Giffin, Francis

Francis Giffin

Giffin was born at Townparks, Antrim on 18th January 1912 to Thomas Giffin, Railway Porter and Sarah Giffin nee Kenny. 

He was brought up in Coleraine.

Following his education, Giffin joined the bank on 1st April 1930 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Shaftesbury Square, Newry, Lurgan, Granard, Monaghan and Crumlin Road branches.

Giffin volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Coder, Liaison Staff on a French Corvette on escort duties serving in many theatres; North Sea convoys, Mediterranean convoys, English Channel convoys and D-day landings. After VE Day he was attached to aircraft carriers in the Pacific area.

Giffin married Doris Helen Cass in St. Andrew's, Totteridge, London on 27th March 1944. They resided in Holywood and latterly in Bangor.

Following demobilisation, Giffin returned to the bank. He was appointed to Connswater (1962 - Pro-manager, Holywood sub-branch) branch followed by Garvagh (1967 - Manager) branch.

Francis Giffin died on 22nd October 2002 at Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. The Bank staff magazine published this article on his promotion to Garvagh branch:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Thanks to Alistair McCartney al@dnet.co.uk for additional information.

Fletcher, William Henry

William Henry Fletcher (known as Billy)

was born in the Omagh area on 9th August 1907 to John Fletcher, Teacher and Rebecca Fletcher nee Perry. They had married on 9th July 1902 at Fintona Church of Ireland.

Following his education, Fletcher joined the bank in 1926 at Head Office. Transfers followed to  Magherafelt and York Street (1927) branches.

Fletcher volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Navy, serving in mainly destroyers.

Following demobilisation, Fletcher returned to the bank at York Street branch. Transfers followed to Shaftesbury Square, Donegall Place, Crumlin Road (1959 - Pro-Manager), Rathfriland (1961 - Manager) and Shankill Road (1966 - Manager) branches.

Fletcher retired on 14th March 1971.

Billy Fletcher died on 24th October 1986 in hospital. He was survived by his widow, Muriel. The Bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Davey, John Desmond

Lieutenant Commander John Desmond Davey RN (Known as Desmond)

Davey was born at 46 Bawnmore Road, Belfast on 13th November 1912 to William Hamilton Davey, Barrister at Law and Ruby Irene Davey nee Mollan. They were married on 7th June 1911 at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

Following his education, Davey joined the bank on 15th May 1933 at Head Office. 

Davey volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and was serving on HMS Ivanhoe when she was sunk in the North Sea on 1st September 1940. 

HMS Ivanhoe - Courtesy https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4419.html

A later promotion to Lieutenant Commander saw him in command of an escort destroyer.

Davey served in various branches and was appointed Controller's Assistant, Dublin Control in January 1962. He was appointed Manager at Pembroke branch in 1967 followed by Assistant Controller, South Area in 1968 and Personnel Officer, South Area in 1969.

He retired on 31st December 1975.

Desmond Davey die don 26th November 1984 leaving a widow Mary, son Shaun. The Bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Desmond Davey died in 1985.

Currie, Harry Lionel

Major Harry Lionel Currie (known as Lionel)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Currie was born at Lisnaskea on 16th February 1908 to James Currie, Branch Bank Manager and Kate Amelia Currie nee White. 

In 1911 Harry (3) lived at house 99, Main Street, Lisnaskea with his parents and 2 brothers; Henry Eric John (11) and Albert Victor (2). There were 2 servants also living in the property; Eliza Jane Elliott and Emma Creighton. The property was the bank house.

Ulster Bank branch & house, Lisnaskea

courtesy https://www.archiseek.com/2011/1872-ulster-bank-lisnaskea-co-fermanagh/

Following his education at RBAI (INST), Currie joined the Ulster Bank in 1927 at Downpatrick branch where his late father, James Currie was then manager. A transfer followed in 1930 to Donaghadee. 

The Northern Whig of 2nd May 1932 reports that H Currie, Ulster Bank, Donaghadee was playing golf in a stroke competition. 

