10 April 1941 (Thursday) – Belfast 1941 Blitz Diary

The Belfast Telegraph was filled with stories of the Blitz on 7/8 April. David Dixon, a former Great War veteran, was in bed with an incendiary came trough the roof. He picked it up and took it outside. He was ‘badly’ burned as he took it downstairs and threw it in the street. He said that he now had a bucket of water ready and some sand so he was ‘prepared for the future’.[1]

It also carried an in-depth account of the ‘downing’ of the German Heinkel during the raid. It was the 11th kill of the pilot who shot down the bomber.[2]

ABOUT

Between 7th April and 6th May 1941, four aerial bombing raids on Belfast killed over 900 people, injured 1,500 and damaged about half of the city’s homes. Thousands were made homeless and over 100,000 residents fled to the country. This period in Belfast’s history has become known as the Belfast Blitz. To mark the 81st anniversary, key events each day over the Blitz period are being retold here on this website and also on Twitter (@drtomstours).


[1] Belfast Telegraph, 10 April 1941, p.6.

[2] Belfast Telegraph, 10 April 1941, p.5.