Nesbitt, John Gordon

John Gordon Nesbitt

was born at Knocknashane, Lurgan on 25th May 1894 to William Nesbitt, Weaver and Mary Ann Nesbitt nee Baxter. His Staff Record card has 26th May 1894 on it. His parents were married on 28th April 1882 at Moira Presbyterian Church. 

In 1901 John (6) is living in house 6 Knocknashane, Lurgan with his parents and 6 siblings; Margaret (18), James (17), William (15), Mary (12), Sarah (9) and Annie (4).

On 9th May 1910 John joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address is recorded as Randalstown. Transfers followed to Carrickfergus (1911 - Junior), Head Office (1912) and Coleraine (1914 - Accountant & Cashier).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Northern Bank, Coleraine branch

The bank Staff Record card records John as taking sick leave between 6th January 1911 to 6th April 1911.

In the 2nd April 1911 Irish Census, John is living in house 6 Knocknashane, Lurgan with his parents and 5 siblings; Margaret, Mary, Sarah and Annie. Sarah Baxter is recorded as a visitor and Frances John McIlwaine is recorded as a grandson. John's occupation is recorded as a Linen Veiner Mechanic.

The 1924 Northern Bank Centenary Volume records John as applying for enlistment but was rejected on the grounds of him having defective vision.

In 1922 John married Nina Burrows, Cork.

Transfers continued to Crumlin Road (1922 - Cashier), Head Office (1923), Donegall Square (1923 - Cashier), Limavady (1931 - Cashier), Downpatrick (1933 - Sub Manager) and Boyle (1940 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

Whilst in Limavady, John joined the Limavady Recreation Club and participated in their annual Whist Drive ('Belfast Telegraph', 29th October 1931).

The 'Londonderry Sentinel' of 30th September 1950 reported on the marriage of Charles Patrick Nesbitt, only son of Mr and Mrs John Nesbitt, Northern Bank House, Newcastle to Miss Audrey Kerr Davin SRN. Miss Wanda Nesbitt, sister of the groom was one of the bridesmaids in attendance.

The 'Northern Whig' of 30th March 1951 reported on the engagement of Miss Wanda Mora Cecilia Nesbitt to Mr Stanley Kenneth Lockhart of Lisburn.

John retired from the bank on pension on 31st March 1955.

PRONI records Nesbitt, John Gordon of 7 Shimna Road, Newcastle, County Down, retired bank manager as dying on 26th April 1961 at Downe Hospital, Downpatrick. Probate Belfast 16th June to Nina Nesbitt the widow. Effects £1953 14s.

The 'Belfast Telegraph'' of 26th August 1976 published an obituary of Major Stanley Kenneth Lockhart and mentioned his widow, Wanda and children, Gordon and Julie.

Mitchel, George Cuthbert

George C Mitchel (Ancestry - David Mitchel)

George Cuthbert Mitchel

was born at The Manse, Enniskillen on 12th October 1894 to Samuel Cuthbert Mitchel, Presbyterian Minister and Isabella Mitchel nee Gunning. They were married on 7th May 1884 at Darling Street, Enniskillen Church of Ireland.

In 1901 George (6) lived in house 6, Drumclay, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh with his parents and 5 siblings; Edgar Gunning (15), Winifred Isabella (13), Frederick David (11), Violet (8) and Victor (3). Two servants, Catherine McCabe and Mary Jane McLesher were also in the property.

George's mother, Isabella (50) died at Darling Street, Enniskillen on 11th September 1906.

In 1911 George lived in house 15, Drumclay, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh with his father and his wife, Marie Mitchel and his brother Victor. A servant, Katie Travers was also in the property.

On 10th May 1911 Mitchell joined Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers followed to Ball’s Branch (1911) and then Newry (1911).

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Cheque drawn on Ball & Company, Henry Street, Dublin

Northern Bank, Newry branch

George applied for and was successful in obtaining a position in the Canadian Bank of Commerce. He left Northern on 20th September 1913.

