Watson, James

Lieutenant James Watson

Watson was born at Bond's Hill, Londonderry on 20th July 1893 to Robert Watson, Merchant and Lizzie Hannah Watson nee McDermott. They had married on 11th August 1892 at Second Glendermott Presbyterian Church.

In 1901 Watson (7) is living in house 27 in Bond's Hill, Waterside, Londonderry with his parents and 2 brothers; Thomas (5) and Robert (0). A servant, Lizzie Davis (21) is also living in the house.

 
In 1911, the family has expanded with the addition of another son, William Scott Watson (8).

He was educated at Foyle College, Londonderry.

 
Watson joined the Belfast Banking Company and is recorded as working in Kingstown branch. Thomas McDermott (an uncle) signed the Bankers Guarantee and gave his address as Bond's Hill, Londonderry. William John Donnell later signed the guarantee with an address in Castle Street, Londonderry.

Belfast Bank, Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Kingstown branch (Dun Laoghaire)

Belfast Bank, Kingstown branch (Dun Laoghaire)

 

Watson volunteered and enlisted into the 10th Bn. Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers (Derry Volunteers) with Service Number 16083 (The official Medal Roll records his number as 16082). He was promoted to Acting Corporal.

James Watson - Medal Index Card

His first theatre of war is recorded as France on 15th July 1916.

Watson was serving with 27th Bn. Manchester Regiment as a Lieutenant when he was killed in action on 30th July 1916.

 
The Belfast News Letter of 2nd December 1916 records:

Watson was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is buried in the Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, France.

The Belfast News Letter dated 3rd August 1916 reports:

Administration of the Estate was granted at Londonderry to Robert Watson. Merchant. James' effects were £534.

Lt James Watson is remembered on a Watson / McDermott family headstone in Derry City Cemetery:

Derry City Cemetery 

Watson is also remembered in the 'Ireland's WW1 Casualties':

Hill, Adam Cyril Darley

2nd Lieutenant Adam Cyril Darley Hill

Hill was born in Northern Bank House, Grafton Street, Dublin on 5th December 1898 to Edwin Darley Hill and Deborah Hill nee Overend. They had married on 5th March 1891 at Bangor Parish Church, Bangor, Co. Down.

On 11th October 1915, Hill joined Northern Bank at Falls branch. His address is recorded as Deramore Drive, Belfast.

Northern Bank, Falls branch

On 2nd December 1915, Hill volunteered and enlisted into the 19th Bn. (Cadet Company), Royal Irish Rifles as a Private. 

A C D Hill - Medal Index Card

On promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, he was posted to the 4th Bn. (SR) Royal Irish Rifles.

The Belfast News Letter of 9th September 1916 reports:

The Belfast News letter of 11th September 1916 reports:

Hill was attached to the 7th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and fought in battles at Wytschaete, Messines (1917) and Ypres (1917) before being reported as missing on 16th August 1917 aged 19.

The Belfast News Letter of 27th August 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 5th December 1917 reports:

Hill was awarded the Parchment Certificate of the 16th (Irish) Division, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Cemetery and also on the Memorial in St. Columba’s College Chapel, Whitechurch, Dublin.

A brass memorial plaque to Hill is also installed in St Thomas' Church of Ireland, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast.

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Researcher, History Hub Ulster]

Adam Hill is also commemorated in St Nicholas Parish Church, Carrickfergus.  The following newspaper cutting and photographs are of an 'oak lectern' presented to the church by E D Hill and Mrs Hill.

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Researcher, History Hub Ulster]

Adam Hill is also commemorated on the family grave.

[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Researcher, History Hub Ulster]

The CWGC headstone for A C D Hill at Tyne Cot Cemetery

Church Roll of Honour

Also see Arthur F D Hill (those who applied for service) for further information.

Pattenden, William

Sergeant William Archibald Pattenden

Pattenden was born in October 1886 in Flimwell, Tunbridge, Kent, England to Horace Pattenden and his wife (unknown name). William had 2 older brothers, George and Frank. 

In September 1906, following his education, Pattenden volunteered and enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester, England. On his enlistment form, his next of kin is recorded as his father and the 2 elder brothers. Their address is recorded as East Street, Hambleden, Kent, England.

He was given the Service Number of 8527.

Pattenden is described as being 5 foot 6 inches tall and weighing 141 lbs (10st 1lb) with a scar over his left eye. He has dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

His military career started off at the Depot, Royal Sussex Regiment. In 1907 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion. Later that year he was posted to the 1st Battalion.

Between October 1907 and December 1913 Pattenden was serving in India (Ambular, Rawalpindi, Gharial and Peshawar).

The 1911 English Census records a 24 year old L/Cpl William Archibald Pattenden of the 1st Royal Sussex Regiment.

