Todd, William John

Sergeant William John Todd

Todd was born at Craignagat, Ballycastle on 11th April 1921 to John Todd, Farmer and Sarah Ann Todd nee Gaston. They had married on 25th February 1920 at Rasharkin Presbyterian Church.

On 1st February 1940 Todd joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

A transfer to Head Office – Foreign Department followed the same year.

 
Todd was ‘Called up on Active Service’ on 19th May 1941 and resigned from the bank. His final rank of Sergeant has been transcribed on his staff record ledger sheet. There is no 'unit' mentioned.

 
He resumed duty with the Northern Bank on 1st October 1946 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Markets (1946), Head Office – Relief Staff (1948), Ballymoney (1949 - Accountant), Head Office (1949), Larne (1949 - Accountant), Head Office (1951), Londonderry (1952 - Control Clerk and then Teller), Portaferry (1960 - Teller), Larne (1962 - Teller then Sub-manager then Manager) and Coleraine (1969 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Markets branch

Northern Bank, Ballymoney branch

Northern Bank, Larne branch

The Belfast News-Letter of 28th April 1950 reported that W J Todd, Northern Bank, Larne had gained 1st place in his Diploma in Foreign Exchange examination run by the Institute of Bankers in Ireland. He won a prize of 7 guineas.

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

Todd married a Miss Huey in 1956.

He may have retired from Markets branch.

Duncan, John James

Driver John James Duncan

Duncan was born in Cavan (Road, Fintona) on 18th September 1918 to Andrew Robert Duncan, Farmer and Margaret E Duncan nee Robb. They had married on 2nd December 1914 at Fintona Presbyterian Church.

On 2nd May 1938 Duncan joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Portrush (1939 - Relief), Ballybofey (1939 - Relief), Lisburn (1939 - Relief) and Whitehead (1940).

Northern Bank, Portrush branch

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch 

Northern Bank, Whitehead branch

On 1st March 1940 he was ‘Called up on Active Service’ into the North Irish Horse. On 4th April 1940, John transferred from the North Irish Horse into the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) as a Driver.

Duncan resigned from the Bank on 4th April 1946 and received a letter of reference dated 2nd July 1947. The bank completed a questionnaire from the Ministry of Finance on 31st October 1947.

The Belfast Telegraph of 22nd October 1964 reported on an inquest (John Amos, Cavan, Fintona) where John James Duncan, Farmer was a witness:

McFeeter, William Andrew

Sergeant William Andrew McFeeter

McFeeter was born at Bridge Street, Coleraine on 29th April 1903 to William McFeeter, Draper and Lizzie McFeeter nee McGee. They had married in Coleraine on 12th April 1908.

In 1911 McFeeter (7) is living in house 9, Bridge Street, Coleraine with his parents and 2 sisters; Violet E (11) and Kathleen K (10). Others in the house are Andrew McFeeter (an uncle), David Caldwell (a boarder) and Mary E O'Brien (servant). This house may have been known as Waterford House. 

 
On 17th January 1921 McFeeter joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Londonderry (1921 - Junior), Head Office (1922), Shaftesbury Square (1925 - Cash Book then Assistant Accountant), Head Office (1929 - Relief), Dungannon (1939 - Cashier), Londonderry (1933 - Accountant), Magherafelt (1937 - Cashier) and Head Office (1939).

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

Northern Bank, Magherafelt branch

The Londonderry Sentinel of 19th July 1938 reported on the Will of his father, William McFeeter who had died on 1st May 1938:

McFeeter volunteered and enlisted on 3rd March 1939 in the 8th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery with Service Number 1474569. He was ‘Called up on Active Service’ on 26th August 1939 when he signed on for 4 years SR (Supplementary Reserve) as a Lance Bombardier (unpaid). A promotion to Bombardier followed in 1940 with Sergeant afterwards.

 
Following demobilisation, McFeeter resumed duty with the Northern Bank at Head Office on 31st October 1945. Transfers followed to Larne (1945), Ballymena (1948 - Sub-manager) and Royal Avenue (1956 - Assistant Manager).

Northern Bank, Larne branch 

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch

William McFeeter retired on 26th February 1965.

Price, William Wynne

Lance Bombardier William Wynne Price (known as Wynne)

Price was born at Townparks, Larne on 4th July 1908 to Timothy Lawrence Price, Journalist and Margaret Price nee Williams. They had married on 23rd July 1873 at Mallow United Church of England and Ireland, Co. Cork.

