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Sunday 26 March 2023

Colbert, Alexander

2nd Lieutenant Cecil Alexander Colbert


Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Colbert was born in Manchester about 1910/11.

Following his education at RBAI (INST), Colbert  joined the bank on 6th May 1929 at Carlisle Circus. Later transfers took him to Head Office, Bangor and back to Carlisle Circus.

In August 1939, Colbert volunteered and enlisted into the S/L Regiment and served as a Lance Sergeant in France and Belgium. He was evacuated at Dunkirk and was later commissioned and transferred to the Pioneer Corps with the rank of Lieutenant.

The London Gazette dated 10th October 1944 records a 2nd Lieutenant Cecil Alexander Colbert being promoted from Officer Cadet with effect from 8th June 1944.  He was serving within the Northern Ireland Comm.  (Command ?). The Service Number quoted was 319943. 

On 7th August 1945, the London Gazette records 319943 2nd Lt Colbert as relinquishing his commission with effect from 30th June 1945.

Following his demobilisation, Colbert returned to the bank at Head Office with later transfers to Carlisle Circus, Shaftesbury Square and Connswater branches where he was appointed Teller (1957) and Pro-Manager (1960). In 1965 he was appointed Manager at Finaghy branch and on 30th January 1969, Manager at Crumlin Road branch. On 9th September 1969 he was appointed as an Inspector. He became Chief Inspector on 2nd May 1973.

Colbert married Miss Dorothy Bowen Henderson of Sittingbourne, Kent. 

He retired on 3rd May 1974 and later left Strangford to settle in Gosford, south England.

Alex Colbert died on 8th Match 1983 leaving his widow, Jo, his sisters Etta, Esther and May, and a wider family circle. The Bank Staff Magazine published this obituary:


Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

The website Worldcat records a book called "Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Belfast, 1935-1985: the story of the first fifty years in the life of Orangefield congregation" being published by Cecil Alexander Colbert in 1985. This ties in with his record address at his death; 165 Orby Drive, Belfast.

Belfast City Council record a Cecil Alexander Colbert as dying on 9th September 1992 and being buried in Dundonald Cemetery (B5 608) on 14th September 1992. He was aged 72 and was residing at 165 Orby Drive, Belfast.

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