The people of Northern Ireland remember April 1941 as the month that World War Two came to Belfast but there are many more April stories during wartime.
1st April
On 1st April 1942, units of the Royal Artillery took part in a training manoeuvre named Exercise "Dragoon" in the Sperrin Mountains in Co. Londonderry.
2nd April
Remembering the service personnel with connections to Northern Ireland who gave their lives on 2nd April both during and soon after the Second World War.
3rd April
3rd April 1944 marked the final day of General George S Patton's visit to Northern Ireland where he inspected troops of the US Army's Infantry Divisions.
4th April
Recalling the service personnel in the Army, Navy, and Air Force with conenctions to Northern Ireland who gave their lives on 4th April during wartime.
5th April
Remembering the men and women with connections to Ulster or Northern Ireland who lost their lives on 5th April during the course of the Second World War.
6th April
On 6th April, we remember those with connections to Ulster and Northern Ireland who died on that date during the Second World War between 1939 and 1945.
7th April
On 7th April 1941, the Luftwaffe carried out a raid Northern Ireland for the first time in what would become known as The Docks Raid of the Belfast Blitz.
8th April
On 8th April 1941, Squadron Leader Simpson shot down a Heinkel HE111 over Downpatrick, Co. Down as the first victims of the Belfast Blitz died in the city.
9th April
On 9th April 1942, aircraft carrier HMS Hermes went down off the coast of Ceylon. At least 6 seamen with connections to Northern Ireland died as a result.
10th April
Remembering those with connections to Ulster or Northern Ireland who lost their lives during the Second World War on 10th April between 1939 and 1945.
11th April
On 11th April, we remember those from across the world with connections to NI who died on this day having served during the years of the Second World War.
12th April
Members of the services on land, sea, and in the air with connections to Northern Ireland gave their lives on 12th April throughout the Second World War.
13th April
On 13th April 1942, Miss Thelma Smith married Private First Class Herbert Cooke behind the locked doors of a Presbyterian church in Belfast, Co. Antrim.
14th April
On 14th April, we remember those with connections to Ulster who served during the Second World War and who gave their lives on this date during the war.
15th April
On the night of 15th April 1941, the Nazi Luftwaffe launched its largest raid over Northern Ireland bombing Belfast, Bangor, Derry, and Newtownards.
16th April
On the morning of 16th April 1941, Northern Ireland awoke to scenes of destruction and loss of life in Belfast, Bangor, Newtownards and Derry/Londonderry.
17th April
On 17th April 1942, bus driver Albert Rodden was the victim of a shooting as a result of a tragic road accident involving the US Army in Co. Londonderry.
18th April
Remembering those with connections to Northern Ireland who served during the Second World War and lost their lives on 18th April between 1939 and 1945.
19th April
Remembering the men and women with connections to Ulster and Northern Ireland who died on 19th April during the years of the Second World War from 1939-45.
20th April
The North West 200 road races first ran on 20th April 1929 but the Second World War had a big impact on the sport in Northern Ireland and further afield.
21st April
Remembering those who served during the Second World War and who lost their lived on this day, 21st April between the years of the conflict, 1939 to 1945.
22nd April
On 22nd April 1922, a Grumman Hellcat of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm crashed near Newtowncrommelin, Co. Antrim killing the young English pilot.
23rd April
Remembering airmen with connections to Ulster and Northern Ireland including members of the Royal Air Force and the Polish Air Force who died on 23rd April.
24th April
Remembering those with connections to NI who gave their life serving on land, sea, and in the air on 24th April in years throughout the Second World War.
25th April
25th April each years marks ANZAC Day, a time to remember those from the Australian and New Zealand armed forces who fought and died in both World Wars.
26th April
Private First Class Milburn H Henke returned to Belfast several times where he relived his experieces from 1942. He died in Minnesota on 26th April 1998.
27th April
On 27th April 1941, HMS Diamond went down in the Mediterranean after a Luftwaffe attack. At least 4 men with connections to Northern Ireland were on board.
28th April
Remembering those with connections to Northern Ireland who died on 28th April including an airman from the Dutch East Indies and an Irish League goalkeeper.
29th April
Remembering those with connections to Ulster and Northern Ireland who died on 29th April throughout the years of the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.
30th April
On 30th April 1945, the government announced an end to the Blackout across Great Britain and Northern Ireland as the Allies advanced throughout Germany.
