Scott, William Ernest Francis

Sergeant William Ernest Francis Scott

Scott was born at Kilcroagh, Castlederg on 27th October 1904 to William John Scott, Merchant and Maggie Scott nee Young. They were married on 23rd June 1903 at Killester Presbyterian Church, Castlederg.

Following his education, Scott joined the bank on 15th March 1923 at Ballina branch followed by a transfer to Enniskillen branch.

Scott volunteered and enlisted into the Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery and served in the Middle East and Italy with the rank of Sergeant.

After demobilisation, Scott returned to the bank at Ballymote as Cashier. In 1956 he was transferred to Killyleagh in the same position.

Retirement from Killyleagh came on 15th March 1968.

Mr Scott died on 23rd July 1991. His wife had pre-deceased him. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Sands, Henry Valentine

Lance Sergeant Henry Valentine Sands (known as Henry)

Sands was born at Killycomain, Portadown on 4th August 1910 to James Sands, Manager in Factory and Annie Sands nee Boyce. They had married on 22nd April 1905 at Waringstown Presbyterian Church.

In 1911, Sands (0) is living in house 6, Killycomain Road, Portadown with his parents and sister, Margaret Lillian (3).

Following his education, Sands joined the bank at Head Office on 1st October 1928.

On 2nd May 1939, Sands volunteered and enlisted into the 8th Belfast Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. He served in France and South East Asia Command.

The Lennon Wylie website records a H V Sands as serving with 8th Belfast H A A Regiment with service number 1461930. His rank was L/Sgt and his address was recorded as 17 Killycomain Road, Portadown.

After demobilisation, Sands returned to the bank and served in a number of branches before being appointed as Pro-Manager in Lisburn branch. A promotion to Manager at Castlederg branch followed in 1967.

Henry Sands died in service on 7th October 1969. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Preston, Walter

Walter Preston

Information Required

Please assist me by emailing gavinbamford@btinternet.com with any information that you would have on this Ulster Bank official.

He would probably have been born between 1915 and 1922 giving an age range of 17 to 24 at the start of the war in 1939.

Patterson, James

James Patterson

Information Required

Please assist me by emailing gavinbamford@btinternet.com with any information that you would have on this Ulster Bank official.

He would probably have been born between 1915 and 1922 giving an age range of 17 to 24 at the start of the war in 1939.

Porter, James Kenneth

Lieutenant Colonel James Kenneth Porter OBE (known as Ken)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Porter was born at 17 Upper Garville Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin on 16th September 1918 to James Porter, School Teacher and Jessie Porter nee Shaw. 

Following his education at Methodist College, Porter joined the bank at Head Office on 26th April 1937 and later worked as a junior in the Paste Room (c. 1938).

A photograph of him with colleagues, T K Adair, C F R Anderson and Norman Atkinson appears on page 219 of the book, 'The Ulster Bank Story' by Lyn Gallagher. Adair and Atkinson also served during the war.

In 1940, Porter volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Artillery serving in India, Burma and Malaya.. He was promoted through to Lieutenant Colonel by 1945 and had been 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

After demobilisation, Porter returned to the bank in 1946 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Knock, Enniskillen (Teller then Pro-Manager, 1961).

In 1949, Porter married Mis Isobel Hamilton of Dromara, a former official and they had a daughter, Rosemary.

Porter was made an Officer in the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work with the Army Cadet Force in the Counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. He had been the County Commander of the Force since 1956.

Further appointments in the bank followed with Castlederg (1965 - Manager), Lurgan (1967 - Manager) and Area Director, Northern Region S (1969).

Ken Porter is also mentioned on page 273 of the above book in the chapter 'Progress Inevitably Means Change (1969 to 1982)'. This person is described as the North West Area Director.

Porter retired on 31st December 1980.

Lt Col Ken Porter OBE died on 14th May 1991 leaving his widow, Isobel and daughter, Rosemary.

Patton, William Davison

William Davison Patton (Billy)

Patton was born at Livery, Ballymoney on 17th September 1912 to William Patton, Farmer and Lily Patton nee Bell. They had married on 30th June 1908 at Cookstown Presbyterian Church.  

Following his education, Patton joined the bank in 1932 and served in Ballyjamesduff, Blackrock, Newtownards, Portadown, Downpatrick branches before becoming cashier in Stewartstown branch (1952).

Patton volunteered and enlisted into the armed forces.

Patton retired for health reasons in 1972.

