A Wee Bit Of War: Recent Episodes
Scott Edgar of WartimeNI
Hello and welcome to 'A Wee Bit Of War', a podcast dedicated to telling the stories of Northern Ireland during the Second World War. I'm your host Scott Edgar. I have been researching the history of the Second World War in Northern Ireland for over a decade. I run the online platform https://wartimeni.com (WartimeNI), which features hundreds of articles as well as over 2,000 people and places with stories connected to the time. While some stories such as the Belfast Blitz and the arrival of the American GIs are often recounted, others remain unknown and untold. in 'A Wee Bit Of War', we'll cover everything from the peaceful Phoney War days of 1939 through to V.E. Day Celebrations and the surrender of the U-Boats in 1945.
We will be interviewing a range of guests on the show including authors, academics, historians, and family members with stories to tell. There is much more to the story of the Second World War in Northern Ireland than just military history. You can expect social history, women's history, black history, queer history... If it's got a good story, we'll be covering it.
A Wee Bit Of War returns for a second series. We've recently returned from We Have Ways Fest, where we met lots of new friends and answered lots of questions about the Second World War in Northern Ireland. After twenty episodes of the podcast, we thought it was now time to answer some of our most frequently asked queries. So, here is an overview of wartime life in Ulster including life during the Belfast Blitz, American GIs, the on and off-pitch heroics of Paddy Mayne, and H.M.S. Caroline.
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Everyone remembers when the Belfast Giants brought ice hockey to Northern Ireland in the year 2000. But is everyone mistaken? Ice hockey had been played in Ulster since the Second World War. In 1939, Canadian Arnold "Duke" Brockman, manager of the Belfast Ice Rink at the King's Hall established a league. Harlandic Wolves, Short and Harland Raiders, Balmoral Tigers, and Thornton Wasps did battle on the ice as German forces swept across Europe and fears of invasion grew in the U.K.
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Their Finest Hour is a project run by the University of Oxford. It seeks to record the history of the Second World War using items and artifacts from the time as well as oral histories. On 17th June 2023, Their Finest Hour in partnership with The Linen Hall will hold a Digital Collection Day in Belfast. We caught up with Dr. Joseph Quinn to talk about the project, his hopes for the Belfast event, and to take a look at some of the intricacies and nuances that made the Second World War a different story in Ulster.
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Register for Their Finest Hour at The Linen Hall
https://www.linenhall.com/event/their-finest-hour/
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At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino.
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Glentoran Football Club in East Belfast is a team and a community steeped in history. Throughout the Second World War, players such a goalkeeper Big Tom Pearson went on to serve. Sam Robinson joined us to mark the 80th anniversary of Pearson's death shortly after he received the Military Medal with the Irish Guards in Tunisia. Sam also taked us through the fateful events of 4th-5th May 1941 as Luftwaffe bombs destroyed the club's ground, The Oval in the Fire Raid of the Belfast Blitz.
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At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino.
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Throughout the Second World War, many of the big houses of Northern Ireland as well as other properties saw used for training centres, military bases, hospitals, and more... Today, many lie in ruins. Rebecca Brownlie is a photographer and the author of a new book 'Abandoned Ireland'. In this episode, Rebecca will guide us through the stories of some of Ulster's abandoned Second World War heritage, diving into the histories of some places and looking to the future of others.
Follow Abandoned N.I. on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AbandonedNi/
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Follow Abandoned N.I. on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/abandonedni/
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At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino.
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By now, more people in Northern Ireland are aware of the Kindertransport and the resettlement farm at Millisle, Co. Down, and the vital role it played before, during, and after the Second World War. In the lead-up to Holocaust Memorial Day 2023, we talked to Dr. Christine Schmidt of the Wiener Holocaust Library about the role played by Northern Ireland at this time, the wealth of material in the Arolsen Archives, and the vital ongoing work of the library in the 21st century.
