Sloane, Andrew Young

Lieutenant Andrew Young Sloane

Sloane was born in Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh on 18th January 1894 to John Moorhead Sloane, National School Teacher & Farmer and Eliza Anne Sloane nee Moorehead (of Smithborough, Co. Monaghan). The bank Staff Record card records his date of birth as 18th March 1894. His parents had married on 4th April 1893 at Stonebridge Presbyterian Church, Clones.

A brother, John Moorehead Sloane was born on 4th February 1895. He died on 19th November 1896 aged 21 months.

In 1901, Sloane  (7)  lived in house, 9, Rosslea Village, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh with his parents and 3 siblings; Thomas W (4), Anna E (2) and Maggie H (2). Two servants are also living in the property; Mary Duffy and Annie Hamilton.

A sister, Ethel Matilda Sloane was born on 22nd August 1903. She died on 16th March 1911 aged 7 years and 7 months.

A brother, Robert James Sloane was born on 1st March 1905. He died on 13th December 1905 aged 6 months.

By 1911, the family property was known as house 48, Rosslea Town, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh. Sloane is living with his parents and younger sister, Maggie H (10). Two servants are also living in the property; Mary Anne Mullan and Katie Casey. Annie and Thomas are residing in the Fever Hospital at
house 1.2 in Clonboy (Clones Rural, Monaghan). 2 further siblings are in the hospital; Jack John Sloane (9) and Rebecca Sloane (4). All are being treated for diphtheria and whooping cough.

His father, John M Sloane died on 13th May 1911.

Sloane joined Northern Bank at Head Office on 14th March 1913. Transfers followed to Kilrea (1913 - Junior) and Ballynahinch (1913 - Junior).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Kilrea branch

Northern Bank, Ballynahinch branch

On 1st December 1914, whilst in Ballynahinch branch, he volunteered and enlisted into the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) as a Private aged 19. His Service Number was 02852.

A Y Sloane - Medal Index Card

His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 10th February 1915. He later transferred to the Canadian Artillery, was promoted to Sergeant, and then Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Further promotion to Lieutenant followed.

Sloane saw service in Ypres 1915, Festubert 1915, Somme 1916, Messines 1917, Cambrai 1917 and the Allied Retreat 1918. He was injured 4 times; gassed, gunshot wound, a further gunshot wound and another gassing. 

Demobilisation came in February 1919. He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

A Y Sloane - Medal Roll

A Y Sloane - Pension Index Card (as a result of his injuries)

Following demobilisation, Sloane re-joined the Northern Bank on 23rd April 1919 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Lisburn (1919 - Junior), Boyle (1920 - Cashier), Head Office (1922), Ball’s Branch (1924 -  Accountant), Head Office (1924), Shaftesbury Square (1925 - Paying Teller), Ballynahinch (1931), Limavady (1931 - Cashier), Newry (1940 - Sub Manager) and Keady (1943 - Manager), Larne (1949 - Manager).

He enjoyed golf and was an office-bearer at Spa Golf Club, Ballynahinch. Whilst in Larne, he was a member of the charity, British Sailors' Society.

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Cheque drawn on Ball & Company

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square branch

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Keady

Northern Bank, Larne branch

Sloane retired from the bank on pension on 31st March 1958. He later moved to South Africa where he died on 15th March 1984. He is buried at Clogh Church of Ireland Graveyard, Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh.

A Y Sloane - Headstone

A Y Sloane - Probate

Harrip, John Wesley

Sergeant John Wesley Harrip

Harrip was born in Togherdoo, Dromore, Co. Tyrone on 20th May 1885 to David Harrip, Farmer and Caroline Harrip nee Henry. David had married Caroline on 4th December 1883 at Derryloran Methodist Church, Cookstown.

David Harrip died on 4th February 1886 aged 44. Caroline Harrip remarried a Neville Gibson on 25th June 1891 at the Independent Church, Magherafelt.

In 1901, Harrip is living in house 25 Drumskinny, Dromore, Co. Tyrone with his mother, Caroline Gibson and her husband, Neville Gibson. There are 5 step-brothers of John's living in the house; Edward H, Neville H, Frederick J, Walter H & Henry C [Gibson]. A servant, Jane McGahey is also in the house.

Harrip joined Northern Bank on 6th January 1903 at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Officer, Victoria Street, Belfast

The 'Freeman's Journal' published an advertisement on 12th February 1903:

J W Harrip - Skerry's College - Northern Bank Clerkship

Transfers followed to Clones (1903 - Junior), Downpatrick (1905), Newry (1907), Head Office (1907), Londonderry (1908), Southern (1910) and Head Office (1911). 

