Northern Ireland's women in the Second World War

Auxiliary Territorial Service

During the Second World War, many women from Ulster enlisted in the ranks of the Auxiliary Territorial Service or A.T.S. the women's branch of the British Army.

The women of the Belfast Blitz

During the Belfast Blitz of April and May 1941, several women documented the events as Luftwaffe bombs fell on Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, Bangor, and Newtownards.

Episode 04: Women of the Belfast Blitz (Part I)

30th March 2022

Some special guests join Scott Edgar to lend their voices to the women who witnessed and documented the Belfast Blitz including Doreen Bates and Emma Duffin.

Episode 05: Women of the Belfast Blitz (Part II)

31st March 2022

Some special guests join Scott Edgar to lend their voices to the women who witnessed and documented the Belfast Blitz including Doreen Bates and Emma Duffin.

Episode 06: The diaries of Doreen Bates with Lucy Caldwell and Dr. Margaret Esiri

27th April 2022

The diaries of Doreen Bates offer a fascinating insight into life in Belfast during the Blitz of 1941. We talked to author Lucy Caldwell and Doreen's daughter D

The smartest woman in the A.T.S. in Britain

Staff Sergeant Major Mabel Kathleen Twist served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War. By 1941, the Chief Controller named her "the smartest woman in the A.T.S. in Britain".

Mabel Kathleen Twist M.B.E.

W12

In 1941, Sergeant Staff Major Mabel Kathleen Twist of Belfast was named by Chief Controller Jean Knox as "the smartest woman in the A.T.S."

A wee bit of War

At WartimeNI, we are passionate about giving women a voice. Since 2022, we have featured many female guests on 'A wee bit of War', our podcast detailing the stories of Northern Ireland during the Second World War.

Episode 01: Home Away From Home with Mary Pat Kelly

26th January 2022

Scott Edgar is joined by Irish-American author and filmmaker Mary Pat Kelly to talk about the book and documentary 'Home Away From Home'.

Episode 02: From Auschwitz To Ulster with Rachel Levy

27th January 2022

Holocaust survivor Rachel Levy joins Scott Edgar to talk about life, including time spent on a Refugee Resettlement Farm in Millisle, Co. Down.

Episode 04: Women of the Belfast Blitz (Part I)

30th March 2022

Some special guests join Scott Edgar to lend their voices to the women who witnessed and documented the Belfast Blitz including Doreen Bates and Emma Duffin.

Episode 05: Women of the Belfast Blitz (Part II)

31st March 2022

Some special guests join Scott Edgar to lend their voices to the women who witnessed and documented the Belfast Blitz including Doreen Bates and Emma Duffin.

Episode 06: The diaries of Doreen Bates with Lucy Caldwell and Dr. Margaret Esiri

27th April 2022

The diaries of Doreen Bates offer a fascinating insight into life in Belfast during the Blitz of 1941. We talked to author Lucy Caldwell and Doreen's daughter D

Episode 08: Fashion on the Ration with Rachel Sayers

25th May 2022

Rachel Sayers is a historian with a passion for Irish history and the fashions of the 20th-century. She joins us to talk about wartime wardrobes in Ulster.

Episode 14: Yes, We Have No Bananas with Lorna Quin

30th November 2022

Lorna Quin is a former teacher from Mullaghglass P.S. in Co. Armagh. In recent years, she has collected an array of stories of Second World War life in Ulster.

Episode 16: Kindertransport and kindness in Ulster with Dr. Christine Schmidt

25th January 2023

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2023, we talked with Dr. Christine Schmidt of Wiener Holocaust Library in London about Kindertransport and the library's work.

Episode 17: Exploring Abandoned Northern Ireland with Rebecca Brownlie

22nd February 2023

Rebecca Brownlie is a photographer and the author of 'Abandoned Ireland'. In this episode, we take a look at some of Ulster's Second World War heritage sites.