On 6th December 1940 Portadown F.C. signed 6'1 centre-half Joe Rooney from @wolvesfc.bsky.social. He was based in Northern Ireland with 9th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. The following year he was a fatal casualty of the Belfast Blitz. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/brit...

Craftsman Cathcart of Greenock, Scotland welding using power from a lorry engine at 3 Non Divisional Engineers, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers base workshop at Gilford, Co. Down. Photo taken on 4th December 1942 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge. (IWM H 26098)

Exterior view of a converted motor coach serving as a Mobile Dental Unit at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. Photo taken on 3rd December 1943. (IWM H 34674)

2nd December is a big date in Belfast's ice hockey history... No, not the year 2000 when the Giants skated out. Way back in 1939, the city witnessed its first ever game on the King's Hall rink. More on the podcast: wartimeni.com/audio/episod...

A parachutist lands as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down. Photo taken on 1st December 1942 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge – War Office Photographer. (IWM H 25898)

No matter what the internet tells you, the Belfast Giants were NOT the first ice hockey team in Northern Ireland. On 30th November 1939, the Belfast Telegraph published the rules ahead of the first hockey game at the King's Hall rink. Here's an old ep. of the podcast. wartimeni.com/audio/episod...

The United States Army activated Depot O-621 at Pinetum Camp, Bangor, Co. Down on 29th November 1943. On that date, 944th Motor Vehicle Distributing Company under Captain Ewen J. Cameron (0275252) arrived from England with its own stock of around 60 vehicles. More: wartimeni.com/location/nor...

Aircraftman 2nd Class Samuel John Kerr of Portadown, Co. Armagh died on 26th November 1940 at a military hospital at R.A.F. Honington, Suffolk, England. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/roya...

Imperial War Museum Photo: (HU 110304) (Part of the Belfast Telegraph Collection) An Invasion Barge, aeroplane, and tug boat in Belfast Docks. Photo taken on 25th November 1942. Copyright Belfast Telegraph Photographer.

Pilot and Observer of a Bristol Blenheim long-range fighter of R.A.F. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron at R.A.F. Aldergrove, Co. Antrim. Photo taken on 19th November 1940. (IWM HU 107161)

Throughout the Second World War, Falls Road Public Baths served as an A.R.P. firewatching centre. In the aftermath of the Belfast Blitz, the baths became a temporary morgue. Among those volunteering was James Dowling. We recently received a copy of a letter naming James and giving more details.

Just finished this after picking it up recently in a charity shop. It's a beautifully written memoir of Irishman Peter Ross, Trinity College Dublin graduate, and post-war educator. 'All Valiant Dust' mainly deals with his time with 3 RTR from El Alamein to Market Garden. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ amzn.to/4r30oyo

Ongoing thread that may be of interest to @britwarmemorial.bsky.social

On 10th November 1942, Sergeant Hugh McManus of Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry died when Douglas Boston III Z2164 collided with another plane from the squadron. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/roya...

A few more sights at the Irish Military Museum in Co. Meath.

Lest we forget.

Cokes and smokes and trucks. United States forces are well represented at the Irish Military Museum in Co. Meath. Plenty of other Allied artefacts (plus a non-algorithm-friendly bunch of Axis stuff).

Great visit to the Irish Military Museum in Co. Meath for their Remembrance Weekend event today. Well worth visiting tomorrow from 10am-5pm. Plenty to see and experience, a chance to get hands on with history, and a very knowledgeable group including curator and collector William Sullivan.

Last night - 'Our Freedom Then And Now' with The Strand Belfast at Portview Trade Centre.

30 days of memorials part 1. Portadown, Co. Armagh. The bronze sculpted soldier’s helmet has fallen back, revealing his head. This denotes fortitude, courage, and sacrifice for his country. Both the angel and the soldier stand on a base of sandbags and a gas mask, which represent the battlefield.

Made a quick appearance on a livestream yesterday evening, something of a surprise last-minute call up from the bench. 'This Week in the Second World War' with Edmund O'Sullivan and Dr. Joseph Quinn is well worth an hour or so of your time every Tuesday. youtu.be/VV63B3LsQvI

Letters From The Blitz airs at 10.40pm on Thursday 30th October on BBC Northern Ireland. Available afterward on iPlayer. Made by DoubleBand Films, Letters From The Blitz uses the letters that Helen Ramsey Turtle, a young American mother living in Belfast, wrote to her family in Denver, Colorado.

Very privileged to play a small part in this documentary. Letters From The Blitz airs at 10.40pm on Thursday 30th October on BBC Northern Ireland. Available afterward on iPlayer.

One of our favourite books about the Belfast Blitz. "Vivid accounts bring the full horror of the Blitz to life" - Irish News. Buy it here: amzn.to/47lQtuK #BookWeekNI

On 22nd October 1941, Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge photographed Sergeant Major Twist of Belfast in her A.T.S. uniform. The Chief Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service Jean Knox commended Twist’s impeccable appearance, referring to her as: "The smartest woman in the A.T.S. in Britain.".

