Bryans, Sydney Thomas

Flying Officer Sidney Thomas Bryans

Bryans was born in the Eglinton district of Londonderry on 14th August 1919 to Joseph Bryans, Clerk and Ella Jane Bryans nee Hoffman. They were married on 14th September 1914 at Tralee Church of Ireland.

Bryans joined the Belfast Banking Company on 4th May 1937. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him and gave his address as Hilden, Northland Road, Londonderry.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Bryans volunteered and enlisted into the RAF Volunteer Reserve with Service Number 1062413. London Gazette entries record him receiving a commission with Service Number 144392.

Following his return from Active Service, he was transferred to Limavady branch on 23rd September 1946.

In 1948 Bryans left the bank and re-joined the RAF as an Instructor.

Bryans died on 5th October 1950 in an airplane accident at Sydenham Aerodrome (RAF Sydenham / Royal Naval Air Station). He had been instructing 2 officer cadets from Queen's University Officer Training Corps (OTC).

Various newspapers reported on the accident:

Derry Journal - 6th March 1950

Irish Independent - 6th March 1950

Belfast Telegraph - 8th March 1950

Belfast Telegraph - 16th March 1950

The family placed 'In Memoriam' notices on an annual basis.

Londonderry Sentinel - 5th March 1953

PRONI Wills record:

Bryans, Sidney Thomas of Hilden, 84 Northland Road, Londonderry. Flying Officer, Royal Air force died 5th March 1950 at Sydenham Aerodrome, Belfast. Administration Belfast 20 July to Joseph Bryans commercial traveller. Effects £957 18s. 11d.

Flying Officer Instructor Sidney T Bryans is buried in Londonderry. He is remembered on the Armed Forces Memorial and their Roll of Honour.

Buller, Alexander McLean

Flight Lieutenant Alexander McLean Buller (Known as Rex)

Buller was born at Manorhamilton on 30th June 1921 (and registered in the Ballymoney District) to Alexander McLean Buller and Anne Beatrice Buller nee Houston. They had married on 26th September 1917.

A brother, John Francis Buller was born at Manorhamilton on 17th June 1918 

Buller joined the Belfast Banking Company on 15th April 1940. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and gave his address as Cloughmills Creamery (Manager) and later 105 North Road, Belfast. Alexander (Juniors) wife, Mrs Jocelyn M Buller later signed the guarantee giving her address as 'Sherwood' Shore Road, Jordanstown. He is recorded as working in Central branch.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Central branch (Donegall Square North)

Buller volunteered for 'Active Service' in 1941 (Forces War Record) and enlisted into the Royal Air Force with Service Number 1796227. 

The London Gazette Supplement dated 4th August 1944 reported 1796227 Alexander McLean Buller being commissioned as a Pilot Officer from 11th June 1944.

The London Gazette Supplement dated 2nd July 1946 reported A McL Buller, 180086 being promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant from 11th June 1946.

He was demobilised on 25th November 1946. 

Buller was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1948 paying 5 shillings subscription. 

The Belfast Telegraph of 4th April 1963 reported that Mr Alexander McL Buller was being sent to Banking School in Semmering, Austria.

He worked in Central, Head Office, Inspection Staff  and was appointed as manager to Ballyhackamore branch in 1967.

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

Belfast Bank, Ballyhackamore branch

Buller was appointed as an Advances Controller in 1971 as reported in the Belfast Telegraph of 24th May 1971.

The Belfast Telegraph of 9th November 1972 reported on his transfer from Ballyhackamore to Holywood branch. It was also reported that he is married and has 3 children.

Mrs J M Buller, the widow of A McL Buller, attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour.

Boyd, Alexander Ernest

Alexander Ernest Boyd

Boyd (see obituary at end) joined the Belfast Banking Company with his father signing his Bankers Guarantee for him and giving his address as Moneymore, Co. Londonderry. The bank also held a letter dated 26th November 1946 from Reverend Wm Thomas Boyd with an address of RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, England. William was Ernest's brother. He was a Chaplain in the RAF.

BBCo - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

The Forces War Records database records an Alexander Ernest Boyd with Service Number 2205561 enlisting into the RAF after October 1942.

Following his demobilisation after the war, Boyd worked in Armagh branch. The Portadown News of 14th August 1937 reports his transfer from Armagh to Lurgan branch.

Belfast Bank, Armagh branch

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch

The Portadown Times of 17th October 1952 has an obituary for Alexander Boyd, Ernest's father.. He was a Justice of the Peace (Magistrate).

Boyd is recorded as working in the Belfast Bank, Ballyclare branch.

Belfast Bank, Ballyclare branch 

Adair, William Alexander Gallantry

Flying Officer William Alexander Gallantry Adair

Adair was born at 28 Bishop Street, Londonderry on 9th July 1920 to William Adair, Undertaker and Mabel Adair nee Brown. They had married on 22nd March 1906 at Ebrington Presbyterian Church.

Adair probably joined the Belfast Banking Company in 1918. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him giving his address and occupation as Spring Grove, Londonderry – Funeral Director and Motor Hirer.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Adair left the Bank for War Service on 1st July 1939 and returned from Active Service on 23rd September 1946.

 
Adair resigned from the Bank on 31st October 1946. The following shipping manifest gives his occupation as a Funeral Director and Motor Hirer and Pharmacist.

 
The London Gazette records a W A G Adair with Service Number 1795420 being promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer in 1961. His first names were confirmed against his Service Number in a 1958 London Gazette edition.

The Londonderry Sentinel of 25th October 1952 reports on the wedding of W A G Adair to Miss Joan Margaret Taylor at Carlisle Road Presbyterian Church, Londonderry.

