A Wee Bit Of War

Towards the end of the Second World War, German soldiers, seamen, and airmen landed in Northern Ireland. Safely held as prisoners of war in Allied hands, these men - and a few women - spent time in camps across Ulster. Initially, a fraternisation ban kept prisoners well away from locals but some friendships formed. In more recent years, locals spoke fondly of the Germans and their time in Northern Ireland. In this episode, you'll hear of tragic accidents, Nazi ceremonies, and even the odd daring escape.

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Life changed dramatically across society in the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland during the Second World War. While homosexuality was illegal for men at the time, the British Army often turned a blind eye to same-sex activity during the recruitment process. In later life, many veterans in the LGBTQ community spoke openly about their sexuality. To mark Pride week in Belfast, we spoke to Michael Fryer of Northern Ireland War Memorial to dive deeper into some of these stories.

Michael Fryer writing on Bad Companions on NI War Memorial:

https://www.niwarmemorial.org/collections/blog/queer-life-during-the-second-world-war-1

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On 19th June 1942, the United States Army activated 1st U.S. Ranger Battalion at Sunnylands Camp in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. In this episode, knowledgeable tour guide Adrian Hack joins us to talk about this and many other aspects of wartime Carrickfergus. Expect to hear stories of fearless commando-style training, football or soccer, and feasting on rabbit brains. There's always something happening in wartime Northern Ireland.

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On 1st June 1941, the government of the United Kingdom began rationing clothing. As with many events throughout the Second World War, the reality in Northern Ireland was a little different to that of Great Britain. Historian Rachel Sayers joined us to share her passion for 20th-century Irish dress, to talk about women in uniform, GIs and their nylon stockings, and all things fashionable in wartime Northern Ireland.

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In 2016, a mural depicting Polish forces focusing on their role during the Second World War appeared in East Belfast. Among those featured in the mural was General Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski C.B.E. The general led the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. His great-grandson Professor Hal Sosabowski kindly joined us to tell more of the story.

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The diaries of Doreen Bates are a wonderful insight into life during the Belfast Blitz. Author Lucy Caldwell drew on Miss Bates' wonderful writings for her own recently released novel 'These Days'. Dr. Margaret Esiri is the daughter of Doreen Bates, who along with her twin brother first published a section of the diaries in 2016. Here, they talk about Doreen, her diaries, and life during the Belfast Blitz of 1941.

Buy 'These Days' by Lucy Caldwell [Bookshop.org Affiliate Link]

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10130/9780571371303

Buy 'Diary of a Wartime Affair: The True Story of a Surprisingly Modern Romance' [Amazon Affiliate Link]

https://amzn.to/3LuiF2k

Buy 'Belfast Blitz: The People's Story' by Stephen Douds [Amazon Affiliate Link]

https://amzn.to/396BGts

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There have been many stories told of the Belfast Blitz. When the Luftwaffe attacked Northern Ireland in April and May 1941, the women of Belfast were on hand to witness. This episode tells the stories of Civil Servant Doreen Bates, Health Visitor Moya Woodside, and V.A.D. Commandant Emma Duffin. This is their narrative of a turbulent time in wartime Belfast. Part 2/2 of a Women's History Month Special.

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There have been many stories told of the Belfast Blitz. When the Luftwaffe attacked Northern Ireland in April and May 1941, the women of Belfast were on hand to witness. This episode tells the stories of Civil Servant Doreen Bates, Health Visitor Moya Woodside, and V.A.D. Commandant Emma Duffin. This is their narrative of a turbulent time in wartime Belfast. Part 1/2 of a Women's History Month Special.

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Dr. Simon Topping (University of Plymouth) is a historian and author of 'Northern Ireland, the United States, and the Second World War' (Bloomsbury). He has researched and written extensively on segregated units of the U.S. Army, looking in particular at the time spent in Ulster by black GIs during the Second World War. A Black History Month special.

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Rachel Levy is an inspirational woman. Born in the former Czechoslovakia, she survived the horrors of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Eventually, she and her brother came to Northern Ireland as refugees where they enjoyed a new life on the safe haven of a Resettlement Farm in Millisle, Co. Down. This is her story.

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