Paul, William Robert

Acting Quarter Master Sergeant William Robert Paul (known as William)

According to the bank Staff Record card, Paul was born on 30th August 1894. The Bank Centenary volume records that he was born in Glasgow. There is no evidence on the 'Scotlands People' website to confirm this. 

A contributor has advised that 'William Paul was born in Glasgow on 30th August 1895'.

The 1901 Scottish Census records Paul (5) as living at 74 Gower Street, Glasgow with his parents, Joseph (40) and Grace (42). A sibling is also recorded, Annie M Paul (17).

The 1911 Irish Census records William Paul (16), Scholar, living in house 15 Church Street, Coleraine with his parents Joseph (Draper) and Grace, a servant Annie O'Neill and boarder Sarah Jane MacClements. His age (16) suggests a birth year of 1895 differing from the bank record.

On 24th June 1912, Paul joined Northern Bank at Head Office. The bank Staff Record card has 'Coleraine' below his name.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Randalstown (1912 - Junior) and Londonderry (1914 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Randalstown branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Paul signed the Ulster Covenant at the Town Hall, Coleraine. Joseph Paul also signed the covenant and Grace Ann Paul signed the Women's Declaration.

The bank centenary volume records Paul's war service as follows:

• At the age of 20, Paul volunteered and enlisted into the 6th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) as a Private. He was later promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant and Acting Quarter Master Sergeant 
• Service was seen in Festubert 1915, Somme 1916 and Peronne 1918.
• Paul was injured 3 times; gunshot wound to the leg, gunshot wound to the shoulder and neck and gassed.
• He was demobilised in February 1919 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
• Demobilised in February 1919. 

A contributor has advised: 'Referring to his service during the Great War he was transferred to the 4/5th Black Watch after recovering from his second wounding in August 1916 (GSW left shoulder & neck)'.

and

'Paul was taken prisoner on 21st March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. He was held firstly at Gustrow then Parchim POW camps'.

There are quite a few military records on the Ancestry website that could relate to Paul. However without further information eg his army service number, this will prove difficult to verify.

Following demobilisation, Paul re-joined the Northern Bank at Head Office.

Paul's father, Joseph Paul (57), draper, died on 20th January 1919 at Church Street, Coleraine. He had been suffering for one month from influenza and fourteen days from meningitis. He is buried in Coleraine Cemetery.

Transfers followed to Connswater (1919 - Cashier), Strabane (1919 - Cashier), Carrickfergus (1920 - Cashier), Newry (1922 - Accountant ), Head Office (1922).

The bank records that in August 1922, Paul married a Miss Forsythe of Carrickfergus and that she died in December 1922 (no record found).

Northern Bank, Strabane branch

Further transfers followed to Newry (1923 - Accountant), Head Office (1924), Omagh (1925 - Cashier), Donegall Square (1927 - Cashier), Head Office (1928) and Ballymena (1928 - Pro Manager).

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Omagh branch

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

The bank records Paul marrying a second time in possibly 1928 although her name is unclear. A GRONI registration reports William Paul (widower, cashier) marrying Grace Darling Anderson on 28th January 1928 at St Matthews Church of Ireland, Scarva.

Ancestry website records Paul's mother, Grace Ann Paul (88) dying on 5th January 1942 (GRONI - confirmed). William R Paul died on 8th January 1945 (GRONI - not confirmed). Paul's sister, Annie Peacock (65) died on 9th June 1948 (GRONI - confirmed). They are buried in Coleraine Cemetery. (Ref: Find a Grave).

Paul was still working in Ballymena branch as Pro-Manager in 1931.

A contributor has advised: 'On 8th January 1945, whilst working for the Ministry of Labour in London Paul was severely injured when a V2 rocket struck the pavement at Clapham Common. He was taken to South London Hospital where he later died from his wounds. He is commemorated by the CWGC as a civilian casualty'.

CWGC link: William Robert Paul

'Strangely I have contacted Coleraine Cemetery but he is not buried in the family plot. Lambeth and Wandsworth have no burial or cremation records for him so I do not know what happened to his remains'.

