大象传媒

War Time Memories
Reminiscences from M.Mitchell

During the 鈥楤litz鈥� on Belfast I was studying at the College of Technology and had accommodation in the Presbyterian Hostel at Howard Street in the very centre of the city. On Easter Tuesday I think 1941 when the bombing alert was given.

In the hostel the girls of us, after gathering up a few belongings, a pillow and a blanket or a quilt whatever was handy, congregated in a room which had no windows in the centre of the building to get a place on the floor to sit. Of course it was frightening to hear the sirens and explosions 鈥� we huddled together finding no sleep. While the boys of the hostel were drafted on to the flat roof, being kept busy throwing 鈥榦ff鈥� the incendiaries as they landed from the planes. This was a very frightening experience for them and so it was a great safety measure for us.

There was never an 鈥榓ll clear鈥� call made but quietness prevailed for a few hours after the bombers had gone. Some of our own ladies of the group began to go to the centres to help with food and shelter for those in need 鈥� this being arranged by groups to open halls in any emergency,One lady said she was ringing home. When I got a message home to say 鈥淚 was safe鈥� They at home did not know of the raid at all and so were not worried about wee 鈥榤e鈥�!

I with another lady went up to see what the boys were doing on the roof but they would not allow us any further than the top step 鈥� after a lot of persuasion 鈥� well this was enough for us to see, looking up at a Bright Red Sky and seeing buildings ablaze all I could say or think of 鈥楲ondon Burning鈥� only this was Belfast and I was in the middle of it, it was a sight I will never forget. After this we went to our rooms to lie down but no sleep yet. I was shaking and felt as if a bomb had gone off near bye. 鈥� Betty my friend shouted out 鈥淒id you feel that?鈥�

In the morning I got out to go to a practice house up the Malone Rd, but there were no transport around. The paths and streets were full of debris and dust. However I walked and when I arrived at the house my white underslip was black to the waist and my nosed stuffed to which I kept a hankerchief cover.

I don鈥檛 remember much more of that but I decided to travel daily from Banbridge for the rest of my course. Lots of women and children were evacuated to the country areas for weeks, it was traumatic for all. One which I was lucky to come through, but hopefully - never again-.

Other reminiscences were of rationing when I was in charge of catering for a hospital in the city. It was a matter of 鈥榤aking do鈥� and use all the food which was available ie our eggs, vegetables, meats, fruits and fats which were supplied by people who worked in plots and sold direct to institutions etc. There were no imports of tin fruit or vegetables and no bananas. After the war when bananas were imported the children of 4 or 5 would not eat them not having seen them before.

At least our food was fresh then even if not plentiful and waste was minimal. We really 鈥榗ame to our senses鈥� through adversity in these times of hardship. We have now lost this after 60 years or more, progress has set in but not always to an advantage as I see it.

From Marion Mitchell

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