
• 1st November 1952 - Acting Major
• 6th February 1954 - Major

Bamford attended his final Annual Camp  from 20th May to 5th June 1961. He died on 28th December 1961.

Other photographs from the collection of G W R Bamford are recorded here.

 Major G W Rea Bamford
[Front row, 4th from left, with possibly 931 (U) Company RASC (V)]

Lowry, Charles William McCaughey (Barry)

Major Charles William McCaughey (Barry) Lowry MBE, TD

Lowry was born on 24th June 1939 to Mr E C Lowry and Mrs Lowry of Lansdowne Road, Belfast. He had an elder brother, John Ewen Lowry (04/08/1933) who also attended Campbell College.

Following his education, Lowry joined the Belfast Bank around 1957/58. During his career, he worked in many branches including  Lisburn (BBCo), Windsor (Boucher Road), High Street, Belfast and Ballyholme.

In the 1960s, Lowry volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC) as a private with service number (not known).

The London Gazette reports further on Lowry's military career:

• 03/02/1970 - Charles William McCaughey LOWRY (488701) to be 2nd Lt. (on probation), 13th Nov. 1969.
  
  
• Abt 1972 - Promotion to Lieutenant (entry not found).
  
  
• 25/02/1975 - Lt. C. W. McC. LOWRY (488701) to be Capt., 1st Jan. 1975.
  
  
• 15/02/1983 - Capt. C. W. M. LOWRY (488701) to be Maj., 13th Nov. 1982.
  
  
• 24/04/1984 - Maj. C. W. M. LOWRY (488701) from T.A. Group A to be Maj., 29th Feb. 1984 retaining present seniority.

Lowry was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the 'Not Forgotten Association' in the (December 1997) New Years Honours List.

Barry Lowry, 3rd from left, with staff colleagues in a bank quiz team photo

In 2002 he was made an Officer (Brother) in the Order of St. John.

Barry Lowry died on 7th September 2023 with his service being held at Roselawn Crematorium.

Dawson, Frederick Stanley

Colonel Frederick Stanley Dawson MBE, TD (known as Stanley)

Stanley Dawson was born in August 1940 and was from the Templepatrick area of south Antrim.

He was a Trust Officer (1974) in the Northern Bank Executor and Trustee Company Limited based in 10 High Street, Belfast in the early 1970s. 

In the early 1960s, Dawson volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) as a Driver with service number 23918963. The RASC would later be renamed as the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) and later on, the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC).

The London Gazette reports further on Dawson's military career:

• 24/05/1963 - T/23918963 Dvr. Frederick Stanley DAWSON (473743) to be 2nd Lt. (on probation), 5th Apr. 1963. T/23903150.
  
  
• 06/04/1965 - 2nd Lt. F. S. DAWSON (473743) (on probation) is confirmed in his appt. as 2nd Lt., 5th Apr. 1963. To be Lt., 5th Apr. 1965. 
  
  
• 04/04/1967 - The undermentioned Lts. from T.A. to be Lts., 1st Apr. 1967, with seniority on the dates shown: F. S. DAWSON (473743), 5th Apr. 1965.
  
  
• 08/12/1967 - Lt. F. S. DAWSON (473743) to be Capt., 1st Oct. 1967.
  
  
• 08/12/1970 - Capt. F. S. DAWSON (473743) is granted the acting.-rank of Maj., 25th-Oct. 1970.
  
  
• 24/12/1974 - Capt (Acting Maj.) F. S. DAWSON (473743) to be Maj., 28th Aug. 1974, with seniority 25th Oct. 1970.
  
  
• 14/01/1975 - The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to confer the award of the 1st Clasp to the Efficiency Decoration (Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve) upon the following officer: Maj. F. S. DAWSON (473743).

• 01/06/1982 - The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to confer the Award of the 2nd Clasp to the Efficiency Decoration (Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve) upon the following Officer: Maj. F. S. DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743).

• 16/06/1987 - Maj. F. & DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743) to be LtCol., 17th May 1987.
  
  
• 22/09/1987 - Maj. (now Lt. Col.) F. S. DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743).
  
  
• 05/05/1992 - Col. Frederick Stanley DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743) late R.C.T.(V) is appointed Aide de Camp Territorial Army to The QUEEN, 1st Mar. 1992.

• 18/08/1992 - Lt.-Col. F. S. DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743) R.C.T. to be Col., 1st Mar. 1992. (Belated Entry).
  
  
• 15/05/1995 - Col. F. S. DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743) relinquishes the appointment of Aide de Camp Territorial Army to The QUEEN, 5th Apr. 1995.
  
  
• 23/05/1995 - The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to confer the Award of the 3rd Clasp to the Efficiency Decoration (Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve) upon the following Officer: COMMAND AND STAFF - Col. F. S. DAWSON, M.B.E., T.D. (473743).
  
  
• 05/12/1995 - Col. F. S. DAWSON (473743) late R.L.C. (V) retires from T.A. Group A, 5th Apr. 199S.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1981 Birthday Honours List.

Dawson was later to retire as one of the senior management team of Investment Management Services.

 

Stanley Dawson died on 24th July 2015 with his service being held at Templepatrick Presbyterian Church on Thursday 30th July 2015. He left a widow, Yvonne, daughters Lynda and Jill and their families.