Northern Bank, Clones branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry

By 1911, Harrip was boarding with the Lewis family in house 8, St. Anne’s Villas, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

Harrip played golf in the first Northern Bank golf outing on 21st March 1913 at Dunmurry:

Photo courtesy of LennonWylie

In July 1914, aged 29, Harrip volunteered and enlisted into 'B' Company, 14th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles (Young Citizen Volunteers [YCV]) as a Private for the duration of the war.  His Service Number was 14/14850. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 5th October 1915.

J W Harrip - Medal Index Card

Battalion records record his address on enlistment as Togherdoo, Dromore, Co. Tyrone and his next of kin as his mother with surname Gibson.

Harrip was later transferred into the 16th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles (Pioneers). He was promoted to Corporal on 4th April 1916 and was a Signaller in the battalion. Further promotion to Sergeant followed.

Harrip saw action at Somme 1916, Messines 1917, Langemarck 1917 (Ypres), Cambrai 1917, St. Quentin 1918 and Passchendaele 1918.

In August 1916 he was photographed by Cpl George Hackney at Ploegstreert, Belgium, close to Messines.  In the photograph he is managing the battalion mail and Hackney describes the men in the photograph as 'Postmen'.

A N Other & J W Harrip
Photograph by Corporal George Hackney
via Mark Scott Photography

Demobilisation came in January 1919. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star (dis-embarked on 5th October 1915), the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.  

J W Harrip - Medal Roll

Although the Medal Index Card indicates his rank was Corporal, it is the Northern Banking Company Centenary Volume that records him as being promoted to Sergeant.  The original medals and leather service number tags have been framed along with those of another Northern Banking Company official, J E Bullick.

[Courtesy of David Wilson]

Following demobilisation, Harrip re-joined the Northern Bank on 20th January 1919 at Head Office (Interim Manager - 1921). 

The 'Northern Whig' published on 19th March 1921 carried an article about a visit to the Belfast Branch of the Comrades of the Great War.   

J W Harrip - Comrades of the Great War

Harrip was promoted to Assistant Inspector (1927), Inspector (1932) and Assistant Chief Accountant in 1937 (Reported as Chief Accountant in Belfast Telegraph, 22nd November 1937). A transfer as Manager followed in 1940 to Connswater branch.

Retirement on pension came on 30th June 1948.

It is thought by Mark Scott that John Harrip is in these two photographs:

Harrip continued his involvement with the Royal British Legion and was appointed Employment Officer in the Portrush branch in 1959 and Treasurer in 1962.

John Harrip died on 2nd September 1968 with probate being reported on PRONI as:

"Harrip, John Wesley of 36 Causeway Street Portrush county Antrim retired bank manager died 2 September 1968 at Hopefield Hospital Portrush Probate Belfast 21 November to John Thompson Gibson farmer. Effects £6341 19s."

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link (August 1981)’ contains a photograph of Harrip in a 1913 Northern Bank Staff Golf outing.

Also see the biography on J E Walsh.

Some of the information in this biography has been supplied by Mark Scott.

The photographs of George Hackney featured in a BBC NI television documentary shown in November 2014.

Hamilton, Walter Gamble

2nd Lieutenant Walter Gamble Hamilton

Hamilton was born in Church Street, Dromore, Co. Down on 13th November 1883 (birth registration) the son of John Hamilton, Linen Manufacturer's Clerk and Emily Hamilton nee Daniel. The bank Staff Record card records his date of birth as 15th November 1884. His parents married on 27th February 1876 at 

In 1901 Hamilton (16) was living in house 3, Princes Street, Dromore, Co. Down with his parents and 3 siblings; Alice (20), Bruce (14) and Francis (22). Two boarders Alfred Davison and a William Larmour were also in the house. Walter's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

On 3rd June 1901, Hamilton joined Northern Bank in Head Office. Transfers followed with Grafton Street (1901 - Junior), Head Office (1904), Coleraine (1904 - Junior), Elphin (1908 - Junior), Newtownstewart (1911 - Junior), Head Office (1914 - Relief) and Shaftesbury Square (1914 - Accountant). 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin (tall building with chimneys)

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

Northern Bank, Shaftesbury Square, Belfast

In 1911, Hamilton was boarding with a Susie Marshall and her niece Jessie Wishart in house 8, Main Street, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. He describes himself as a Bank Official. There are 2 more boarders and 3 servants residing in the house / hotel.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Hamilton signed the Ulster Covenant at Newtownstewart Orange Hall.

