In July 1944, thousands of evacuees from Gibraltar arrived in Northern Ireland. Military action in their homeland forced the British government to send them to the United Kingdom. Bouncing bomb attacks on London meant many of them then crossed the Irish Sea for safety.
Clough Camp (Camp 1) stood on the Ballydugan Road, Clough, Co. Down. The camp consisted of a range of buildings and Nissen huts. Today, only a red-bricked building remains. This was possibly an electrical generator building.
Following the Second World War, most of the Gibraltar evacuees returned to their homeland.
Gibraltar Heritage Trust Photo: Evacuees from Gibraltar protest against the harsh conditions in the Clough Camp, Clough, Co. Down during a cold winter in the Northern Ireland countryside. Copyright unknown.
Entertainment at Clough
Harry Fernandez lived on the Clough Camp having come from London in 1944. While in London, his band Harry and his Victory Rascals played 219 dances between 18th October 1940 and 11th June 1944. They made over £900, playing venues such as Whitelands House and Linden Hall. He joined other musicians in Northern Ireland to provide entertainment on the camps.
Residents at Clough Camp
Some of the evacuees from Gibraltar who lived in the Clough Camp, Downpatrick, Co. Down. If you have any further information on these people, please let us know.