Northern Ireland During WW2
 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                        

 Winston Churchill   

Text Box:   May 1914                    

  

Text Box: During the war some 150,000 men and women from both the  north and south of Ireland fought side by side in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. All of them were volunteers, and some 10,000 never returned. At home thousands of men and women joined the Civil Defence services. Industry also rallied behind the war effort building warships, bombers and other military vessels. The people paid heavily for their loyalty to the Allied cause.  In the space of a month in 1941 Belfast suffered three devastating air raids. On Easter Tuesday 745 men , women and children were killed, the highest causualties in any one raid outside London   Text Box: The Curiosity Club at Carrickfergus College have been finding out about life in Northern Ireland during the Second World War.  As part of our research we interviewed Mr Montgomery who witnessed the war unfold as a young boy growing up in Belfast. We also found out what life was like for others by visiting www.secondworldwarni.org We have enjoyed investigating what it was like to live during the war, and hope that you will find out some interesting facts too!

On 'Victory in Europe day'  on the 8th May 1945 huge crowds thronged the square in front of Buckingham Palace.The Royal family appeared on the balcony alongside Winston Churchill.  It was very uncommon for a 'commoner', even someone as well known as Churchill , to be on the balcony! The king stepped back and allowed Churchill to stand in the centre of the group and take his place as 'the man who won the war for Britain.'