 

On 4th October 1913 George (18) departed Bristol, England on the 'Royal Edward' for Quebec, Canada with his brother, Victor (16).

'Royal Edward' passenger manifest - G C Mitchel

The 1924 Northern Bank Centenary volume published in 1925 records George as volunteering for service in the forces but was rejected as being medically unfit with defective vision. This most likely occurred in Canada.

In the 1916 Canadian census, George is living in house 37 Richill Avenue, Elkhorn, Manitoba, Canada with a bank colleague Alex Smyth.

1916 Canadian Census

On 13th March 1919 George arrived at Liverpool from New York on board the Cunard ship 'Aquitania'.

'Aquitania' passenger manifest - G C Mitchel

On 2nd July 1919 George re-joined Northern Bank at Head Office. Transfers followed to Drumshanbo (1920 - Cash), Head Office (1920) and Bailieborough (1921 - Cash). 

On 9th April 1923 George married Janet King at St. Mary the Virgin, Hunslet, Leeds.

Marriage Registration - G C Mitchel

Further transfers followed to Lurgan (1925 - Cash), Portaferry (1926), Lisburn (1934 - Teller), Ballybay (1936 - Manager) and Portglenone – Manager (1939 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Lurgan branch

Northern Bank, Portaferry

(photo acknowledged to J Miller Collection)

In 1929 he was an official at the Portaferry Lawn Tennis Club (Belfast News-Letter - Thursday 18 April 1929).

G C Mitchell (Ancestry - David Mitchel)

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Northern Bank, Portglenone branch

In 1940 he was elected as Honorary Treasure of Portglenone Parish Church.

George Mitchel retired on pension on 31st July 1956.

Two brothers, Fred Mitchel and Edgar Mitchel were also employed by the bank.

Images of the 'Rolls of Honour' and 'War Memorials'

The 'Rolls of Honour' / 'War Memorials' are installed in a basement corridor of the Northern Bank (Danske Bank) Head Office, Donegall Square West, Belfast.  They are securely attached to the walls and are covered in glass to protect them. 

The width of the hall together with the reflective glass make it extremely difficult to take good photographs without reflections.

There is no memorial to the 3 civilian bank employees who were murdered during the Northern Ireland Conflict.

Northern Banking Company - Brass Panel with Raised Lettering - The Great War & WWII

Northern Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record - Panel 1

Northern Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record - Panel 2

Northern Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record - Panel 3

Belfast Banking Company - Brass Panel with Raised Lettering - The Great War & WWII

Belfast Banking Company - The Great War - Pictorial Record

Northern Bank - Ladies of 1919

Northern Bank - Ladies of 1919

A number of Lady Staff photographed on the roof of the Northern Bank Head Office building in Victoria Street, Belfast.

Some of them may have joined the bank to cover the officials who had left for war service.

Northern Bank Golf Club Outing - May 1951

Amongst this group of golfers are a few ex-servicemen e.g. L McK White, J F Bristow, Wm H G Millikin and R P MacGregor.

Belfast Bank Football Team - 1930's

Amongst this group of footballers are a few ex-servicemen e.g. O. Mulholland, W A Rainey and I W Bratty.

Excerpts from Documents

25th September 1945

Temporary Lady Clerks

As the members of the permanent staff in the Forces will soon be returning to take up duty again, the Temporary Lady Clerks will, as a matter of course and in keeping with the terms of employment, be released from duty as the men return.

We are sending this notice now so that those ladies may have an opportunity of securing positions elsewhere and we shall be prepared to release them on short notice, if they are successful.

We wish to express to the Lady Clerks, our appreciation of the help that they have given in carrying on the services of the Bank to the Public during the War period.

 

 

19th March 1946

Staff

In order to avoid redundancy of staff by the return of Officials from Active Service, we have, as far as possible, restricted new entrants to our Service, and, therefore, decided not to hold an examination for Clerkships this year.  As the rate of demobilisation is somewhat slower than we expected in the case of younger men we now find that our Staff will be somewhat short during the Summer months when we are providing for holiday and sick relief.