MIDNIGHT AGAIN A selection of the alert and animated letters that Helen Ramsey Turtle wrote back to her family in Denver, Colorado from Northern Ireland during the Second World War, edited by John Wilson Foster. Buy it here: amzn.to/47iELRw #BookWeekNI

What an enjoyable evening watching 'Letters from the Blitz'. It's always a pleasure listening to Julie Mackie talk about her mother, Helen Ramsey Turtle. Thanks to @ulstermuseum.org, BBC NI, and Book Week NI for hosting and a massive congrats to @doublebandfilms.bsky.social on a great documentary.

On 18th October 1945, Judge Mr. Justice Hallett presided at the Old Bailey in London. He found 32-year-old Charles Edward Cottrell “insane” and "unfit to plead". Cottrell had shot dead Belfast-born F/S Andrew Joy Welsh at Dohazari Airfield, Bangladesh. More info: wartimeni.com/profile/roya...

18th October 1943. Major General Llewellyn Isaac Gethin Morgan-Owen welcomes Major General Walter Melville Robertson and troops of U.S. Army 2nd (Indianhead) Infantry Division to Belfast. Note the "wet paint" sign as the docks were likely spruced up for the event. (📷: Imperial War Museum)

On 17th October 1941, an Anti-Tank Battery took part in a training exercise with the 'Battery H.Q.' at a rural farmhouse near Lislap House, Gortin, Co. Tyrone. (📷: IWM H 14682)

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Colonel in Chief, Royal Corps of Signals) takes the salute during a parade of members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service while inspecting 59th Division Signals in Northern Ireland. Photo taken on 16th October 1942 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge.

Lieutenant General H.E. Franklyn C.B., D.S.O., M.C. (G.O.C. B.T.N.I.) and Company Commander Captain Hedley Verity inspect B Company, 1st Battalion, The Green Howards at Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Photo taken on 15th October 1941 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge – War Office Photographer.

The first stop for Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and her attendant Miss Kenyon-Slaney on 14th October 1942 was Wallace Park, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. In her role as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Corps of Signals, she was a guest of Major General Majendie (G.O.C.N.I.) and Brigadier Hanson V.C.

On 13th October 1942, the Princess Royal arrived at Government House at Hillsborough Castle. During her short visit to Northern Ireland, she stayed as a guest of the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn. Each day spent in Ulster saw several visits to hospitals and military establishments.

Portrait of Lieutenant General Harold Edmund Franklyn C.B., D.S.O., M.C. (General Officer Commanding British Troops in Northern Ireland). Photo taken on 11th October 1941 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge – War Office Photographer. (📷: IWM H 14615)

Does anyone know where this happened? On 9th October 1943, Supermarine Spitfire V BM144 PK-O crash landed wheels up near Bangor, Co. Down. While on a routine training flight, pilot Sergeant Kazimierz Lojek force landed after the plane sustained engine trouble. More: wartimeni.com/article/avia...

A Royal Artillery Sergeant from a gun demonstration team explains the process of loading a 6-pounder Anti-Tank Gun to munition workers from a factory in Northern Ireland. Photo taken on 7th October 1943 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge – War Office Photographer. (📷: IWM H 33443)

Some North African campaign cartoons:

A despatch rider of No. 10 Motor Transport Company, Auxiliary Territorial Service at Drum House, Drumbeg, Co. Down. Photo taken on 26th September 1941 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge – War Office Photographer. IWM Photo: H 14291.

As an American Football aside, if I'd known of the @pittsburghsteeler.bsky.social connection to Newry, Co. Down, I'd definitely have talked more about the incredible 0-0 "Potato Bowl" played at Newry's soccer ground in 1944. More here: wartimeni.com/article/amer...

So @wartimeni.com thought you may like these higher res images of troops in NI, feel free to use them.

"An' nai on the U-TV..." On UTV Live this evening sometime between 1800-1830. Hear me stumble over the names Yarvard and Hale many times as we talk about the history of American Football on the island of Ireland.

Lance Corporal Ernest Lynas of Laurelvale, Co. Armagh served in 156th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. He died on 25th September 1944 aged 26 years old during Operation BERLIN, the evacuation across the Rhine toward Nijmegan following Operation MARKET GARDEN. More: wartimeni.com/profile/brit...

General Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski C.B.E., commander of 1st Independent Parachute Brigade at Arnhem, died in London on 25th September 1967. Find out more about the general, the mural in East Belfast, and listen to a podcast episode with his great-grandson here: wartimeni.com/location/nor...

IWM Photo: H 14281. Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service who contribute to the work of an Anti-Aircraft Battery visit the site to see how the guns work in Northern Ireland. Photo taken on 24th September 1941 by Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge – War Office Photographer.

Mrs. Mabel Carroll's relatives in Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone received some good news on 21st-22nd September 1939.

On 21st September 1943, a U.S. Army Air Force Photographer observed the training of members of 3rd C.C.R.C. at U.S.A.A.F. Station 236, Toome Airfield, Co. Antrim.

Remembering Private Harold J. Staats who died on 20th September 1942 having sustained a gunshot wound to the head while on sentry duty at a U.S. military barracks in Belfast. Read more on the link below: wartimeni.com/profile/unit...

On 19th September 1941, soldiers of South Wales Borderers and the North Irish Horse took part in an exercise that saw Valentine Tanks roll through Ballymena, Co. Antrim. (📷: IWM)

Ever heard of Exercise Judy? In September 1943, members of the British Army based in Northern Ireland conducted Exercise Judy, a large-scale operation based on lessons learned in Sicily. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/mili...