Downpatrick, Co. Down during the Second World War

British and American troops made use of the countryside and rivers around Downpatrick, Co. Down for training. Later in the war, evacuees arrived from Gibraltar.

Women workers "man" the guns

On 11th January 1942, workers from a munitions factory in Northern Ireland experienced the opportunity of operating guns alongside a Royal Artillery battery.

Workers from a munitions factory in Northern Ireland receive instruction on laying the guns with 243rd Battery, 116 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery at Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 16610 Info
Workers from a munitions factory in Northern Ireland receive instruction on being part of a gun crew with 243rd Battery, 116 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery at Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 16611 Info
Workers from a munitions factory in Northern Ireland receive instruction on being part of a gun crew with 243rd Battery, 116 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery at Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 16612 Info
Workers from a munitions factory in Northern Ireland receive instruction on being part of a gun crew with 243rd (Leek) Battery, 116th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division at Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 16613 Info

Smokescreens on the Quoile

On 1st December 1942, a military training exercise took place on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down that saw the area covered with a thick smokescreen.

A parachutist lands as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25897 Info
A parachutist lands as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25898 Info
A barrage balloon gets airborne as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25899 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25900 Info
A barrage balloon gets airborne as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25901 Info
A barrage balloon gets airborne as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25902 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25903 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25904 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25905 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25906 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25907 Info
A barrage balloon gets airborne as a smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25908 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25909 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25910 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25911 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25912 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25913 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25914 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25915 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25916 Info
A smokescreen is laid during a training exercise at the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25917 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25918 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25919 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25920 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25921 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25922 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25923 Info
Photograph showing the engineering details of the bridge on the River Quoile near Downpatrick, Co. Down.
©IWM H 25924 Info
Featured image for English Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down

English Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down

Downpatrick Co. Down

On 20th January 1942, Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge visited English Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down. There, he photographed an inspection of 116th Field Regiment.
Featured image for Gibraltar Evacuee Camp no. 2 at Cargagh, Downpatrick, Co. Down

Gibraltar Evacuee Camp no. 2 at Cargagh, Downpatrick, Co. Down

Ballydugan Road Downpatrick Co. Down BT30 9AG

The Cargagh Camp was Camp 2 of the 16 established sites for Gibraltar evacuees who came to live in Northern Ireland during the summer of 1944.

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