We do not wish in any way to curtail or upset the usual holiday arrangements, and we appeal, therefore, to our Managers and Staffs, to examine the situation at their respective Branches and see if it would be at all possible to help us out of this temporary difficulty by lending us a hand for the current leave season, or by dispensing with relief.

Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated and materially help us to tide over a very difficult period.

Kerr, W G

William Gilmour Kerr

Kerr applied for enlistment but was rejected on the grounds of him having defective vision. 

Kerr was born at Agherton, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry on 25th October 1881 to Hugh Kerr, Farmer and Mary Kerr nee Keith. They were married on 12th September 1878 at Ballywillan Presbyterian Church, Portrush.

He probably joined Northern Bank about 1898/1899.

The 1901 Irish Census records a 18 year old William Kerr, Bank Clerk boarding in house
9.1 in Rugby Road, Rathmines & Rathgar East, Dublin.

The 'Belfast News-Letter' published on 23rd January 1914 reported that Mr Kerr, Northern Bank had attended a fire at Keady.

W G Kerr - Fire at Keady

The 'Irish Independent' published on 18th May 1917 records Mr W G Kerr , Northern Bank was presented with an address and a case of Treasury Notes by his friends at Keady on his transfer to Magherafelt.

W G Kerr - Transfer from Keady to Magherafelt

The 'Belfast News-Letter' of 14th February 1922 published a Family Notice recording the marriage of William G Kerr, Magherafelt to Miss Annie J (Nannie) Anderson, Tandragee. This was on 7th February 1922.

Mr & Mrs Kerr (Northern Bank House, Ballymoney) had a daughter, Margaret who took first place in a pianoforte competition in June 1934.

The 'Belfast Telegraph' of 26th April 1945 carried this interesting advertisement. It MAY be connected to this family.

Trooper H A Kerr & Miss J C Kerr, Northern Bank House, Ballynahinch

William Gilmour Kerr, 7 Salisbury Terrace, Portrush, retired bank manager died on 25th December 1949. Probate to Anne Jane Kerr, the widow. Effects £2460 11s. 10d.

Lewis, Leslie Arthur

Leslie Arthur Lewis

was born at Wine Street, Sligo at 11:30 am on 25th February 1893 to William Lewis, Flour Agent and Emily Lewis nee Brennan. A twin brother, Edgar was born at 3:30 pm and sadly died the next day. His parents had married on 11th April 1890 at Donegall Square (Church), Belfast.

In 1901 Leslie (8) is living in house 9 Wolfe Tone Street, Sligo with his parents and 4 siblings; Stella (10), Cecil (6), Sydney (6) and Dorothy (3).  

On 21st March 1910 Lewis joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

The 1911 Irish Census records Leslie as boarding with Mary Ann Hawkins (52, Lodging House Keeper) and 2 other boarders, Jane Mulhall (72) and William Wood (48) in house 321, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. His employment is detailed as a Bank Clerk.

Transfers followed to Balbriggan (1910 - Junior), Ball’s Branch (1912 - Junior), Head Office (1914) and Donegall Square (1914 - Junior). 

Leslie is recorded as being on Sick Leave between 30th October 1914 to 30th July 1915. It is possible that this coincided with him applying to enlist but was rejected as being medically unfit. 

Northern Bank, Balbriggan branch

Cheque drawn on Ball & Company, Henry Street, Dublin

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch (centre)

Further transfers followed to Hillsborough (1915 - Junior), Lurgan (1916 -  Accountant), Bailieborough (1917 - Cashier) and Raphoe (1918 - Cashier), Holywood (1922 - Cashier), Head Office (1923), Portadown (1923 - Cashier), Clones (1926 - Pro Manager), Head Office (1929) and Cushendall (1930 - Cashier). 

Northern Bank, Lurgan branch (cream & brown building)

Northern Bank, Holywood branch (building with gable facing)

Northern Bank, Portadown branch (no link with people)

Northern Bank, Clones branch

Northern Bank, Cushendall branch

On 9th June 1930 Leslie, Acreback, Whitehead married Annie Alicia Kidd D'Arcy, Etna Lodge, Clones at Armagh Cathedral.

