Just finished 'The Undefeated' by Bill Robertson. My grandfather spent more of the Second World War in P.O.W. camps than he did in his tank and this well-researched book has been invaluable in helping me understand this time. A must-read for anyone with an interest in this wartime history.

North Belfast sustained a great amount of damage during the Belfast Blitz. Among the most serious incidents was the bombing of Glenravel Street. The RUC Barracks took a direct hit from a High Explosive Bomb causing the deaths of 5 constables on 5th May 1941. Read more: wartimeni.com/location/nor...

Second World War era electrical substation building reused by a local farmer on the former Toome Airfield, Co. Antrim.

The faded grandeur of The Royal Hotel, Bangor, Co. Down. Once a hugely popular spot on the seafront, the upper floors were requisitioned by the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy during the Second World War.

I hope Ike got weather like this in 1944. It's a glorious afternoon down on The Eisenhower Pier in Bangor, Co. Down where the Supreme Allied Commander addressed the crews of vessels bound for Normandy in May 1944. "From here started the long hard march to Allied victory."

On 23rd April 1925, my grandfather Alexander Liggett, a weaver from Portadown, Co. Armagh enlisted in the British Army. His given age was 18 years and 3 days but in truth, he was a few days shy of his 16th birthday. He was born on 29th April 1909 and is shown back row, right hand side of the photo.

Lance Sergeant Thomas Pearson died on 28th April 1943 aged 30 years old during an attack on Djebel Bou Aoukaz. An enemy combatant manning the turret of an armoured personnel carrier gunned down the 6’2 Glentoran F.C. goalkeeper. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/brit...

Born on 27th April 1925, Seaman 1st Class Henry Elnathan "Nathan" Beckwith survived the crash of a U.S. Navy Liberator off the Irish coast but died on board a life raft before coming ashore. He was buried at Lisnabreeny American Military Cemetery, Belfast. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/unit...

Despite Grey Point Fort being seemingly closed to the public again, I did manage to fire off a few quick shots over the perimeter wall.

Despite what the internet may tell you, Grey Point Fort seemingly is NOT open to the public from 10am - 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. A lot of misinformation about and a few befuddled looking tourists here too...

Folcadain na bhFal - Suiomhe marbhlainne. The Falls Baths - Mortuary site. To my knowledge, this is the only Belfast Blitz commemorative plaque written in Irish.

On 23rd April 1941, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester completed a short visit to Ulster. During the trip he visited bombed out areas of Belfast that had some under attack the previous week. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/roya...

Local residents go about their day among the bomb damage at the junction of Hillman with Antrim Road, Belfast. Photo taken by Ministry of Public Security Records of the Cabinet Secretariat on 19th April 1941. (📷: PRONI)

If it's the guy I'm thinking of it will be Arthur Johnson the first recognised World Title holder of African Descent. The "Wild man from Borneo!" Who was of course born in Paddington. wrestlingheritage.co.uk/black-butche...

Those who follow wrestling will know this weekend is Wrestlemania, the biggest event of the year. 85 years ago, just before the Luftwaffe raid on Belfast, promoter Dan Joseph was packing Peters Hill with his show. Twenty four hours later things would look very different. @oispooky.bsky.social

A few photos from 10 years ago when survivors of the Belfast Blitz attended a commemorative event with the city's Lord Mayor. The unveiling of the plaque which notes the use of St. George's Market as a temporary mortuary during the Blitz marked the 75th anniversary of the Luftwaffe raids.

If you want to hear more about the Belfast Blitz, I'll be joining James O'Neill from Northern Ireland War Memorial live on 'This Week In The Second World War' this evening at 6.00pm. We'll be talking all things Blitz and maybe busting a few myths. Tune in here: www.youtube.com/live/s_XiIfs...

Here's a rarely seen artefact, particularly relevant on the 85th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz. These "scrapbooks" packed with handwritten messages from A.R.P. Wardens and other civil defence services tell the story of both the Easter Raid and the Fire Raid. Held by The Linen Hall Library.

On the night of 15th-16th April 1941, the Luftwaffe attacked Northern Ireland causing deaths in the coastal town of Bangor, Co. Down as well as in Belfast city. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/belf...

Remembering those killed on the first night of the Belfast Blitz, 85 years ago on 7th-8th April 1941. On 7th-8th April 1941, the Luftwaffe attacked the city of Belfast causing the deaths of a relatively low number of casualties mainly in the docks and shipyards. More: wartimeni.com/article/belf...

At 0800hrs on 3rd April 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton inspected 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Derrygally House, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. In the rain, Patton complimented Colonel Marz on the camp and the battle-readiness of the unit. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/gene...

The Belfast Blitz: Luftwaffe raids in Northern Ireland, 1941 Sean McMahon's look at the four Luftwaffe air raids on Northern Ireland in 1941 is a concise read offering a different perspective on the events. Buy via link below: beta.wartimeni.com/article/belf...

An important read on International Transgender Day of Visibility. For “Irene Joy” read “Jonathan”... for “female” read “male”. Corrected on the 7th Jan. 1958 by me J.E. Bell, Supt. Registrar on production of a statutory declaration made by J.R. Ferguson, mother. More: wartimeni.com/profile/air-...

Lieutenant General George S. Patton in Northern Ireland on 31st March 1944. Read more here: wartimeni.com/article/gene...