In March 2024, a family member has been in touch to advise that they currently work for Northern Bank. 

In 2026 they advised that W R Paul had 'went over to London to re-enlist for WW2 but was rejected due to being gassed in the previous war. He stayed in London and worked as a fire warden when he was killed'.

Gold, David Arthur

Lance Corporal David Arthur Gold

Gold was born at Ballybay on 24th February 1880 to David Gold, Land Agent and Anne Jane Gold nee Johnston. They had married on 11th June 1868 at Ballybay Church of Ireland.

Gold joined Northern Bank on 10th March 1897 in Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Londonderry (1897 - Junior), Hillsborough (1898 - Junior), Ballycastle (1900 - Junior), Claudy (1901 - Junior), Head Office (1906) and Comber (1907 - Cashier), Head Office (1913) and Fintona (1914 - Cashier).

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Ballycastle branch

Northern Bank, Claudy branch

Northern Bank, Comber branch

Northern Bank, Fintona branch (1980s)

Courtesy of Allan McCullough & family

In 1901 Arthur Gold (as record in census) was boarding with a Margaret Archibald in house 33 North Street, Ballycastle. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

By 1911, Gold is boarding with the Brown family in house 1 Town Parks, Comber, Co. Down. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Cashier. Whilst in Comber, David played cricket for the North Down Cricket club with his name appearing in various newspaper sports reports.

David Gold (as per Medal Index Card) Gold was based in Fintona branch when he volunteered and enlisted into the 14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles as a Private with Service Number 14/17726. His first theatre of war is recorded as France form 5th October 1915.

D A Gold - Medal Index Card

He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and saw action in the Somme (1916). At some stage he received a gunshot wound and lost his right eye. 

His Army Service Record is complete and consists of over 20 pages, some with scorch marks arising from a fire during World War 2.

D A Gold - Army Service Record

D A Gold - Army Service Record

Gold was taken prisoner and became a Prisoner of War in Germany. His Army Service Record records his period off captivity from 2nd July 1916 to 23rd November 1918 when he was repatriated to the UK. During his period of captivity, Northern Bank staff attempted to trace him.

10th August 1916 - Letter from Northern Bank to Infantry Record Office, Dublin

16th August 1916 - Memo from Infantry Records to Northern Bank

Demobilisation came in March 1919 and he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal for service during the Great War.

D A Gold - Memo re 1914-15 Star Medal

D A Gold - Memo re British War & Victory Medals

Following demobilisation, Gold re-joined Northern Bank. He also applied for a pension as a result of the loss of his right eye. His residence is recorded on the Pension record Card as Northern Banking Company, Ballymena.

D A Gold - Pension Record Card

D A Gold - Pension Record Card

Gold re-joined Northern Bank on 22nd April 1919 and after a short period in Head Office, he was appointed manager of Shercock branch.

Northern Bank, Shercock branch

On 21st January 1920 David Gold resigned from Northern Bank on pension. He had 23 years of service.

David Gold died on 11th January 1954.

McCready, William Austin

Lance Corporal William Austin McCready

McCready was born in 1883 in Ellesmere district, Canterbury, New Zealand. 

On 17th July 1900, McCready (Austin - 1901 Irish Census) joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address is recorded on his bank Staff Record as Articlave, Co. Londonderry.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Ballinamore (1901 - Junior), Londonderry (1902 - Junior), Head Office (1902 - Junior), Lisburn (1903 - Junior), Downpatrick (1903 - Junior), Holywood (1911 - Cashier & Accountant), Oldcastle (1912 - Cashier & Accountant) and Head Office (1914). 

Northern Bank, Ballinamore branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

Northern Bank, Holywood branch (gable wall with windows)

Northern Bank, Oldcastle branch (later branded as National Irish Bank)

In 1901, McCready is boarding with the McGauran family in house 15, Main Street, Ballinamore. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Official. Another bank official, John Hannan is also boarding here.

