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this story was submitted to the 大象传媒 Peoples war by Brian Morgan with the permission of Eileen McManus. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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My mother, sister and I lived in the country so we went to spend Easter with an Uncle and Aunt (who owned a house in Warham street, Belfast). As we didnt often go to the pictures an old family friend brought us to the Alhambra picture house to see 'South of the Border'. Halfway through the film a notice appeared on the screen that stated the air raid siren had sounded. Immediately pandemonium broke out. We ran all the way home not realising the significance of what was about to happen. The living accomodation was upstairs and we could see the German bombers , complete with Swastikas, circling in the sky and lighting it up with flares. (known as Flaming Onions). My mother and the adults started saying their prayers which were being punctuated with loud bangs alternating with the roar of the planes. Finally around 4am the planes flew away with everyone exhausted. No bed, no sleep just an uneasy calm until the all clear was sounded. After a few hours sleep I accompanied my mother across the town to Donegall Street. In St Patricks Chapel we saw and arm and a hand lying on one of the seats. What a sad sombre atmosphere prevailed. However we soon packed up and headed back to Lurgan after our night of terror in which 700 people died.

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