McIlwaine, Samuel G

Major Samuel G McIlwaine

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

McIlwaine was born at 'Clonlee', Larne on 11th February 1912 to Robert McIlwaine, Sea Captain and Maggie McIlwaine nee Brown. they had married on 18th June 1906 at Larne Presbyterian Church.

Following his education, McIlwaine joined the bank on 21st March 1930 at Head Office.

McIlwaine volunteered and enlisted into the S/L Regiment, Royal Artillery and served with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. He was Commissioned and posted to an Anti-Aircraft Regiment with the acting rank of Major. He later joined the Indian Army and served in Burma.

The Forces War Record website records a S McIlwaine serving with the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1940.

After demobilisation, McIlwaine returned to the bank and served in several branches until his appointment in 1962 as Pro-Manager in Dun Laoghaire branch. He was appointed as Manager in Longford branch in 1967 and later Manager of Dun Laoghaire branch in 1969.

A Sam McIlwaine is mentioned on page 253 of the book by Lyn Gallagher, 'The Ulster Bank Story'. She records that McIlwaine was a rugby player who played at times for the Ulster bank side in the Institute (of Bankers) Cup. 

McIlwaine retired on 20th march 1975. He was married to the former Miss Elsie M Joyce of Dublin and they had 2 daughters, Patricia and Diana.

Samuel McIlwaine dies at his home in Glenageary, Co. Dublin on 7th January 1982. The Bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam