Johnston, John Laird

Pilot Officer John Laird Johnston

Johnston was born at Wine Street, Sligo on 6th March 1916 to Henry Martin Johnston, Bank Official and Maud Alexandra Sarah Johnston nee Laird. They had married on 24th May 1915 at the Methodist Centenary  Church, Leeson Park, Ranelagh, Dublin. His father later became manager of the Belfast Bank, Glenarm branch. 

Belfast Bank, Toberwine Street, Glenarm

Johnston was educated at Campbell College, Belfast. The Lennon Wylie website records John as attending Campbell College:

2134. *Johnston, John Laird (C), b. 6th March, 1916, son of Henry M. Johnston, Belfast Bank House, Glenarm. V, July, 1932. Bank Official. 1940-45: F/O., R.A.F. Musician, B.B.C., Belfast. Address: 4 Galwally Avenue, Belfast. (M.q.)

He joined the Belfast Banking Company on 18th January 1937. His Bankers Guarantee bond was signed by his father. John served in Newtownards, Downpatrick and Warrenpoint. 

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Newtownards branch

Belfast Bank, Downpatrick branch

Belfast Bank, Warrenpoint branch

In 1940 he volunteered for the RAF whilst in Warrenpoint.

The London Gazette (1944) records a John Laird Johnston with Other Ranks Service Number 1308099 and Officer Service Number 183336 serving with the RAF Volunteer Reserve.  

A notice in the Belfast Telegraph dated 25th October 1944 recorded John's marriage at St James Parish Church to Josephine Owen on 10th October 1944.

On 5th February 1945 the Belfast Telegraph reported that Pilot Officer J L Johnston was a member of the crew of a damaged RAF Liberator.

Belfast Telegraph, 5th February 1945 - P/O J L Johnston

On 8th February 1945 the Larne Times reported 'Ulster Pilot in Epic of Baltic':

Larne Times, 8th February 1945 - P/O J L Johnston

Following the end of WWII, Johnston re-joined the Belfast Banking Company on 8th April 1946 and is recorded as being a member of Portaferry branch. 

Belfast Bank, Portaferry branch

Johnston's signature is recorded in this BBCo staff hand-book.

Belfast Bank Staff Handbook - J L Johnston

Galway, Albert Brice

Albert Brice Galway

Galway was born at Kilkeel on 5th October 1898 to Brice Galway (watchmaker) and Annie Elizabeth Galway nee Reid. They had married on 29th December 1897 at Eglish Presbyterian Church.

In 1901 Galway lived in house 2, Broad Street, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry with his parents and a servant, Jane Mawhinney (17).

Annie Elizabeth Galway died aged 37 on 31st March 1908. She was recorded as 'wife of a watchmaker'.

Mid-Ulster Mail, 27th November 1909

By 1911 the property was known as house 7. Galway lived with his father and a servant, Mary Mawhinney (18).

On 3rd April 1917 Galway joined Northern Bank at Carrick-on-Shannon branch. 

Northern Bank, Carrick-on-Shannon branch

On 5th May 1917 Galway volunteered and enlisted into the North Irish Horse as a Private with Service Number 71846. 

His Army Service Record is available and consists of 23 scanned pages. Galway records his occupation as a Bank Clerk. The first page is displayed below:

Army Service Record - A B Galway (1st page)

Later on, Galway transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps with Service Number 23921.

This section is taken from the website 'North Irish Horse in the Great War' 

"Galway enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Boyle on 16 May 1917, joining the regiment at Antrim nine days later (No.2461 – later Corps of Hussars No.71846). While in training at the regiment's Antrim base depot he qualified as a 1st Class Shot.

On 5 November 1918 Galway embarked for France with a reinforcement draft for the North Irish Horse Cyclist Regiment. They joined the regiment in the field on 22 November, eleven days after the Armistice had brought an end to the fighting.

On 7 June 1919 Galway was one of twenty-two men of the North Irish Horse Cyclist Regiment who volunteered to transfer to the Army Cyclist Corps (No.23921). They were posted to the IV Corps Cyclist Battalion at Rolsdorf, part of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine."

Galway was demobilised on 31st March 1919 to the Class Z Army Reserve. It is presumed that Albert returned to Northern Bank.

Following his demobilisation, Galway was awarded the British War Medal and the British Victory Medal. He received and acknowledged receipt of the first medal on 8th May 1922.

Medal Index Card - A B Galway

Medal Roll - A B Galway

The 'North Irish Horse in the Great War' website carries a full biography of Albert Galway.

This website records Albert as dying in 1962. It has not been verified.

Gilmore, William P E

William Eccles Gilmore or Gilmour

Gilmore was born at 21 The Diamond, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry on 9th January 1889 to William Gilmour, Watch Maker and Margaret Johnston Gilmour nee Wallace. They had married on 16th June 1880 at the residence (in Coleraine) of Reverend Robert Wallace of the Presbyterian Church.

