Lyr Req: Belfast Blitz

Subject: Belfast Blitz
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 29 May 02 - 09:04 AM

Strangely enough, few songs arose out of the Blitz of Belfast by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War. One I was reminded of just recently records the extraordinary fact that numerous Protestant churches were destroyed while not one Catholic one was. This caused all sorts of accusations to be made at the time - and even today! I can only remember one line of this song.
The tune is "The Wearing of the Green" and the line is
"They nearly wrecked the Shankill but never touched the Falls."
Can anyone supply the rest of the lyrics?
Indeed, does anyone know of *any other* songs about those horrendous events?
Annraoi

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Belfast Blitz
From: Jimmy C
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:24 PM

Annroi, The only reason the Falls was hardly touched was a matter of location. The Luftwaffe raid (April 1941) directed their bombs to hit Victoria Barracks, a place you and I know well, They also targeted the shipyards and the Waterworks on the Cavehill Road. They did not mistake the Waterworks for the main reservoir as sometimes stated, the hit the Waterworks to disrupt the flow of water available to the firemen as the germans had already planned another raid for May 1941. The May raid would be mostly incendary devices and they hoped to do maximum damage by cutting off the water supply to the firehoses. Burke Street at the top of Dawson Stret was obliterated, as was many houses around the New Lodge. I know as I was an infant in # 56 Lepper Street when our house received a direct hit. We spent the night in old wine cellars at the top of Dawson street before being evacuated to Toombridge, we only returned to our rebuilt house in Lepper Street in 1946. Being barely 6 months old I do not remember anything about it but my 2 older brothers John and Hogo remember little bits. If the Waterworks had been near the Falls they would have been hit, catholic churces and all. I do not remember hearing of any songs about that period, but would be interested to know of any.

PS: Sorry i did not see you at the wedding on the 10th ?.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Belfast Blitz
From: Ballyholme
Date: 29 May 02 - 02:09 PM

I can't say that I've ever heard of songs about the Blitz. Jimmy Doherty wrote an interesting book about the war years in Belfast and if any one can help, I'm sure he can. It's been some years since I saw him, but Jimmy owned (or maybe still owns) a discount book shop in North Street. His knowledge of the blitz is extensive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Belfast Blitz
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 29 May 02 - 04:51 PM

Sorry,Jimmy,
I *did* go down but was waylaid by Alban Magennis and that was that.
Catch you again
Annraoi