Orr, Samuel

Cadet Samuel Orr

was born at Pacific Avenue, Antrim Road, Belfast on 6th June 1894 to Samuel Orr, Book-keeper and Lucinda Orr nee Temple. They had married on 24th January1888 at Malone Presbyterian Church.

In 1901, Samuel (6) was living in house 33, Sunnyside Street, Ormeau Ward, Belfast with his parents and 3 siblings; Mary Priscilla (15), Maud (12) and Herbert Temple (1).

Samuel joined Northern Bank at Head Office on 5th May 1910.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

By 1911, the family had moved to house 5, Farnham Park, Bangor, Co. Down. Samuel (16) is recorded as a Bank Clerk and is living with his parents and siblings, Maud and Herbert.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Samuel Orr signed the Ulster Covenant at the Guild Hall, Bangor.

 
Transfers followed with Armagh (1912), Head Office (1914), Irvinestown (1914), Kilrea (1914) and Clones (1915 - Accountant).

Northern Bank, Armagh branch

Northern Bank, Kilrea branch

Northern Bank, Clones branch

Samuel (21) volunteered and enlisted into the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) on 15th June 1915 as a Private with Service Number 08709. 

In 1918 the Army Ordnance Corps received the 'Royal' prefix and become the RAOC.

Samuel Orr - Medal Index Card

He was attached to HQ 34th Division. Later, his attachment was changed to the Argyll and Southern Highlanders as a Cadet. Service was seen in the Somme 1916, Arras 1917, St. Quentin 1918 and the Allied Advance 1918. 

Orr was demobilised in July 1919 and was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Samuel re-joined the Northern Bank on 5th August 1919 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Saintfield (1919 - Cashier), Ballymoney (1922 - Cashier), Head Office (1923), Relief (1926), Letter Dept. (1927), Ballynahinch (1930 - Pro Manager), Donegall Square (1943 - pro Manager) and Armoy (1943 - Manager).

Northern Bank, Saintfield branch (probable new build)

Northern Bank, Ballymoney (to right of larger Belfast Bank)

Northern Bank, Ballynahinch branch (tall building on left)

Northern Bank, Donegall Square branch (tall building in centre)

Northern Bank, Armoy branch

Samuel married Mary King at Raffrey Presbyterian Church on 13th October 1921.

Sadly, Mary Orr died aged 30 on 12th May 1924 at 35 Greenville Street, Bloomfield, Belfast.

Samuel married again in January 1927 to a Miss Elizabeth Bradley.

The Ballymena Weekly Telegraph published on 27th July 1945 a report that Mr & Mrs Samuel Orr, Northern Bank House, Armoy attended an investiture at Buckingham Place to receive from HM the King, the posthumous award of the George Medal to their son, Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Orr, RN (see below) who was killed near Dieppe (Le Treport) on 8th November 1944.

George Medal to Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Orr RN

The Belfast News Letter of 24th January 1946 reported the wedding of Miss Molly Orr, daughter of Mr & Mrs S Orr, Northern Bank House, Armoy.

Marriage of Miss Molly Orr

Marriage of Miss Molly Orr (Northern Whig)

Lucinda Orr, Samuel's mother died on 12th October 1950. The press notice quoted Samuel Orr as being the manager of Northern Bank, Holywood.

Northern Bank, Holywood branch (with gable windows)

Samuel Orr retired on pension on 31st October 1955.

Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Mervyn Orr, RNVR

Ronald Orr was educated at Belfast High School and Queen's University, Belfast.

Ronald Orr (22) 'Died of Wounds' on 8th November 1944 whilst serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the shore base HMS Odyssey. Personnel held on its accounts would have been involved in the clearing of recently captured enemy ports among other Combined Operations Duties.

 

Photo courtesy of j. n. houterman via Nigel Henderson

The Royal Navy Death Register records Cause of Death as "Syncope following laceration of left ventricle" and refers to Le Treport as the place of death.

He is buried in the 46 DIEPPE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, HAUTOT-SUR-MER, France.

On 13th March 1945, the London Gazette published his award details:

Awarded for Bomb/Mine Disposal - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36979/supplement/1381

The Ballymena Weekly Telegraph reported:

Ballymena Weekly Telegraph - 27th July 1945

Sub-Lieutenant R M Orr, GM, RNVR - CWGC Headstone details

Ronald Mervyn Orr is commemorated on a family memorial in Dundonald Cemetery, the only burial in the plot being Mary Orr, who died at 35 Greenville Street on 12th May 1924. This would be Samuel Orr's first wife - Samuel Orr (Bank Official) married Mary King on 13th October 1921 at Raffrey Presbyterian Church.

Headstone of Mary (Molly) Young nee Orr that also commemorates R M Orr

He is also commemorated on the following memorials:

• Ballynahinch War Memorial, 
• Queen's University War Memorial, 
• QUB Officers' Training Corps Memorial Tablet 
• Edengrove Presbyterian Church (Ballynahinch) Memorial Tablet

Acknowledgements to Nigel Henderson for information on R M Orr.