Leslie Arthur Lewis, Garron View, Cushendall died on 31st October 1931, effects £1,941 1s 2d.

Black, John (Jack)

Taken from a 1950s Belfast Banking Company photo album

Flying Officer John Black

Black was born in the Garborgle townland close to Portstewart on 14th August 1920 to John Black, Farmer and Sarah Black nee Archibald. They had married on 13th June 1906 at Portrush Presbyterian Church.

Map showing Garborgle townland
- courtesy Irene Peden, Old Coleraine Facebook group

1901 Irish Census - Black family
- courtesy Irene Peden, Old Coleraine Facebook group

1911 Irish Census - Black family
- courtesy Irene Peden, Old Coleraine Facebook group

John Black - Birth Registration

Following his education at Coleraine Academical Institution, Black (known as Jack) joined Belfast Banking Company in 1939. His Bankers Guarantee Ledger sheet records his first branch as Limavady.

John Black - Bankers Guarantee Ledger

Belfast Bank, Limavady branch

Black volunteered and enlisted for the Royal Air Force in 1943. His son recorded in 2012 the following about his father:

“At the outbreak of WW2 my father was a “junior” in the Belfast Banking Company in Limavady. He joined the Home Guard, but felt a little left out of things as “everybody else was in uniform”. He considered the army but didn’t want to be a footslogger. He considered the Navy but didn’t want to be seasick, so he volunteered for the RAF in 1943. He was sent to Canada April 1944 for Navigator/ Bomber training at Malton, Ontario (now the airport for Toronto). Graduated top of his class (Air Bomber Course 100) and was presented with the Dominion Trophy, given by Dominion Airways. This is a silver ashtray which he always said was one of his proudest possessions. He also was asked to sign a propeller in the Officer’s Mess. I have tried in vain to trace this but no one seems to know anything about it. It is probably located in some RCAF archive somewhere. He returned across Atlantic on Queen Elizabeth as “senior” RAF officer on board. He had been an officer for about six days and outranked his friend Bert Baillie by ten minutes. He recalled rounding Malin Head and instead of looking for German Bombers he used the ships binoculars to view the home farm of Garborgle outside Portstewart. He was posted to Wigtown in Scotland. He spent time in Coastal Command looking for Submarines and downed aircraft. Transferred to Kinloss where he did more Bomber training and converted from Ansons to Wellingtons. Transferred to 1651 Conversion Unit Woolfox Lodge in Yorkshire where he converted to Lancasters and upgraded to night flying and fighter affiliation. They flew in all weathers and quite a number of his friends were killed in training. As far as we are aware he never actually dropped any bombs in anger but his crew seriously bent several aircraft. He interpreted his flight log book for me. One entry said “Bit bumpy at 10,000 ft” what that meant was that they turned a 4 engined heavy bomber upside down in a thunderstorm and after calling “mayday” had to return to base. The plane never flew again. War ended before he actually was required to night fly over Germany and he was transferred to the RAF School of Accountancy and was a paymaster in Northern Ireland before being demobbed and returning to the Belfast Banking Co. Ltd in Ballymoney”.

Following his return from Active Service, he was transferred to Ballymoney on 15th April 1946. His address is recorded as Coorong, Lodge Road, Coleraine.

Belfast Bank, Ballymoney branch

 

He married Elizabeth (Betty) Christie and they had two children, John (b. 1946) and Valerie (b. 1951).

Black is recorded in the 1966 annual accounts of the Belfast Banking Company as being manager of Ballymena branch.

Belfast Bank, Ballymena branch

A transfer in 1962 took him to Kilkeel branch as Manager.

Belfast Bank, Kilkeel branch

The Staff Magazine ‘The Link’ (Autumn 1974) records his retirement from Kilkeel on 30th June 1974 (see below).

Black attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour. He died in 2006.

Black's name is recorded in Portstewart Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour book:

Photo by Nigel Henderson