He transferred to the Army Reserve in December 1913.

According to the Army 'Statement of Services, Pattenden was formally discharged from the Army Reserve on 30th September 1914.

Over the years in service, his army medical form records him as suffering from tonsillitis, having an abrasion on his left arm, having an abscess. In 1913 at Rawalpindi, India he was vaccinated as a result of having 'vesicles'. On his transfer to the Army Reserve, he was found to have a hernia.

Sometime after 1913 he moved to Belfast and joined the Northern Banking Company as a Head Office Porter and Caretaker. The newspaper notice below records him as being married and living in 13 Third Avenue, Belfast.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street

The 1911 Irish Census records a 28 year old Gertrude Pattenden [*] residing in house 9, Norwood Street, Sandy Row, Belfast. No other Pattenden's are recorded in that census.

War was declared at 11:00 pm on 4th August 1914 and as a Reservist, Pattenden was immediately recalled to the 2nd Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment.

The battalion immediately went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force arriving on 12th September 1914.

He was the first Northern Bank official to take part in the Great War.

The Northern Bank Centenary volume records Pattenden as having been reported missing presumed killed in August 1914.

The War Office Medal Index Card states Private Pattenden (Service Number 7711) as being as being Killed in Action at Ypres on 31st October 1914. This is confirmed in the 'Ireland's Memorial Records' book (recorded as a Sergeant).

Wm Pattenden - Medal Index Card

There is no evidence of a Third Avenue in Belfast. This may be Third Street, Woodvale (Shankill), Belfast.

Pattenden is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and also on the Shankill Road Mission Church War Memorial.

He was awarded the 1914 Star with clasp, the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal. The Northern Bank Centenary volume quotes Pattenden as receiving the 1914/15 Star. His official Medal Roll records him as being awarded the Victory, British, 1914 Star and Clasp.

His family were members of the Shankill Road Mission Congregation. This link takes you to a record of the Shankill Mission - Eddies Extracts.


[*] Gertrude Barsmith Pattenden of 92 Cambrai Street, Belfast died aged 30 on 13th August 1916. She is buried in Dundonald Cemetery.

Lyons, Stewart

Acting Captain Stewart Lyons

Lyons was born at 19 Mark Street, Portrush on 17th January 1895 to Robert S Lyons (Boots in a Hotel) and Ellen M Lyons nee Farren. They had married on 26th April 1876 at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Ballywillan, Portrush.

In 1901, Lyons (6) was living in house 27, Mark Street, Portrush, Co. Antrim with his parents and 2 siblings; Lizzie Kirk (14) and Robert M (10). A cousin, Nellie Kirk (19) was also living in the property.

By 1911, their property was known as house 19, Mark Street, Portrush, Co. Antrim. Stewart (16) is living with his mother and and sister Elizabeth. Evelyn McCready is boarding there. An aunt, Jane Kelly is also in the house. Stewart's occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk - Unemployed.

 
Lyons joined Northern Bank on 5th January 1912 at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed with Royal Avenue (1912), Drumshanbo (1912) and Magherafelt (1913).

Northern Bank, Royal Avenue branch

Northern Bank, Drumshanbo branch

Northern Bank, Magherafelt branch

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Lyons  signed the Ulster Covenant at the City Hall, Belfast giving his address as The Bank, Drumshanbo, (Co. Leitrim).

 
On 30th June 1915, Lyons volunteered and enlisted into the 12th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
The 'Northern Constitution' published on 3rd July 1915 carried this report that featured Stewart Lyons:

Lyons was promoted to Corporal before being gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 12th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and also served with the 9th Bn. and 11th Bn. Promotion to Acting Captain came later. 

Lt S Lyons - Medal Index Card

Lyons saw action at the Somme 1916 (Thiepval) and the Allied Advance 1918. He suffered 2 gunshot wounds before being demobilised in April 1919.

The Belfast News Letter of 18th September 1918 reports:

As a result of his injuries, a Pension Record Card was opened giving his address as N B Coy Ltd, Sackville (Street), Dublin.

S Lyons, Pension Record Card

Following demobilisation, Lyons re-joined the Northern Bank on 12th May 1919 at Ball’s Branch.

Ball's branch, Dublin

Transfers followed to Newry (1920 - Accountant), Londonderry (1922 - Cash), Omagh (1927 - Cash), Grafton Street (1930 - Pro-manager), Boyle (1933 - Manager) and Bray (1940 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Newry branch

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

Whilst working in Londonderry branch, Lyons married Florence Mary Leland (formerly Leland - widow) on 3rd July 1922 at Rathdown, The Mariners' Church, Kingstown, Ireland.

Northern Bank, Omagh branch

Northern Bank, Grafton Street, Dublin

Northern Bank, Drumshanbo branch - also see this website.