In 1936 Currie was transferred to Newtownards branch. Whilst there, in 1939, he volunteered and enlisted into the Territorial Army with the Royal Artillery as a Gunner. Three weeks after the Allied withdrawal from Dunkirk he came back to England and received his Commission. He served in the Western Desert and saw four years service there.

The website Forces War Records details a H L Currie who served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1940.

The Belfast Telegraph of 12th September 1945 reports on both Harry and his brother, Albert:

• Capt H L Currie, Royal Artillery was in the 8th Army in North Africa and is now with the British Army of the Rhine in Belgium.
  
  
• Gunner A V Currie, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps was a Prisoner of War in Osaka, Japan and is now safe in allied hands and on his way home via Melbourne. 

Shortly after D-Day in 1944, Currie returned to France and saw further service there and in Belgium and Germany.

Following demobilisation in 1946, Currie returned to the bank at Newtownhamilton. Promotion to Manager at Newtownhamilton came in 1960. Further transfers followed to Tullamore (1962) and to Enniskillen (1964) branches.

In 1953 he married Miss Nancy Neill of Tyrella, Co Down. They had 3 children; Jocelyn, Sackville and Tyrone.

The Belfast Telegraph of 9th November 1968 carried a report that mentioned Harry Currie, Ulster Bank, Enniskillen giving evidence in a fraud trial.

Currie retired on 30th June 1972. He died in 1997.

Crammond, James

James Crammond

Crammond was born at Omagh on 28th March 1919 to James Crammond, Farmer and Isabella Crammond nee Roulston. The Lennon Wylie website records a James Crammond (farmer) as living in Crevenagh, Omagh in 1918.

Following his education, Crammond joined the bank in 1938 at Newtownhamilton branch.

Crammond volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Air Force and served in North Africa during the war. The Forces War Record website records 2 x J Crammond's serving in 408 Squadron, Royal Air Force as a Sergeant.

Following his demobilisation, Crammond returned to the bank.

Crammond was appointed Pro-Manager in Shaftesbury Square branch in 1962 followed by a similar appointment in 'Branches' in 1964. In 1966 he was made an Assistant Inspector and then Personnel Officer, North-West Area in 1969.

He retired on medical advice on 15th July 1970.

James Crammond died on 7th November 1970 leaving brothers and sisters. The Bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Craig, Henry George Alexander

Henry George Alexander Craig

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Craig was at 13 Vicarage Park, Belfast on 18th July 1916 to Alexander Lee Craig, Engineer, Sub-Lieutenant, RNR and Agnes Craig nee Graham. They had married on 7th October 1915 at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Belfast.

Following his education, Craig joined the bank in 1933 at Solicitors Department and served there continuously until his retirement on 10th May 1978.

Craig volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Air Force in 1939 until his demobilisation in 1946.

He married the former official, Miss Maud A Greer of Ballykelly.

Harry Craig died on 26th December 1978 (aged 67) at 338 Holywood Road, Belfast and was buried in Roselawn Cemetery on 28th December 1978. He left a widow, Maud and 2 sons, Colin and Garth. The Bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Conroy, Wilfred Thomas

Lieutenant Wilfred Thomas Conroy

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Conroy was born at 35 Rosemount Gardens, Belfast on 26th December 1913 to William Henry Conroy, Clerk and Charlotte Conroy nee Coates. They had married on 4th August 1910 at St Anne's Parish Church, Belfast.

Following his education, Conroy joined the bank on 13th June 1932 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Antrim, Shaftesbury Square, Cornmarket and Markets branches. 

Conroy volunteered and enlisted into the S/L Regiment and served in France with the British Expeditionary Force. He was later commissioned in the Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery and served with them in Faroes and France as a Lieutenant with Service Number 207130. The London Gazette of 10th December 1946 records a (War Subs) Lieutenant W T Conroy relinquishing his commission on account of disability and being granted the rank of Lieutenant.

Following demobilisation, Conroy returned to the bank. Promotions followed in due course to Controller's Assistant (1961), Assistant Inspector (1963), Cornmarket (1968 - Manager) and Controller, Branch Banking (> 1968).

His daughter, Jill, is a member of staff in the Trustee and Income Tax Department, Head Office.

Conroy retired on 10th June 1977.