Northern Ireland

80th anniversary of Belfast Blitz is still within living memory, but it won’t be for long

The Northern Ireland War Memorial museum in Talbot Street, Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
The Northern Ireland War Memorial museum in Talbot Street, Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann The Northern Ireland War Memorial museum in Talbot Street, Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

THE 80th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz marks a moment that is still within living memory.

In a bid to provide an enduring memorial to the people who lost their lives, the Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) has been expanding its collection of material.

Through its museum on Talbot Street in Belfast, it tells the story of the north during the Second World War as well as maintaining various memorials to those who died.

But as the milestone has approached, Jenny Haslett, manager of the from NIWM, said they were "very aware of this limited time to commemorate it with the people who experienced it and acknowledge what they went through".

"This year marks the 80th anniversary of this defining moment in the history of Belfast city," she said.

"Almost 1,000 people, mainly civilians, lost their lives in the four German air raids on the city in 1941 and the scars on buildings and streets can still be seen today.

"Trauma and personal loss are still felt by those who lived through it and remembered by those who have heard stories about relatives who were killed.

"The 80th anniversary marks a moment when the Belfast Blitz is still within living memory, but it won’t be for long.

"As a museum we are very aware of this limited time to commemorate it with the people who experienced it and acknowledge what they went through.

"We're also conscious that we have a limited window to record their first-hand accounts.

"We will commemorate the anniversary online and in small and socially distanced ways this year, and we continue to interview people who lived through the war years for our ongoing oral history programme, The War and Me.

"Their stories feed directly into our museum programmes and learning resources."

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, a number of events have been organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary.

On April 15 and 16, wreaths will be laid in memory of those who died in the German air raids in 1941.

Floral tributes will be placed on the mass graves in Milltown and City Cemetery on April 15 and on the Blitz memorials within the museum on April 16.

A piper from Campbell College Combined Cadet Force will perform at the graveside commemoration - a fitting tribute given the loss of 24 lives at Campbell College, a former military hospital hit by high explosives during the air raids.

The commemorations will be available to view online on April 16.

The museum has been working with Queen's University to digitally map information relating to the Blitz.

'Mapping the Blitz' is based on an original Stadt Plan Von Belfast that identifies Luftwaffe targets in Belfast, Derry, Newtownards and Bangor. It looks at bomb locations, site damage and other historical information.

It will create an interactive web map that will be freely available online to help facilitate a deeper understanding of the Luftwaffe raids.

Other events planned to mark the anniversary include an online 'Blitz 80 Lecture Series' in partnership with PRONI, exploring the Blitz and showcasing archives and artefacts.

Among the topics to be discussed will be Belfast’s experience and looking at archive images, film and first-hand accounts.

A Belfast Blitz Cathedral Quarter walking tour will also see participants guided along a one-hour route, while listening to audio recordings revealing how the area was devastated in the air raids.

Ms Haslett said they also work with care homes and community groups who would normally visit the museum "through virtual workshops and a loan box scheme".

"Our Blitz 80 reminiscence packs are designed to allow older people to engage with the story of the Blitz at a time when they can’t visit museums and memorials due to the ongoing pandemic," she said.

"They have been designed for use with people of various ages and are ideal for connecting people with the past and creating conversations about life."

Please visit niwarmemorial.org for information.