William Gilmour Senior died aged 43 on 6th September 1896 at Coleraine.

In 1901 Gilmore (12) was living in house 20 The Diamond, Coleraine with his mother and 3 siblings; John (19), Robert (15) and Susan (7). A servant, Margaret Taggart is also present in the property. 

The Coleraine Chronicle of 10th January 1903 reports that Gilmore did a solo performance at the New Row 'Band of Hope' concert.

The Coleraine Chronicle of 23rd February 1907 reports that William has passed with distinction his entrance examination for Northern Bank:

Gilmore joined Northern Bank later that year and is recorded as working in Bray branch. The 1924 Northern Banking Company Centenary Volume records his surname and initials as W P E Gilmour whilst the Roll of Honour records as Gilmore W E.

In 1911, a William Gilmore (22) is boarding with his brother, Robert (25) in house 54, Grove Park, Rathmines & Rathgar West, Dublin. Both are described as Bank Clerks and are from Co. Derry.

No photograph or further information on his military and banking career is available.

Hunter, William Herbert

Captain William Herbert Hunter

Hunter was born at 5 Chichester Terrace, Belfast on 8th April 1915 to Herbert Charles Hunter, Secretary (Linen business) and Ellen Hunter nee Miskimmin. They had married on 8th May 1901 at St. James' Church, Antrim Road, Belfast.

In 1911 Hunter was living with the Miskimmin family (Ellen's parents) with his parents in house 25 Antrim Road, Belfast. A sister, Ellen (8) was also present in the house (see below).

Schooling for Hunter was at Belfast Royal Academy, Cliftonville Road, Belfast.

On 1st March 1933/38 (year is unclear), Hunter joined Northern Bank at Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast and was based in the Post Room.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Whitehead (1939 - Junior) and back to Head Office (1940).

Northern bank, Whitehead branch

On 15th December 1939, Hunter enlisted into the Royal Artillery and was ‘Called up’ on 13th January 1940 as a Gunner. Promotion followed to Lance Bombardier, Cadet, 2nd Lieutenant (1942) and Captain with Service Number 224892.

Although the war in Europe had ended on 8th May 1945 (Victory in Europe Day [VE Day]), Capt William Hunter was still serving there with the Royal Ulster Rifles. He had been home on leave at the end of August 1945 and had called into Whitehead branch to speak to his colleagues and friends.

Shortly after his return to Germany, he was Killed on Active Service on 11th October 1945 aged 30. The 'incident' was reported to the War Office Casualty Branch for the 24 hours ended 09.00 hrs on 16th October 1945 (Forces War Record website). On 5th November 1945 the record was corrected to 'as a result of an accident'.

Hunter's address at the time of his accident was 730 Antrim Road, Belfast.

The Belfast Telegraph reported that he was ‘Killed in a motoring accident in Germany on 11th October 1945'. Hunter is buried in the Munster Heath War Cemetery, Germany. Many of the burials are those who died serving with the Army of Occupation following the end of the war.

His CWGC headstone reads as follows:

CWGC Document showing agreed headstone inscription details

Capt W H Hunter - CWGC Headstone

Munster Heath War Cemetery, Germany

An obituary and photograph were published by the Belfast Telegraph on 19th October 1945.

Belfast Telegraph 19th October 1945

Following this BelTel news report, a member of the Northern Bank staff (Staff Department) pasted the clipping on to his staff record sheet.

Excerpt from William Hunter's Staff Record Sheet

The Larne Times dated 25th October 1945 published this article:

Clipping courtesy of Nigel Henderson

Capt. Hunter is remembered on a family headstone in the 'Corner Graveyard' at Carnmoney Parish Church:

Photo courtesy of Nigel Henderson

Capt. Hunter is remembered on two war memorials at Belfast Royal Academy and Malone Rugby Club (both photos courtesy of Nigel Henderson).

W H Hunter - Belfast Royal Academy

W H Hunter - Malone Rugby Football Club

Hunter's sister, Ellen later presented a Prayer Desk and Minister's Chair to St Patrick's Parish Church, Cairncastle in memory of her late brother. The church Pulpit was later donated by Ellen's daughter in her memory.

St Patrick's Parish Church, Cairncastle

Plaque on furniture donated in memory of Capt. W H Hunter
(note an incorrect date of death)

October 2025: The Reverend Arlene Moore of the Church of Ireland Parish of Kilwaughter & St Patrick's Cairncastle with All Saints, Craigyhill, Larne is collating an in-house parish 80th anniversary commemorative booklet of all those connected with St Patrick’s who fell or served in the Two World Wars. My thanks go to Arlene for the image of the above plaque.