William and Joan returned from their honeymoon in Madeira, Portugal to Plymouth, England arriving on 8th November 1952 on the ship Venus of the Bergen Steamship Company.

Shipping Passenger Manifest

Lilburn, Joseph Lockington

Flight Lieutenant Joseph Lockington Lilburn

Lilburn was born at Belfast Bank House, Dundalk on 22nd September 1919 to Robert Stanley Henry Lilburn, Bank Manager and Martha Elizabeth Lilburn nee Lockington. They had married at Castlebellingham, Co. Louth on 5th December 1917.

Belfast Bank, Dundalk branch & house

(Following partition, the BBCo sold its branches (& staff) to the Royal Bank of Ireland)

Lilburn joined the Belfast Banking Company on 4th May 1937. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee and gave his address as 11 Temple Villas, Palmerston Road, Dublin. At time he was working for the Royal Bank of Ireland Ltd following his legal transfer from the Belfast Bank.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Lilburn (21) married a Miss Eileen Parke (18) on 14th November 1940 at St Polycarp's Church of Ireland.

He once wrote: 

“…. Had there not been no war, I should not have thought of getting married until I have at least 10 years service in the Bank….”

Lilburn volunteered and enlisted into the RAF (Volunteer Reserve) and rose through the ranks to Warrant Officer (Service Number 745459). He was promoted to Pilot Officer (with Service Number 156634) on 11th July 1943, Flying Officer on 11th January 1944 and Flight Lieutenant on 18th March 1945. He was then retained permanently on the RAF Active List until 1954. 

A family friend of Joseph is in possession of copies of his Log Book describing every flight he made during and after the war. 

‘Paddy' Lilburn, as he was known, initially flew from RAF Eglinton Airport (now known as the City of Derry Airport). He flew Hurricanes and Spitfires during the war but did not take part in the Battle of Britain due to being posted to Scotland. Later he flew missions over Europe. 

The Northern Whig of 6th December 1945 carries a report from Saigon, Vietnam:

There were a few golfing reports in papers around 1946. 

Lilburn was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club on 24th April 1946 paying 5 shillings subscription. He served in Head Office and North End branch. 

Lilburn  resigned from the bank on 11th July 1946 instead choosing to stay in the RAF. 

The Belfast News-Letter of 19th December 1947 reported the divorce of Joseph Lilburn and Mrs Eileen O Lilburn with Mrs Lilburn retaining custody of their 2 children.

 

Lilburn died on 14th November 2002 in Horsham, West Sussex. He was described as a retired Fighter Pilot.

The Somme Museum, Conlig holds a guitar inscribed with the signatures of many servicemen including J L Lilburn.

Photos courtesy of the Somme Museum

Kerr, Holman Gordon Stanley

[The Lurgan Mail, Saturday, September 27th, 1947

Courtesy - Old Lurgan Photos Facebook group]

Flying Officer Holman Gordon Stanley Kerr

Kerr was born on 8th January 1922. He was known as Gordon and was the son of Thomas John Kerr and Evelyn Margaret Kerr nee Black, of Lurgan, Co. Armagh. They had married on 5th September 1917 at Armagh Methodist Church.

Kerr was educated at Lurgan College from 3rd September 1934 until 31st July 1940.

Soon after leaving school, Kerr joined the Belfast Banking Company and worked in Rathfriland branch. His father signed his Bankers Guarantee for him.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Banking Company, Rathfriland

Kerr volunteered and enlisted in the RAF with promotions taking him to Flying Officer with Service Number 185226. F/O Kerr served with 514 Sqn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

The following photographs have been given to me by Benjamin Cleynen, Belgium. Benjamin is a member of a local historical society..

Kerr was stationed at RAF Waterbeach, Cambridge, England. On the night of 5th March 1945, the crew flew Lancaster bomber aircraft (I NN775 JI-F2) on an operation to Geisenkirchen (Benzol Plant). 

Art by Michael Ferns

The plane crashed at Bunsbeek, Belgium and all seven crew were killed. Three bodies were recovered and placed in a communal grave with 7 headstones in Heverlee War Cemetery. Gordon was not one of them. The others, including Gordon are still in the buried remains of the plane. A memorial ceremony was held at the crash site on Remembrance Sunday, 11th November 2015 with officials attending from Germany, UK, Australia and the Belgian Air Force.

Referenced to: http://www.dankat.com/kerr/chap2.htm

On 11th November 2015, the Mayor of Bunsbeek, Belgium together with the British, Australian and German Ambassadors attended a Remembrance service to commemorate the crew from 3 aircraft (A Wellington, a Junkers 88 and Lancaster NN775) that crashed near the village.

Shortly, a special team will start to scan the area to identify the exact location of the Lancaster and if found, they will start the excavation and recovery.  This will be undertaken under the strict guidance of the RAF, RAAF and the Belgian Air Force.

See the Reuniting of the crew of RAF Lancaster NN775 for the November 2016 update.

Crash site

Benjamin Cleynen and his father at the crash site

The crew are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery.

The graves of the 7 crew lie together.

Flying Officer H Gordon S Kerr

Flying Officer F Clarke

Sgt C G Hogg

Sgt W Marsden

Flight Sgt A Olsen (RAAF)

Flight Sgt F Smith

Sgt H P Thomas

Gordon Kerr is also commemorated on the Lurgan War Memorial.

Overloon War Museum, The Netherlands

The remains of the aeroplane known as RAF Lancaster NN775 were moved to the Overloon War Museum, The Netherlands and are permanently on display laid out on a plane template.

Overloon War Museum - RAF Lancaster NN775 exhibit

(photos by Gavin Bamford on 25th July 2023)