Civilians
Over the course of a series of air raids that became known as the Belfast Blitz, many hundreds of people died both in Belfast and across Northern Ireland.
Belfast Blitz Casualties
On the night of 7th-8th April 1941, the Luftwaffe's first attack on Belfast resulted in the death of a number of civilians around the docks area of the city.
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Private Patrick Brown of Derry~Londonderry emigrated to Australia where he enlisted in the infantry on 18th June 1940. He died on 5th April 1941 in Libya.
53rd Divisional Artillery
77th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery formed part of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division during its time in Northern Ireland.
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Captain John Eyre Gisborne Gordon of Delamont House, Killyleagh, Co. Down died on 1st April 1941 serving in an administrative role with the Royal Artillery.
53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division
In June 1940, when Nazi invasion was a plausible threat, 2nd Battalion, Fife and Forfar Yeomanry arrived in Ulster as part of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division.
Merchant Navy
British merchant vessel M.V. Empire Light came under attack from U-638 on 7th March 1941 with the resulting loss of 39 crew members and 6 Royal Navy gunners.
Third Engineer Officer John Archibald Brownlie of Gilnahirk died on 7th March 1941 as M.V. Empire Light came under attack from a U-Boat in the north Atlantic.
Greaser Walter Stewart Donaldson of Jerrettspass, Co. Armagh died on 7th March 1941 as M.V. Empire Light came under attack from a U-Boat in the north Atlantic.
Fireman James Alexander Fee of Killyleagh, Co. Down died on 2nd March 1941 as S.S. Castlehill came under attack from a Luftwaffe Heinkel in the Bristol Channel.
Able Seaman William Smyth Ferguson of Co. Antrim died on 2nd March 1941 as S.S. Castlehill came under attack from a Luftwaffe Heinkel in the Bristol Channel.
S.S. Castlehill was a coal-carrying vessel of the fleet of John Kelly Ltd. of Belfast. It went down under attack in the Bristol Channel on 2nd March 1941.