In 1911 Price (2) lived in house 41, Glenarm Road, Larne with his parents and brother, David Lawrence (6). A servant, Annie Pennie (20) also lived in the house.

On 1st December 1925 Price joined Northern Bank at Head Office.  

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Ballymena (1925 - Junior), Head Office (1926), Kilrea (1927 - Junior), Royal Avenue (1931 - 2nd Junior), Head Office (1935) and Londonderry (1936).

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

Northern Bank, Kilrea branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

In 1939 Price joined the Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery as a Gunner. He was ‘Called up on Active Service’ on 4th September 1939. A promotion to Lance Bombardier followed.

Price resumed service with the Northern Bank on 19th November 1945. Transfers followed until his retirement as Manager, Trevor Hill, Newry on 30th June 1971.

Northern Bank, Newry branch

The Belfast Telegraph of 15th February 1947 reported on the wedding of Wynne Price to Miss Barbara Elise Macnaughton Blythe at St Patrick's Church, Jordanstown.

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link (Autumn 1980) contains a photograph of Royal Avenue staff in the 1930’s.

William Wynne Price died on 30th April 1989.

The following comments were left on the page:

"Wynne and Barbara retired to Warrenpoint, followed by Rostrevor....and much later, back to Warrenpoint."

"William was always known by his second name, Wynne. His wife's name was Barbara Elise, not Elsie....as the newspaper wedding article misprinted. They had three daughters, Felicity, Corinne and Brenda. There followed five grandchildren...Benjamin and Ashley, Daniel and Laura, Michael."

Gabbey, Hugh Maurice

Major Hugh Maurice Gabbey (known as Maurice)

Gabbey was born at 97 South Parade, Belfast on 11th April 1907 to Hugh Gabbey, Engineer and Sara Ethel Gabbey nee Gelston. They had married on 23rd June 1906 at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church.

In 1911 Gabbey (4) lived at house 90 South Parade, Ormeau, Belfast with his parents, Hugh (49) and Sara (31) and his sister, Sara Ethel (1). A servant, Mary Kelly (20) also live din the property. The census record has their surname transcribed incorrectly as Garbey [Error notified on 4th January 2022).

Gabbey was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI - Inst).

He joined the Belfast Banking Company on 15th December 1924. His mother signed his Bankers Guarantee giving her address as Dundela Villas, Strandtown, Belfast and later as 22 Cairngorm Crescent, Glengormley.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Gabbey's early years were served in Head Office until his career was interrupted by the Second World War.

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street

The Belfast Telegraph of 15th June 1938 reported the wedding of Maurice Gabbey to Miss Maureen Creighton Jackson at Craigavad Parish Church:

The Belfast News-Letter of 16th June 1938 published this photo of the wedding party:

There are a great deal of sporting reports featuring Gabbey in the local press [British Newspaper Archive].

1939 saw Gabbey volunteering and enlisting into the 21st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery with Service Number 87357. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in April 1939.

Gabbey was one of those fortunate to return unscathed from the French beaches and he saw action in Burma where he commanded a battery from 1942 to 1945. By 1944 he had been promoted to Major.

8th Belfast HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Gabbey is mentioned in this 16mm film just after 6' 40" in. He is described as a bridge player. 

Acknowledgements to lennonwylie

Gabbey was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club on 24th April 1946 paying 5 shillings subscription. At that time he was recorded as being in Castle Place branch. 

Belfast Bank, Castle Place branch

The following year, he was recorded as working in Head Office. He served as an Inspector (1953), Manager, Waring Street (1959), Managing Director (1966) and Director of the Belfast Banking Executor and Trustee Company Limited.

In the 1966 annual accounts of the Belfast Banking Company he is recorded as being Managing Director of the Belfast Bank.

Gabbey's interests outside the bank were rugby football, tennis, soccer, contract bridge, Chamber of Commerce, Royal British Legion. He was also Governor of the War Memorial Building in Waring Street, Belfast.

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link’ of Summer 1972 contains a photograph of Gabbey . 

His wife is a former member of staff of the Belfast Bank and also of Midland Bank Limited. 

Maurice Gabbey died on 2nd December 1974.

H M Gabbey - June 1971

The author, C S Lewis also lived at Dundela Villas.

Gilchrist, Richard

Richard Gilchrist

Gilchrist was born on 15th August 1925. His address is recorded on the bank staff ledger sheet as Tullycarnon, Ardglass. 