Next month marks the 85th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz. If you've got a question you've always wanted to ask or a story you need to tell, get in touch.

That's interesting. I just took this photo today in my city Halifax, Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁❤️

The 8-foot high bronze International Sailor Statue at Ebrington Square, Derry~Londonderry was unveiled in 2013. It's a replica of a monument in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Both commemorate young seamen who served in Allied navies securing vital convoy routes during the Battle of the Atlantic.

A wee cuppa? A post from The Longest Yarn showing the arrival of U.S. Army GIs to Belfast in 1942. This work of art was entirely created over hundreds of hours by local women and now takes pride of place as the exhibition travels the world. Lots more photos from the exhibition over on Instagram.

Sergeant Vincent Kane of Portadown, Co. Armagh served in the Royal Artillery and saw action at Dunkirk and in Normandy before dying in Northern Ireland on 18th March 1946. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/brit...

"Her Majesty the Queen is pleased to order that in future on Saint Patrick’s Day all ranks in Her Majesty’s Irish regiments shall wear as a distinction a sprig of shamrock in their head-dress" - 14th March 1900. Find out more about the wearing of the green: wartimeni.com/article/st-p...

On 12th March 1941, the traditional presentation of the shamrock to a battalion of Royal Irish Fusiliers took place at Abercorn Barracks, Ballykinler, Co. Down. Meanwhile soldiers demonstrated the right and wrong things to do in a spray gas attack. Photos here: wartimeni.com/article/on-t...

Well-known broadcaster Arthur Marshall and officers of British Troops in Northern Ireland (B.T.N.I.) pose for a photograph for the ‘Dig For Victory’ campaign on 11th March 1941. 📷 IWM H 8055.

Petty Officer Matthew Thomas Archer died as a result of the sinking of merchant vessel S.S. Empire Impala in 1943. His name is on the Portadown War Memorial. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/merc...

It's the final week of #SixNations rugby, and we're looking at the Hewitt family. Siblings Tom, Frank and Victor represented Ireland and their youngest brother also showed promise. Norman Hewitt died on 9th March 1943 serving in Tunisia with North Irish Horse. More: wartimeni.com/profile/brit...

Wren Rebecca McCabe served at H.M.S. Caroline, Belfast from 1942-1944 before moving to the Signals Distribution Office in the run-up to D-Day. #InternationalWomensDay Read more: archives.wartimeni.com/person/rebec...

In 1941, Staff Sergeant Major Mabel Kathleen Twist of Belfast was named by Chief Controller Jean Knox as "the smartest woman in the A.T.S." #InternationalWomensDay Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/auxi...

Born in Whitehead, Co. Antrim, Mabel Glass was a pioneering aviator, competing in races and serving in the Air Transport Auxiliary alongside Amy Johnson. #InternationalWomensDay Read more: archives.wartimeni.com/person/mabel...

On 6th March 1944, U.S. soldier Private Wiley Harris Jr. and Harry Coogan argued in Earl Street, Belfast. Harris unsheathed a knife with fatal consequences. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/murd...

Lieutenant Edward Victory Polley of Belfast served in Royal Canadian Engineers. He died as a result of a motorcycle crash while on manoeuvres in the UK in 1943. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/cana...

On 2nd March 1942, the second contingent of American Forces arrives at Belfast Docks in Northern Ireland. This event, which brought a larger number of troops ashore, was free from the pomp and grandeur of the earlier arrival of soldiers in January 1942. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/seco...

Several seafaring men with connections to Northern Ireland died on S.S. Cadillac as the British merchant tanker came under torpedo attack on 1st March 1941. Read more: wartimeni.com/profile/merc...

On 28th February 1944, the G.O.C Northern Ireland and the Prime Minister observed the testing of American waterproofed vehicles at Lady's Bay, Lough Neagh. More photos from IWM here: wartimeni.com/article/on-t...

On 24th February 1946, a Douglas Dakota plane touched down on an airfield in Northern Ireland. Onboard were 25 Jewish refugees, survivors of Nazi persecution. Two more flights would arrive over the following days. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/kind...

On 22nd February 1941, a Belfast Telegraph photographer joined the crew on board a Royal Navy vessel as they undertook a convoy patrol in the North Atlantic. (📷: IWM)

On 20th February 1943, a host of dignitaries gathered at a large military parade in front of Belfast City Hall to mark the 25th anniversary of Red Army Day. (📷: IWM) More photos here: wartimeni.com/article/on-t...

Accidents occurred during training exercises in Northern Ireland. In a single week in February 1944, the U.S. Army lost 5 soldiers in such tragic circumstances. Read more: wartimeni.com/article/us-e...

The @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social is 100% correct here. These AI images are damaging history and they are a very real threat to the history of the #Holocaust.

On 18th February 1943, 2/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers underwent 'toughening up' around Newry, Co. Down as part of 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division. 📷: IWM More photos here: wartimeni.com/article/on-t...

Mr. John G. Winant (United States Ambassador for Britain) visited parts of Northern Ireland on 17th-18th February 1942, inspecting U.S. Army troops and camps. Watch the video and read the article here: wartimeni.com/article/unit...

On 16th February 1943, 72nd Independent Infantry Brigade trained in Co. Down using a raft of iron and waterproofing to cross Corbet Lough carrying vehicles. (📷: IWM H 27276) More photos here: wartimeni.com/location/nor...