The Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) are working in partnership with Belfast City Council to create a dedicated memorial to the people of Belfast who died during the Blitz. The memorial will feature as part of the Council's forthcoming plans for the transformation of the Cathedral Gardens, an area between St Anne's Cathedral and Ulster University's Belfast campus.

Belfast suffered four bombing raids in 1941. These became known as the Dockside Raid (7-8 April), Easter Monday Raid (15-16 April), Fire Raid (4-5 May) and the Final Raid (5-6 May).

The new memorial will recognise those who were killed "as a result of enemy action" in Belfast. A total of 937 fatal casualties have already been identified using official sources and government records and NIWM are working with Blitz historians Alan Freeburn and Dr. Brian Barton to establish a definitive list of casualties.

Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, on the night of Easter Monday, a further 32 lives were lost due to German bombing in Derry/Londonderry, Bangor and Newtownards. In time, NIWM are also hoping to support memorials to mark these raids.

Belfast Blitz Casualties

The following list contains the names of the 937 people that will be remembered on the memorial. These names have been compiled using official sources and government records. If you think a victim of the bombing raids has been omitted, please send supporting evidence to NIWM by emailing info@niwarmemorial.org before 31 December 2024.

Provisional List of casualties for inclusion on the Belfast Blitz Memorial

Learn more about the Belfast Blitz

The Northern Ireland War Memorial are offering community groups the opportunity to learn more about the Belfast Blitz with guided tours at our museum. Admission is free but please book a visit in advance. We also deliver outreach talks at local venues. For more information, please contact Michael Fryer, Partnerships and Engagement Lead by emailing outreach@niwarmemorial.org or telephone 028 9032 0392 option 3.

In addition, we would like to interview anyone who might have recollections of the Belfast Blitz. We would like the opportunity to speak to people who, as children, lived through the raids, or those who may have stories that have been passed on by relatives. If you can help, please contact the museum's Research Officer, Michael Burns, by email at projects@niwarmemorial.org or telephone 075 8863 4847.