BANGOR man ANDY GLENFIELD, a renowned expert on World War 2 and its impact on Northern Ireland, recalls the events in 1940 and 1941 when the German Luftwaffe dropped bombs on Bangor.
THERE appears to be little recorded regarding a German air raid on Bangor on Friday, September 13, 1940.
At 04.00 that morning a four engined German bomber dropped 22 incendiary bombs on Bangor from what has been estimated as being 4,000 feet.
The aircraft had approached Bangor from the direction of Belfast and after the raid was reported to have changed direction over Clandeboye and headed towards Newtownards.
Approximately 15 of the incendiaries fell in the Main Street area where one went through the roof of Brice’s Auction Rooms and started a fire in the upper floor before burning its way through to the lower floor where damage was done to the floor and a table.
Another bomb lodged in the joist over a doorway of a loft at Jacob O’Neill’s Funeral Furnishing premises. It burned through the joist and fell behind some wall panelling causing damage but did not reach the floor.
The Electricity Board’s premises had a bomb fall through the roof which burnt its way to a concrete floor where it did no further damage.
Four bombs fell on the premises of R. Neill & Sons in Main Street where slight damage was caused to the roofs of a joiners shop, saddlers shop and a coal shed. Fortunately one bomb which fell in the gas works failed to detonate.
The roofs of outhouses at both McCormick’s and Patterson’s butchers shops were damaged and the corrugated roof of John A Jamison’s painters in High Street was penetrated and a timber wall, glass and a quantity of wallpaper was destroyed.
The dropping of these bombs was reported immediately by the Bangor stationmaster and the Town Clerk who had seen the flashes.
Both the regular Fire Brigade and Auxiliary Fire Service attended the fire at Brice’s Auction Rooms which had threatened to become an extensive blaze, however it was soon brought under control.
I have received information that the following day a group of young boys collected about 12 tail fins from incendiary bombs which had fallen in Ashley Drive. Fortunately there were no serious fires in this area.
There were no casualties during this bombing however Bangor would not be so lucky on the next occasion.
The night of April 15-16, 1941 is known as ‘The Easter Tuesday Raid’ with considerable loss of life in Belfast and a return visit to Bangor by the Luftwaffe.
Bombs fell in Ranfurly Avenue, Farnham Road and Knockmore Park without loss of life; however Margaret Watt, who was 60 years old, was killed in Hazeldene Gardens.
The stick of bombs which were dropped also hit Bangor Golf Club damaging the Clubhouse which now has a very interesting relic.
The picture entitled The 36th Ulster Division’s attack on The Somme, which had been presented to the Golf Club in 1918, was struck by shrapnel causing a hole. This subsequently had wording added across the bottom of the picture saying Blitzed Easter Tuesday Night 1941. Shell splinter with an arrow pointing to the hole.
The home of the Grattan Family at 40 Ashley Gardens was struck and three family members were killed. Angeline Grattan, aged 18, 54 year-old Matilda Grattan and Shelagh Grattan, aged 20, were all laid to rest in Bangor New Cemetery.
Mr Robert Wright, 41 years old, of 32 Baylands, died from his injuries at Bangor Hospital on April 17.
Newtownards was to suffer the worst attack of the night.
The blackout had been in force from 9pm and the dreaded air raid siren was sounded at 11pm..
As the aircraft of Kampfgruppe100 began bombing Newtownards fires blazed on Scrabo Hill with other bombs falling on Green Road and Comber Road.
The airfield at Newtownards, which had been used as the Headquarters of 231 Squadron Royal Air Force since July 15 the previous year, was guarded by soldiers of 70th(Young Soldiers) Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. These soldiers were too young for front line service and were used for homeland defence.
The War Diary of the Battalion states:
“Newtownards Aerodrome was attacked with a considerable number of incendiary bombs and a few H.E. (High Explosive) bombs. One H.E. bomb fell in the hutments of “A” Company Headquarters. Casualties were 10 killed and 15 wounded. Among the casualties were Lt G.M. King (Acting Company Commander) wounded, C.S.M. Penfold killed, C.MS McMurray severely wounded”
The casualties were taken to Newtownards Hospital and the dead are identified here as:
Fusilier William Bellamy, Fusilier Samuel Burke, Lance Corporal Alexander Carlisle, Fusilier Andrew Copling, Fusilier Hugh Fulton, Fusilier George Graham, Fusilier Daniel Higgins, Fusilier Leslie Love, Fusilier Samuel McFarland, Fusilier Ernest McNeill, Warrant Officer Alfred Penfold,
I believe the following two ‘Skins’ were also victims who died of their wounds the following day – Company Quartermaster Sergeant William McMurray and Fusilier Matthew Wright.
During my research I was in contact with Mr. John Savage who sent me a photograph of Daniel Higgins.
Fusilier Higgins is the only fatality who is buried in Newtownards and I was told that at the time of his death Daniel Higgins was ‘stepping out’ with the mother of Mr Savage.
“Mother kept and cherished this photograph until her death when the photograph was passed on to me. Indeed no matter when my mother attended the graves of her parents in Movilla cemetery she always ended her visit by calling past Daniel’s grave,” said Mr Savage.
- For more information on the impact of the war on the Province visit Andy’s Facebook Page The Second World War in Northern Ireland.
