Belfast woke to find that it was now under aerial attack like so many British cities. For many it was quiet a novelty. The Belfast Telegraph reported that it was a ‘night of thrills’. It claimed there had been ‘hundreds’…
The first deliberate raid on Belfast took place. This is known as the dockside raid. Six Heinkel He 111 bombers, from Kampfgruppe 26, flying at 2,100 m. These bombers dropped three types of ordinance that would feature in the other…
At airfields in France, the Luftwaffe were planning an attack on Belfast. Reconnaissance missions had flown over Belfast since July 1940 over Belfast to identify targets for any potential raid. Belfast contained many important industrial and military targets: James Mackie…
In the Belfast Telegraph, it was announced that the Ulster Government had decided that ‘in the interests of the war effort’ that people should only take a short break over the Easter period (11 April was Good Friday).[1] Many doubted…
In the Belfast Telegraph and Northern Whig, letters appeared supporting Professor Theodore Thomson Flynn call for more volunteers to join the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) warden.[1] ‘Senior Warden’ in the Belfast Telegraph ARP warden should be exempt from fire watching as…
In 1941, the people of Belfast were subject to food rationing. The food supply was limited and the aim was to share it equally among everyone and ensure everyone remained as healthy as possible and contribute to the war effort.…
The newspapers reported that the Westminster Government attempt to open theatres on Sundays had been defeated.[1] It was also reported that two soldiers had been sent to prison for theft. Joseph Cunningham was sent sentenced for three years. Rifleman John…
On this day, the concerns of many Belfast citizens and their leaders were anywhere but the war. In the House of Commons, Reverend Dr James Little, MP for Down, opposed a government regulation that opened cinemas and places of entertainment for soldiers…
Elisabeth McCullough was a Belfast school girl aged 13 living in East Belfast. During 1941, she kept a diary of events. On 31 March 1941, she wrote a short entry: ‘Did lessons We sunk three Italian cruisers and two destroyers…
Life in Belfast continued for many as it had done for much of the interwar period. People went about their daily business without much regard for the war. Doreen Bates, a tax official, had moved to Belfast from London. Since…
