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.

McCord, William George

William George McCord

McCord was born at Ballymacrevan, Glenavy on 17th May 1913 to George Richard McCord, Farmer and Lily Susan McCord nee Harrison. They had married at Magheragall on 2nd September 1907.

The Northern Whig of 19th April 1930 reports that he passed the Belfast Bank examinations held on 28th February 1930 in an advertisement for Hughes Academy.

McCord joined the Belfast Banking Company on 1st May 1931. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee for him and gave his address as Eglantine Cottage, Lisburn. He is recorded as working in Head Office.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast

McCord married a Clara Abbott of Hillsborough on 7th October 1939.

He volunteered and enlisted into the Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.

The 'Forces War Record' website records a William George McCord as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and rising to be a Captain & Temporary Major in the School of Anti-Aircraft.

Following his return from War Service, McCord was transferred to Central branch on 1st December 1945. 

Belfast Bank, Central branch

The Northern Whig of 9th January 1948 reports that Clara nee Abbott, wife of W G McCord, Micdene, The Green, Dunmurry has given birth to a daughter on 2nd January 1948.

A William George McCord, born 17th May 1913 died around August 2003 aged 90 at Hastings and Rother, East Sussex.

McManus, Hugh

Hugh McManus

[Photo courtesy of Gemma Crutchley]

McManus was born at xxx on 26th September 1921 to Hubert McManus, Bank Official and Kathleen McManus nee Pyper. They had married on 5th October 1920 at Fortwilliam Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

McManus joined the Belfast Banking Company on 17th April 1939. His father, Hubert signed the Bankers Guarantee and Hugh is recorded on it as working in Larne branch. Hubert address is recorded as Head Office and 21 Hughenden Avenue, Belfast.

Bankers Guarantee Ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Larne branch

In November 1939 McManus was transferred to Londonderry branch where he remained until joining the army in September 1940.

Belfast Bank, Londonderry branch

From that date, McManus served, mainly with the Royal Artillery, in England, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and finished up in Austria where he was demobilised in August 1946.

 

Following his return from Active Service on 4th November 1946, McManus was posted to the Foreign Department based in Head Office.

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast (1940s wartime picture)

Belfast Bank photo album

The Ballymena Weekly Telegraph of 5th May 1950 reports the success of H McManus is his 'Institute of Bankers in Ireland' banking examinations.

Later transfers took McManus to Bradbury Place/South End (1953), Head Office, Coleraine (1960), Ballymoney, Shipquay Street, Londonderry (1967) and Altnagelvin (1967).

Belfast Bank, Bradbury Place branch

Belfast Bank, Coleraine branch

Belfast Bank, Ballymoney branch

The Northern Bank staff magazine of Autumn 1974 published an article about him on his promotion to Altnagelvin branch.

[Courtesy - The Link, Autumn 1974 issue]

The Electoral Register for 2005-2010 via Ancestry records a Hugh McManus as living at 276, Coast Road, Ballygally, Co. Antrim.

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.

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'.