The 'Northern Whig' published on 13th December 1913 reported Hamilton has discovering a fire in Newtownstewart:

W G Hamilton - Fire discovered

He was based in Shaftesbury Square branch when he volunteered and enlisted, aged 31, on 8th December 1915 into the North Irish Horse as a Trooper. His Service Number is recorded as 1988.

W G Hamilton - Medal Index Card
(address recorded as Northern Banking Co Ltd, Connswater branch)

Hamilton was promoted to Corporal before being gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant, Prince of Wales Leinster Regt (RC); attached Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He saw action at Messines 1917 and with the Allied Advances 1918. 

On 9th December 1918 Hamilton married Miss Alice Ann Chamberlain at St Martin-In-The-Fields, London.

W G Hamilton - Marriage Registration

St Martin-In-The-Fields Church, London

Demobilisation came in 1918 when he was invalided home. Hamilton  was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

W G Hamilton - Medal Roll

The excellent North Irish Horse website carries a very detailed biography of him.

Walter Gamble Hamilton was born on 13 November 1883 at Church Street, Dromore, County Down, the fifth of six children of linen manufacturer's clerk John Hamilton and his wife Emily (nee Daniel). He was educated at the Intermediate School, Banbridge and the Royal Academical School, Belfast. In 1901 he was employed as a clerk with the Northern Bank, over the next fifteen years working at head office in Belfast and in branches at Grafton Street, Coleraine, Elphin, Newtownstewart and Shaftesbury Square.

Hamilton enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 29 November 1915 (No.1988 – later Corps of Hussars No.71656), understating his age by two years. On 5 February 1916 he was promoted to corporal. Three months later he fractured a rib, spending two weeks in Belfast Hospital.

On 3 August 1916 he embarked for France, where he was posted to the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment at Flesselles. A year later, when the regiment was dismounted and the men transferred to the infantry, Hamilton applied for a commission, expressing a preference for the Royal Irish Regiment. He left France for officer training on 24 September 1917 and after a period of leave reported for duty at No.7 Officer Cadet Battalion, Fermoy, on 9 November.

Hamilton was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on 1 May 1918 and posted to the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment. Two months later he embarked for France where, although formally posted to the 2nd Leinsters, on 29 July he was sent to join the newly re-formed 7/8 Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Steenvoorde.

Hamilton may have seen action in the early days of the Advance to Victory Offensive, but during August he fell ill with dysentery and was evacuated to England for treatment and convalescence. It was not until 21 February 1919 that a medical board at Chiseldon found him fit for home service.

In the meantime, at the end of 1918, he had married Alice Ann Chamberlain in London.

Following his demobilisation on 16 April 1919, Hamilton re-joined the Northern Bank. He died in Belfast on 6 November 1950.

At least one of Hamilton's four brothers served during the war. Sergeant Bruce Hamilton of the 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele on 16 August 1917.

Following demobilisation, Hamilton re-joined Northern Bank in May 1919. He was transferred to Connswater (1922 - Cashier). In 1936, he was appointed to Head Office as Head of Sort.

Walter G Hamilton died at 19 Sydenham Park, Belfast on 6th November 1950. Probate is recorded in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland as:

Hamilton Walter Gamble of 19 Sydenham Park Belfast retired bank official died 6 November 1950 at 51 Lisburn Road Belfast Probate Belfast 17 August to Alice Ann Hamilton the widow and Donald Bruce Hamilton engineer. Effects £2081 10s. 4d.

Hall, William Cecil John

Lieutenant William Cecil John Hall

Hall was born in Lack, Kesh, Co. Fermanagh on 11th June 1893 to William Hall, Schoolmaster and Sarah Mary Hall nee Noble. They had married on 25th August 1892 at Colaghty Church of Ireland, Co. Fermanagh.

In 1901 Hall (7) lived in house 18, Lack Village, Lack, Co. Fermanagh with his parents and 2 brothers; Fred (2) and an un-named one (date of birth - 29th January 1901).

A brother, George Walter Hall, aged 11 months died on 28th February 1904 at Lack. The un-named child, now Theodore Walter Hall, aged 3 1/2 died on 24th June 1904.

By 1911, the family property was known as house 25, Lack Town, Lack, Co. Fermanagh. In addition to his parents, Hall had 3 brothers; Frederick Vincent (12), Laurence Whitcombe Noble (5) and Rupert Walter Ewing (2).