By 1911, McCready has moved to Holywood and is boarding with a Mrs Lucinda Elizabeth Pinkerton in house 13, Marine Parade, Holywood, Co. Down. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Official. Another boarder, Lt John Francis Mark, 1st Bn Royal Irish Rifles (Active List), is also in the property.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, a William McCready signed the Ulster Covenant at Articlave Orange Hall, Co. Londonderry giving his address as Sconce.

Whilst in Oldcastle branch, McCready (1911 Irish Census), on 5th December 1914, volunteered and enlisted into the 24th (Sportsman’s) Bn. Royal Fusiliers as a Private for the term of the war. His Service number was SPTS/2264.

His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 15th November 1915. He saw service with the British Expeditionary Force and was later promoted to Lance Corporal. His service was in the Somme 1916, Guillemont and Vimy Ridge before he became a Prisoner of War in Germany. 

Demobilisation came in February 1919. McCready was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in the Great War.

On 20th February 1919 he re-joined the Northern Bank at Londonderry as Teller. Transfers to Newry (1919 - Sub-Manager), Head Office (1922 - Interim Manager) and Ballynahinch (Manager) followed. 

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Ballynahinch branch

William A McCready died on 15th May 1939. He is reported in a 'News Letter' death notice as being the late Manager of Northern Bank, Ballynahinch.

Irvine, Walter Frederick - Great War & Second World War Service

Major Walter Frederick Irvine MBE

Irvine was born at Bloomfield on 2nd June 1898 to Robert Irvine, Wine Merchant and Marianne Irvine nee Phillips. They had married on 24th April 1895 at St. Thomas' Church of Ireland, Belfast.

In 1901, Irvine lived in house 11, Kirkliston Drive, Pottinger Ward, Belfast with his parents and his elder brother, Robert Philip. A servant, Jane Eliza Chambers also lives in the house.

On 21st September 1914, Irvine joined the Belfast Banking Company. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee giving his address as 4 Dunedin Terrace, Antrim Road, Belfast. Later signatories were Mary Anne Irvine of 403 Antrim Road, Belfast and Nora Margaret Irvine of 34 North Circular Road, Lisburn. Walter is recorded as working in Central branch and Head Office.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank , Central branch, Donegall Square North

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

Irvine volunteered and enlisted into the 10th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. His first theatre of war is recorded as France. Promotion to a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant before transferring to the Royal Irish Rifles on 1st March 1917. He relinquished his commission on completion of service on 20th September 1919, but retained the rank of Lieutenant. 

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Irvine as serving with the 5th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. He is also recorded as being 'previously wounded' and also as a 'prisoner of war' whilst serving with the 12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles.

Belfast Bank 'Roll of Honour' booklet

The Belfast News Letter of 18th September 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 22nd April 1918 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 25th April 1918 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 13th December 1918 reports:

Following his discharge from the army, as an officer, Irvine had to apply for his British War Medal and the British Victory Medal.  

Medal Roll - Lt W F Irvine

Between 1919 and 1939, Irvine returned to work for Belfast Banking Company. 

As Irvine was a Lisburn resident, it is possible that he attended this service at the Lisburn War Memorial (temporary wooden one) in the 1920s.

Over 110 members of the Lisburn British Legion branch attended the annual Remembrance Service in First Lisburn Church on Sunday, 13th November 1938. Assembling at their Headquarters in Sackville Street, the ex-Servicemen were under the command of Captain W F Irvine, chairman.

Irvine saw service again in WWII as a Captain in the Royal Ulster Rifles before transferring to the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 30th April 1941. On 20th July 1942, he transferred to the Pioneer Corps. On 16th June 1945, Irvine relinquished his commission on grounds of disability. He was then granted the honorary rank of Major.

Following his demobilisation after WW2, Irvine returned to work eventually ending up working in Accountants Department.  

Retirement came on 1st December 1959. He was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Walter Irvine died on 14th February 1984. He was the only official to have served in both wars.