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Discover the work of the Wiener Holocaust Library:
https://wienerholocaustlibrary.org
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Explore the resources in the Arolsen Archives:
https://arolsen-archives.org/en/
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Find out more information on the Refugee Map:
https://www.refugeemap.org/
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Uncover Holocaust stories on the UK Holocaust Map:
https://www.ukholocaustmap.org.uk/
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Read first-hand accounts from survivors:
https://testifyingtothetruth.co.uk/
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To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/
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At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino.
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Brian Desmond Hurst was an acclaimed film maker born in Befast. Having served in The Great War, he emigrated, studied art, and learnt the art of filmmaking under the wing of John Ford. Throughout the Second World War, Hurst made many documentaries and movies including the beautiful 'A Letter From Ulster' in 1942. Allan Esler Smith, curator of the Brian Desmond Hurst estate joined us to talk about the archives, Hurst's early life, and a handful of those wartime epics.
Archival film audio: Copyright Quartertoten Productions.
Used with kind permission of the Brian Desmond Hurst Estate.
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Find out more about Brian Desmond Hurst and his wartime filmmaking:
https://www.facebook.com/briandesmondhurstlegacy
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At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino.
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Lorna Quin hails from Tandragee, Co. Armagh. She's a retired primary school teacher, and someone drawn to the stories of the Second World War since her childhood. Last year, Lorna released a book of real-life stories gathered from people across Northern Ireland who recall wartime life. Just in time for Christmas 2022, the second volume is ready to go with another 25 tales of life in wartime Ulster, 'The Emergency' in Éire, and a childhood under the Nazis in Austria. Join us for a wee bit of war...
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Find out more about Lorna Quin and the second volume of Yes, We Have No Bananas:
https://www.facebook.com/lorna.quin.1/
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At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino.
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Dr. James O'Neill has literally put Northern Ireland's Second World War Defence Heritage on the map. The map in question is the Department for Communities' Historic Environment Map, and thanks to Jim's dedication, it features thousands of sites of interest. From The Great War, through to The Troubles, all defence heritage is available on the map but the lion's share of sites date from 1939-1945. Jim kindly joined us on this episode for a whistlestop tour of airfields, pillboxes, radar sites, stoplines, and lovely big concrete slabs.
You can view the Department for Communities' Historic Environment Map here: https://dfcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6887ca0873b446e39d2f82c80c8a9337 ========== To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
This year is the tenth anniversary of my first hearing about the old American cemetery at Lisnabreeny. Therefore, it's an unofficial tenth birthday of sorts for WartimeNI. But, anyone who knows me knows that my passion for all things Second World War goes back much further... to Saturday afternoons in front of black and white movies, to family tales of daring prison breaks and tanks racing through the African deserts. I'm Scott Edgar, and this is the story of my grandfather's war.
To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
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.
To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
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 ========== To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
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.
To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
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.
To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
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.
To find out more about WartimeNI, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://wartimeni.com/newsletter/ ========== At WartimeNI HQ, we love creating quality content for you. If you like what we do, you can help support our work by making a small contribution on Ko-Fi. It costs less than a craft beer or a cappuccino. Support WartimeNI today: https://ko-fi.com/wartimeni
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 (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 (https://amzn.to/3LuiF2k)
Buy 'Belfast Blitz: The People's Story' by Stephen Douds [Amazon Affiliate Link] https://amzn.to/396BGts (https://amzn.to/396BGts)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Irish-American author and film maker Mary Pat Kelly joins Scott Edgar to talk about the arrival of American GIs in Northern Ireland on the 80th anniversary of the first troop ships arriving in Ulster. Her book and accompanying documentary 'Home Away From Home - The Yanks In Ireland' tells many stories of those young Americans on their way to war.
Scott Edgar of WartimeNI introduces you to a brand new podcast. 'A Wee Bit Of War' will focus on the history of Northern Ireland during the Second World War. There is much more to the story of the Second World War in Northern Ireland than just military history. This podcast will feature social history, women's history, black history, queer history... If it's got a good story, 'A Wee Bit Of War' will cover it.