William McAlister

Bank: Ulster Bank

Place of work: Head Office, Belfast

Died: 9 September 1940

William Gordon McAlister was born on 16 September 1912, the son of Mr and Mrs James McAlister. He was educated at Belfast Royal Academy and joined the staff of Ulster Bank at its head office in Belfast in April 1932. Four months later he transferred to Aughuacloy branch, where he remained for three months until returning to head office in November 1932. Outside work he was a long-standing member of Malone Rugby Football Club, and became a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  

As a reservist, McAlister was called up for full-time service at the outbreak of war in September 1939. Sergeant McAlister was reported missing, and later presumed to have been killed, on 9 September 1940. He was 27 years old and left a widow, whom he had married in 1939.

William McAlister is commemorated on two memorials at Ulster Bank’s Belfast head office: its roll of honour for staff who served in the Second World War and its memorial for those who fell.