One feature of the Blitz of 1940-41 reported in popular memory was the idea of ‘Blitz Spirit’. The people of Britain reacted to the German bombing of their cities by demonstrating a spirit that united communities in an altruistic effort…

Medical professionals feared there was a considerable risk of disease in Belfast after the Blitz. Dead bodies, especially of animals and domestic pets, as well as damaged water mains that were polluted by sewerage posed a risk to health. Dr…

Many people in Belfast were suffering mental anguish as a result of the raids. William McCready was shaken by the sights of devastation and damage around him. He recalled that he ‘was very fatigued and depressed at this time. I…

Emma Duffin had been at St Georges’ Market on 19 April 1941 (see 20th April 2022 post) to help with the identification of the dead. While she had been there she had ‘heard the voice of a woman in my…

The city was returning to ‘normal’. The front of the Belfast Newsletter for the 24 April shows how the city was ‘getting back to work’ after the shock of the 15/16 April raid. There were a large number of vacancies…

Belfast was still coping with the aftermath of the raid. Emergency food was provided to the population. On 16 April, 70,000 meals were produced and by 21 April this had fallen to 10,000.[1] Also, much of Belfast had been untouched…

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester toured severely damaged areas of Belfast. The Northern Whig believed some people had fled ‘more likely to selfishness than fear’ but thought that people should ‘press on, stimulated by our Royal visitors, to get…

On 21st April, unidentified bodies of those people killed during the 15/6 April raid were buried in mass graves in Belfast City Cemetery and Milltown Cemetery. Protestants were buried in the former and Catholics in the latter. The memorial in…

Emma Duffin was Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) commandant of the Stranmillis Military Hospital. The VAD was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire.[1] Duffin had been…

The Belfast Telegraph reported that ‘dangerous’ animals at the zoo had been destroyed to protect the public in the event of bomb damage to their enclosures that may permit their escape. In all 33 animals were put down including a…