The Belfast News-Letter of 18th December 1934 published this photo of a Mr R P Gilchrist, Ardglass; possibly Richard's father.

On 4th May 1942 Gilchrist joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

A transfer to Ballymena followed in early 1943 as Junior. 

Northern Bank, Ballymena branch

In 1943, Gilchrist applied to the bank to be permitted to join the RAF. He subsequently resigned from the bank and joined the RAF.   

Following demobilisation and on 1st November 1947 Gilchrist called in to the bank and spoke to Mr Scott and advised him that:

"he was going to stay at home and manage the farm instead of coming back to the bank. There is no other member of the family available for the work of the farm."

Gilchrist resigned from the bank.

Boyd, Thomas McMeekin

Thomas McMeekin Boyd

Boyd was born on 30th March 1922 in the Ballymena Registration area to Mr Boyd and Mrs Boyd nee Robinson.

On 15th April 1941, Boyd joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address as recorded on his bank staff ledger sheet was The Manse, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

Transfers followed to Whitehead (1941 - Junior), Head Office (1942) and Ball’s Branch (1942 - Relief).

Northern Bank, Whitehead branch

Northern Bank, Ball's branch

On 26th September 1942, Boyd resigned from the Bank when he was ‘Called up’ into the RAF. 

Boyd re-joined the Northern Bank from Active Service on 21st October 1946 at Head Office.

 
Boyd  advised the bank on 31st March 1947 that he had been offered employment with an Airline Company. He subsequently resigned from the bank on 30th June 1947.

Templeton, Arthur Moore

Sergeant Arthur Moore Templeton (known as Moore)

The 1901 Irish Census records James Templeton (30) and Mary Templeton (23) residing at house 45 Sandymount Street, Cromac, Belfast with their daughter Elizabeth (5). Elizabeth was born on 4th April 1895 at 27 Shankill Road to James Templeton and Maggie Templeton nee Suffern. They had married on 25th December 1894 at Fitzroy Avenue Presbyterian Church, Belfast. Maggie Templeton died on 31st October 1897 at 27 Shankill Road, Belfast. 

James Templeton, a widower married Mary Dugan on 10th January 1900 at Cliftonville Church. The 1911 Irish Census records James Templeton and Mary Colville Templeton residing at house 59, Brunswick Road, Bangor with their children; Elizabeth Suffern (15), Margaret Scott (14), Mary Colville (6) and James Stanley (5). 

Templeton was born in Bangor on 28th July 1912. Known as Moore, Templeton joined the Belfast Banking Company on 1st April 1930 and served in Head Office. James Templeton of 64 Southwell Road, Bangor signed his Bankers Guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Soon after the war started, he volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) with Service Number 1071533. Having been promoted to Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner), he was serving with the 427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (R.A.F.V.R.) when he was killed on 4th February 1943.

Templeton flew in a Wellington bomber (III BJ668 ZL-X) out of RAF Croft, Neasham, North Yorkshire, England. His plane crashed at Ploemeur, Brittany, NW of Lorient, France. All but one of the crew were killed. The survivor became a Prisoner of War.

The Lost Aircraft website records details of the incident here.

Templeton is buried in Guidel Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France. The family have remembered him on this gravestone:

Thanks to Nigel Henderson

He is also remembered on the findagrave website here and on the War Dead of North Down and Ards website.

There is a memorial to Templeton in the Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bangor.

Henry, Gilbert Newman

Leading Aircraft Man (LAC) Gilbert Newman Henry

Henry was born at Model School, Coleraine on 28th May 1913 to Robert Henry, School-Master and Gertrude Henry nee Hallett. They had married on 25th July 1904 at Merrion Hall, Dublin.

The 1911 Irish Census recorded Robert and Gertrude Henry living in house 13 Waterside, Coleraine with their son Robert Walter (2). Gertrude's sister Florence Hallett was also present in the house.  

Henry was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution where he won a number of prizes.