Billy Patton died on 3rd January 1979. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Oakman, John Clements

John Clements Oakman (known as John)

Oakman was born at 'Oakhill', Hillhall, Lisburn on 10th March 1918 to William Robert Oakman, retired Accountant and Edith Maud Oakman nee Wilson. They had married on 19th January 1911 at Newcastle Presbyterian Church.

Following his education, Oakman joined the bank on 23rd May 1938 at Head Office.

In 1939, Oakman volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and later trained as a Glider Pilot. He took part in the Normandy landings during the re-occupation of France.

After demobilisation, Oakman returned to the bank and served in Lisburn and Finaghy branches.

Oakman took early retirement for health reasons in 1969.

John Oakman die don 27th August 1989 having lived at 'Oakhill', Hillhall, Lisburn. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Nelson, Gordon Ernest Alexander

2nd Lieutenant Gordon Ernest Alexander Nelson (known as Gordon)

Nelson was born at Spring Hill, Limavady on 6th May 1907 to Howard Arthur Nelson, Barrister and Francis Dorothy Nelson nee Forde. They had married on 12th September 1905 at Tamlaght Church of Ireland, Limavady.

In 1911 Nelson (4) was living in house 3, Isle of Man, Limavady, Co. Londonderry with his parents and an un-christened brother (0). Isle of Man Street is now known as William Street, Limavady. 

Following his education Nelson joined the Ulster Bank.

Nelson volunteered and enlisted into the armed forces. The Forces War Records website records a G E A Nelson serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in 1939.

Gordon Nelson died on 7th May 1987 leaving his widow, Peggy and brother Jim and family circle. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Netterfield, David Gerald

David Gerald Netterfield

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Netterfield was born at 'Sunnyside', Dergmoney, Omagh on 11th March 1916 to Gerald Stanley Netterfield, Banker and Margaret Netterfield nee Robb. They had married on 22nd September 1908 at Holywood Presbyterian Church.

• The 1901 Irish Census records a Gerald Netterfield (C of I, County Dublin) lodging in house 10, North Street, Newtownards. He is 27 and unmarried. His occupation is recorded as a bank clerk. 

• The 1911 Irish Census records a Gerald Netterfield (C of I, County Dublin) residing in house 11 Sedan Avenue, Omagh. He is 38 and married although his wife is not recorded at that address on Census Day. His occupation is recorded as a bank official. 

• The Lennon Wylie website records a G S Netterfield as being the Pro-Manager of the Ulster Bank, Omagh (Ref: Belfast Street Directory). 

• The Kirkistown Castle Golf Club website records G S Netterfield as being Captain in 1922. A Mrs G Netterfield is recorded as being Lady Captain in 1938.

Following his education at Regent House, Newtownards, Netterfield joined the bank in 1936 at Kircubbin branch where his father was then Manager.

Netterfield volunteered and enlisted into the S/L Regiment, Royal Artillery and served in France, Belgium and Holland. He also took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk.

After demobilisation, Netterfield returned to the bank at Head Office. Transfers followed to Mountpottinger (1947), Blackrock (1950), Waterford (1955) and O'Connell Street (1960 - Teller). He was appointed as Pro-Manager in O'Connell Street in 1965 and Assistant Manger in 1967. In 1968 he was appointed to Wexford as Manager and Newtownards in 1971 as Manager.

Netterfield retired on 31st March 1979.

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

David Netterfield died on 15th January 2000 leaving 2 sisters and family circle. His wife, Joan had pre-deceased him in 1995. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Neilly, Robert

Robert Neilly (known as Bob)

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Neilly was probably born around 1916 based on a joining age of 17 to the bank..

Following his education Neilly joined the bank on 8th May 1933 at Head Office and then York Street branch in 1935.

A picture of Neilly appears on page 218 of the book 'The Ulster Bank Story' by Lyn Gallagher in the chapter called 'Juniors'. The photograph shows 4 juniors on holidays in Jersey during the 1930's. Although the text spells his surname as Neely (Premises), the index spells it as Neilly.

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

In 1940, Neilly volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Air Force and served in the Middle East as a Wireless Operator.

After demobilisation in 1946, Neilly returned to the bank at York Street branch and then on Relief Staff from 1950, Mountpottinger (19xx), Donaghadee (1956), Relief Staff (1967). He was appointed to Premises Department as Pro-Manager in 1967 and became Manager there in 1969.

Neilly is mentioned again on page 286 of the same book in a piece re the damage done to Ulster Bank premises during 1971. In one bomb attack, 2 of the staff of Neilly's department were injured.

Neilly retired on 8th May 1978.

Robert Neilly died on 24th March 1992 leaving his widow, Ethel (the former Miss Ethel Black of Castlerock). The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam