麻豆官网首页入口

During the war years I lived in Thirlmere Gardens between the Antrim and Cavehill roads in Belfast.

War was declared on the 3rd September 1939 and I recall listening to the radio when Neville Chamberlain the PM told us that we were at war with Germany. At the age of twelve the significance of such a momentous event was not appreciated, however to many adults who had lived though the first World War it was a disaster. One must remember that it was only twenty years since the end of that war.

During the first years of the war 鈥渢he phoney war鈥� life continued much as normal, other than having to cope with the blackout, petrol rationing and a few other shortages. During this period one followed the course of the war though reading newspapers and listening to the radio. Nothing much happened in France. The main event was the naval battle in the South Atlantic when the Graf Spee, the German battleship was sunk.

It was a time when many friendships were made as people did not move far from their own area. Thirlmere was a quiet avenue and I got to know most of the residents mainly due to my weekly door to door sale of savings stamps. From what I recollect the stamps cost one shilling each. I was also a member of the Boys Brigade and the local youth guild. The guild was a great centre to meet other boys and girls.

From 1937 I attended school at Belfast Royal Academy on the Cliftonville road. I took part in most sports however, rugby and cricket were paramount. I cannot recall that during the war years the playing of games was restricted I still travelled to other schools mainly on Saturdays to fulfil fixtures.

At the school the only outward signs of the war were the construction of air raid shelters and the placing of the Barrage balloon 鈥楤ella鈥� in the playground beside the school. Whether 鈥楤ella鈥� had any affect on the defence of Belfast during the Blitz is doubtful. It was however responsible for damaging the stone gable to the school when the connecting wire was caught by the wind.

I can recall the two Blitz鈥檚 in the spring of 1941. The first destroyed a large area of the city centre and areas in north and east Belfast. At the time we had no air raid shelter in the house so we sheltered under the stairs as we were told it was the safest place. The noise of the bombs exploding and the anti-aircraft gun fire from the batteries at the end of Sunningdale Park was horrendous. The sky across the city was lit up in a red glow by the furious fires started by the many incendiary bombs.

We left Belfast after the first Blitz to stay with friends in Ballymoney only to return in time for the second. That night a landmine exploded in Sunningdale Park off the Cavehill road killing a number of residents. It also blew out the windows in the rear of our house.

In the morning I cycled to school 鈥淲hat a sight鈥� at the top of Duncairn Gardens the road was covered in thick mud thrown up by a landmine which had exploded demolishing many houses in the area. I remember the parachute from the landmine hanging from the tram wires. Many people were killed in the area including those sheltering in an air raid shelter at Cliftonville circus. On reaching school I think there were only about eighty pupils in attendance. The only damage to the school luckily was broken windows. St James church adjoining the school was completely destroyed with the exception of the spire.

Apart from the social life already mentioned my friends and I would take our bicycles up to the Belfast Castle grounds where we made a race track and spent many happy hours in these lovely surroundings. On many occasions we would be able to see war ships coming and going from the Belfast harbour including aircraft carriers. We also enjoyed the lovely sight of the Sunderland flying boats landing on the Lough or taking off from the aircraft factory Short Brothers after their construction.

I have a very vivid memory of V.E. day in Belfast. School closed early so I and a few friends made for the city centre. The crowds were enormous filling the streets around the city hall and Donegal place. Although I was almost eighteen years of age I had never been in a public bar, my friends however appeared to have had some experience in frequenting such premises, so I followed them into the Castle bar beside the Classic cinema. My inexperience quickly revealed itself as I had not the slightest idea what type of drink to ask for. I can assure you this problem has not arisen since.

I suppose I could go on and on recalling events and anecdotes as one recollection triggers off another. I hope some of these thoughts will be of interest.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.