On 1st July 1931, Henry joined the Belfast Banking Company and was based initially in Head Office, Waring Street, Belfast before transferring to Bangor branch later that year (Northern Whig of 17th August 1931). Mrs Gertrude Henry signed the Bankers Guarantee giving her address as Church Street, Coleraine and later as 11 Fifth Avenue, Bangor.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Head Office, Waring Street, Bangor

Belfast Bank, Bangor branch

Although war was declared on 3rd September 1939, Henry waited until 3rd September 1941 before he volunteered for service in the RAF with Service Number 1414533. His career in the RAF took him into many areas:

6th September 1941 to 16th August 1946
RAF with Service Number 1414533 and starting rank of AC2

6th September 1941 to 20th October 1941
RAF Receiving School

21st October 1941 to 10th January 1942
RAF Cranfield

10th January 1942 to 21st May 1942
RAF RTU Glasgow

21st May 1942 to 15th September 1945                       
No. 80 (Signals) Wing RAF (Radio Counter Measures)

21st May 1942 to 28th August 1942
No. 3 Wing Signals School, Cranfield

28th August 1942 to 15th September 1945
No. 80 (Signals) Wing RAF, Radlett

7th November 1944
Promotion to LAC

1st February 1945 to 13th May 1945
Bruges, Belgium & Wendjyne, Holland; No. 50 MSU

15th September 1945 to 12th April 1946
No. 48 Squadron Transport Command, Cairo, Egypt

21st January 1946 to 12th April 1946
RAF Moral Leadership School, Jerusalem 

Henry was awarded the Defence Medal, the War Medal, the 1939-45 Star and the France & Germany Star. 

After demobilisation, Henry returned to work for the Belfast Banking Company on 17th August 1946 and was working in Bangor branch from  1947. 

He was a member of the Belfast Banking Company Sports Club in March 1948 paying 1 shillings subscription.  

In the 1966 annual accounts of the Belfast Banking Company, Henry is recorded as being manager of Saintfield branch. 

Belfast Bank, Saintfield branch

Henry is remembered on the Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour and his name also appeared in a booklet from 1947.

Gilbert Henry retired in 1974 and died on 12th April 1994.

Lindsay, Charles William

C W Lindsay winning the 440 yards (junior) at 

RBAI sports grounds - Larne Times of 21st June 1924

Wing Commander Charles William Lindsay AFC

Lindsay was born in St Patrick's, Mohill on 11th May 1910 to David Lindsay, (of Belfast), Bank Inspector and Alice Catherine Lindsay nee Polson. They had married in Mohill on 29th September 1903 with David giving his address as Whitehead.

In 1901, an unmarried David Lindsay, (Charles' father) was boarding in house 111, Whitehead. His occupation was recorded as Bank Manager.

Belfast Bank House, Whitehead (and branch)

In 1911 Lindsay (0) was living in house 2, Mount Royal, Portrush with his parents and 2 brothers, David (4) and Henry Alfred (2). A nursemaid, Mary Jane Lloyd (22)  was also in the house on census day. David records his occupation as a bank inspector. 

Lindsay was educated at the Model School, Carrickfergus before obtaining a scholarship to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst) in Belfast (Belfast News-Letter of  27th June 1923).

Lindsay also played rugby and features in many sports reports in local newspapers. See picture above.

Lindsay joined the Belfast Banking Company on 1st February 1928 and is recorded as working in Antrim branch. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

 

Belfast Bank, Antrim branch

At that time, his father (David Lindsay) was living in 'Cooleen', Jordanstown and his brother, Henry Alfred Lindsay was working for Northern Bank, Royal Avenue, Belfast.

Around 1939/1940 Lindsay volunteered and enlisted into the RAF.

 
The London Gazette (1941) records a C W Lindsay AFC in the RAF. His Service Number was 70402. Promotions from Flight Lieutenant to Squadron Leader (1941 temp.), Squadron Leader (1942 war subs.) and to Wing Commander (1944 temp.).

 
On 27th March 1942, Lindsay was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC). The London Gazette recorded him as being in the 'Reserve of Air Force Officers'.

Following his war service, Lindsay resigned from the Bank on 22nd November 1946.

The Belfast Telegraph of 6th October 1948 published this letter from him:

 

In 1949, the London Gazette records that he was granted an extension of service for five years in Class "C" and is granted the rank of Squadron Leader (subs.) with effect from 14th April 1948 (seniority 1st August 1940). He relinquishes the rank of Wing Commander (temp.) 1st November 1947 and is transferred to Class "A" with effect from 11th October 1948.

In 1949 he is reported to be the 'Charter manager of Shorts' (Belfast Telegraph of 24th February 1949).

Charles Lindsay continued on in the RAF until 11th May 1955 when he relinquished his commission and retained the rank of Wing Commander.