大象传媒

This story is by Mr. Claude Macquigg, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions. The story was transcribed by Elizabeth Lamont and added to the site by Bruce Logan.
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Mr. Macquigg鈥檚 memory from the War centred around his time as a schoolboy at Belfast Inst. from September 1939 鈥� 1945. His Preparatory school was Inchmarlo (where, by total coincidence, it turns out he was taught by my Great Aunt!) At the beginning of the War there was some talk about Inst. being taken over as a Military Hospital. However, Campbell College was chosen instead - perhaps because there was some query over the water supply at Inst.

During wartime, pupils were given three options:

(1) To board at Dungannon Royal School

(2) One of the Board of Governors of Inst. opened his house in the Malone Road area of
Belfast and held classes there.

(3) Claude opted to remain at the main school and he travelled in by bicycle.

There was a barrage balloon installed on the front lawn of the school 鈥� the idea being that when the air-raid siren went off, the balloon went up approx. 2,000 feet in the air and therefore discouraged enemy aircraft from flying too low.

There were air-raid shelters at the back of the school. Each pupil knew which one to go to in an emergency. Practice drills were held periodically.

About half of the school staff disappeared to join the Forces and, consequently, had to be replaced by teachers who had either taken early retirement or had retired 鈥� e.g. there was a 鈥淢r. Foster鈥� who had previously been the Principal of Belfast Royal Academy. He came in as a Classics Teacher.

Pupils were encouraged to save money and contribute to a 鈥淪pitfire Fund鈥�. One of these planes cost 拢5,000. Claude belonged to the Boy Scouts and they bailed scrap paper to re-cycle it for use. Wrapping paper was re-cycled.

There was also the opportunity to volunteer for the 鈥淎gricultural Scheme鈥� 鈥� whereby the Department of Agriculture ran an Agency in the city centre for young, unemployed teenagers. Farmers would send in for some help: they maybe needed potatoes picked for a day. Then the pupils would present themselves to the Agency and would be taken out in a Police lorry or an Auxiliary Fire Service tender. It was all very exciting for the boys. They received one shilling an hour for potato picking and would sometimes be going home with about 4 shillings.

The older boys could get a job pulling flax 鈥� depending on the time of the year. They got paid one shilling and four pence for each 鈥渟took鈥� which was, of course, more lucrative then potato picking!

Some pupils joined the Services. Claude joined the Air Corps at the school and flew as a Cadet with the R.A.F. The Training Aerodrome was at Long Kesh 鈥� it had been built for the Americans but they declined the offer of it and so the R.A.F. took it over.

At that particular time the Commodore was Lord Londonderry and when the war came, he got into uniform and one day arrived unannounced to inspect the troops. Claude was among a group walking back from an exercise when they saw the Staff Car and they thumbed a lift 鈥� not realising until too late that Lord Londonderry was in it. However, they got a lift back to the Aerodrome!

On a sadder note, a very good friend of Claude鈥檚 called 鈥淪amuel Lytle鈥� joined up when he was just over 17 years of age and was killed while flying over Holland. He is buried in Amsterdam Cemetery.

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