On 18th April 1911, Hall joined Northern Bank at Head Office. A transfer to Grafton Street followed in that year.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin (tall building with chimneys)

Whilst based in Grafton Street, on 9th September 1914 aged 21, Hall volunteered and enlisted into the South Irish Horse as a Trooper for 1 year or the duration of the war. His Service Number is recorded as 1117.

W C J Hall - Medal Index Card

He was promoted through the ranks from Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, Sergeant Major before being Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Reserve Cavalry. Later, he joined the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and was promoted Lieutenant. 

Hall was injured 3 times; concussion twice and gassed once. 

Demobilisation came in June 1919 and he was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in the Great War.

Following demobilisation, Hall re-joined the Northern Bank on 24th February 1919 at Portadown.

Northern Bank, Portadown branch in background
(scout leader is not known)

Transfers followed to Head Office – Foreign Department (1920), Lisburn (1927) and Windsor (1934).

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Site of the later Northern Bank, Windsor branch 

on the corner of Tate's Avenue, Belfast

Hall was elected Treasurer of the local Royal British Legion branch in Lisburn. The 'Belfast News Letter' published on 22nd March 1934 carried a photograph of Cecil's leaving dinner from his post in Lisburn.

W C J Hall, Northern Bank, Lisburn - Leaving Dinner

Hall's wife, Elizabeth Whalley Hall died on 7th February 1936 at 49 Adelaide Park, Belfast.

In 1936, Hall had property stolen from his motor-car:

Belfast News Letter published on 21st August 1936

Grant, James Herbert

2nd Lieutenant James Herbert Grant MM

Grant was born on 18th April 1888 at 3 Downshire Park or Place, Belfast to James Grant, Clerk and Mary Grant nee Walsh. They had married on 17th July 1878 at Hillsborough Parish Church.

In 1901 Grant (12) was living in house 96, Donegall Pass, Windsor Ward, Belfast with his parents and 7 siblings; Amelia Florence (3), Mary Rosena (5), Eliza Eleanor (21), Frederick William (19), Arthur Hill (15), Robert John (10) and Andrew Walter (7). An uncle, Robert Grant was also in the house.

Grant would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1906 serving in Drogheda and Lurgan.  His father, James signed the Bankers Indemnity and following his death, Andrew Walter (brother) signed as well.

Belfast Bank - Bankers Indemnity Ledger - J H Grant

Belfast Bank, Drogheda branch

Belfast Bank, Lurgan branch

Grant had a brother, Andrew Walter Grant of Northern Bank, Willowfield, Belfast (also O’Connell Street, Dublin – Manager). He also features in this publication.

Mark Duffy (a 'Belfast' Black Watch researcher) has kindly sent me a photograph that he believes is Andrew Grant.

"Cpl Grant 1/6. Fate Unknown. Was with me in Aberdeen in 1914" 
[Written on photo reverse, no further information].

In 1911, Grant is boarding with the McWatters family in house 2 Drumarg or Downs, Armagh Rural, Co. Armagh. He is described as a Bank Official. A possible colleague, Frederick Charles Robinson (Bank Official) is also boarding in this house.

In 1911 the family are still in Donegall Pass. His parents, 3 daughters, uncle and 1 servant are present.

On Ulster Day, 28th September 1912, Grant signed the Ulster Covenant at Armagh giving his address as Malart Villa, Armagh.

Grant volunteered and enlisted into the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers with Service Number PS/6051.  Promotion via Sergeant lead to him transferring as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Medal Index Card - J H Grant

Grant's Medal Index Card records his first theatre of war as France and Flanders from 14th November 1915. 

The London Gazette dated 16th November 917 recorded 6051, Cpl J H Grant, Royal Fusiliers (Hillsborough) as being awarded the Military Medal.

On 25th April 1917 Grant was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

1915 Star - Roll - Pte J H Grant

Victory Medal and the British War Medal Roll - Sgt J H Grant

In addition to the Military Medal, Grant was awarded and applied on 25th November 1922 for the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Following his demobilisation after the Great War, Grant returned to to the bank.

Retirement came in 1951. 

He died on 19th January 1956. His grandson has written to me about his death: 

"James Herbert Grant (Bert) died 19th January 1956. Got off train at Ballygowan Halt station on 18th January 1956 on way to Corcreeny to visit Florrie (his sister) and got lost in a snow storm. He was found dead in a snow drift the next morning." [This would be the area of the Banbridge, Lisburn, Belfast Junction Railway].

James Herbert Grant is buried in the Grant family grave in Hillsborough Parish Church graveyard with other members of his family.

Grant family grave - Hillsborough Parish Church