ULSTER'S HOME FRONT
My review of Joe Baker’s new booklet, Belfast in the 1940’s in July’s Carrick Biz really captured the imagination of Carrick Biz readers. It brought one of my biggest postbags ever. Most writers wanted to know where they could get hold of a copy of this superbly illustrated booklet. Well, good news folks! You can get hold of a copy at Bargain Books in CastleCourt or directly from the publisher, Glenravel Publications in the Ashton Centre, Churchill Street, Belfast.
This amazing response suggests that a lot of people are still fascinated by life in Belfast and Northern Ireland during the Second World War, whether they lived through it themselves or heard their parents’ or grandparents’ wartime stories. I’m sure that most of these people would be interested to visit the little known Northern Ireland War Memorial Home Front Exhibition. This can be found in Talbot street close to St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast city centre.
The most striking feature of this new permanent exhibition space is a magnificent stained glass window. This records the sacrifice made by the people of Ulster in two world wars. Within the window a bronze relief commemorates the thousand souls who perished in the Blitz, 745 of whom died in the 1941 Easter Tuesday raid.
The exhibition has four main themes: the 1941 Blitz; Women of Ulster; the Ulster Home Guard and the American presence. For each theme, a little tableau has been created: an ARP warden clearing up after an air raid; a Women’s Voluntary Service member doling out tea; two Home Guard volunteers on exercise and an American GI’s salute copied by a cheeky young schoolboy.
The role of American soldiers in Ulster is especially interesting. The first US troops to land in Europe disembarked at Dufferin Dock in Belfast in January 1942. In the run-up to D-Day in 1944 over 120,000 US servicemen were stationed in Northern Ireland despite protests from Eamon DeValera. Quite a few of these were stationed in Carrickfergus.
Just after the war General Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe, stated that. “From here started the long march to Allied victory. Without Northern Ireland, I do not see how the American forces could have been concentrated to begin the invasion of Europe.”
The first GI officially to set foot in Europe in World War II was Private First Class, 34th Infantryman Milburn H Henke from Hutchinson, Minnesota, when he stepped off the boat at Dufferin Dock. His uniform badges are on display in the exhibition.
The role of women in the Second World War is often under appreciated. In fact, 120,000 women played a vital part in the war effort. Four thousand women made shells, ammunition and bomb components in Mackies factory. In the textile factories, women made uniforms, parachutes and camouflage nets for the armed forces.
Women served in the Civil Defence to support the ARP wardens. My mother was one of these women. Many other women joined auxiliary services in support of the regular army, navy and air force. I had an aunt who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. This fine exhibition recalls these largely unsung heroines.
The NIWM exhibition is not just another museum but a living memorial to all those who died in the war at home or abroad. A black granite memorial stone and books of remembrance record their names. A scrolling screen identifies all the victims of the Blitz by name and address.
The permanent Home Front exhibition is only one part of the work of the Northern Ireland War Memorial. It also runs a comprehensive schools programme with slideshows, games, quizzes and short films. A similar outreach programme is aimed community groups. Bona-fide researchers can also seek accrss to the NIWM archive. This contains hundreds of photographs, diaries, scrapbooks and contemporary items. A lot of these items are currently being digitally catalogued. Check out www.niwarmemorial.org to read a digital copy of the GI’s Guide to Northern Ireland.
The Home Front exhibition is open from Monday to Friday between 10:00AM and 4:30PM.
Phone 028 9032 0392 or email info@niwarmemal.org for more details.
This amazing response suggests that a lot of people are still fascinated by life in Belfast and Northern Ireland during the Second World War, whether they lived through it themselves or heard their parents’ or grandparents’ wartime stories. I’m sure that most of these people would be interested to visit the little known Northern Ireland War Memorial Home Front Exhibition. This can be found in Talbot street close to St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast city centre.
The most striking feature of this new permanent exhibition space is a magnificent stained glass window. This records the sacrifice made by the people of Ulster in two world wars. Within the window a bronze relief commemorates the thousand souls who perished in the Blitz, 745 of whom died in the 1941 Easter Tuesday raid.
The exhibition has four main themes: the 1941 Blitz; Women of Ulster; the Ulster Home Guard and the American presence. For each theme, a little tableau has been created: an ARP warden clearing up after an air raid; a Women’s Voluntary Service member doling out tea; two Home Guard volunteers on exercise and an American GI’s salute copied by a cheeky young schoolboy.
The role of American soldiers in Ulster is especially interesting. The first US troops to land in Europe disembarked at Dufferin Dock in Belfast in January 1942. In the run-up to D-Day in 1944 over 120,000 US servicemen were stationed in Northern Ireland despite protests from Eamon DeValera. Quite a few of these were stationed in Carrickfergus.
Just after the war General Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe, stated that. “From here started the long march to Allied victory. Without Northern Ireland, I do not see how the American forces could have been concentrated to begin the invasion of Europe.”
The first GI officially to set foot in Europe in World War II was Private First Class, 34th Infantryman Milburn H Henke from Hutchinson, Minnesota, when he stepped off the boat at Dufferin Dock. His uniform badges are on display in the exhibition.
The role of women in the Second World War is often under appreciated. In fact, 120,000 women played a vital part in the war effort. Four thousand women made shells, ammunition and bomb components in Mackies factory. In the textile factories, women made uniforms, parachutes and camouflage nets for the armed forces.
Women served in the Civil Defence to support the ARP wardens. My mother was one of these women. Many other women joined auxiliary services in support of the regular army, navy and air force. I had an aunt who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. This fine exhibition recalls these largely unsung heroines.
The NIWM exhibition is not just another museum but a living memorial to all those who died in the war at home or abroad. A black granite memorial stone and books of remembrance record their names. A scrolling screen identifies all the victims of the Blitz by name and address.
The permanent Home Front exhibition is only one part of the work of the Northern Ireland War Memorial. It also runs a comprehensive schools programme with slideshows, games, quizzes and short films. A similar outreach programme is aimed community groups. Bona-fide researchers can also seek accrss to the NIWM archive. This contains hundreds of photographs, diaries, scrapbooks and contemporary items. A lot of these items are currently being digitally catalogued. Check out www.niwarmemorial.org to read a digital copy of the GI’s Guide to Northern Ireland.
The Home Front exhibition is open from Monday to Friday between 10:00AM and 4:30PM.
Phone 028 9032 0392 or email info@niwarmemal.org for more details.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: ULSTER'S HOME FRONT.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.thecarrick.biz/kerrscorner/mt-tb.cgi/125
Leave a comment