building/structure

Type 24 Pillbox

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During the second World War, six basic designs for pillboxes, numbered from ‘Type 22’ to ‘Type 27’ were promulgated by the division of Fortifications And Works as part of anti-invasion planning (WP). This Type 24 is still standing in a corner of the Oval grounds in east Belfast. This image – showing the door – is of the rear of the pillbox; the anticipated line of attack was along Belfast Lough.

“The Oval’s Type-24. In the early hours of the 5th of may the German Luftwaffe (air force) attacked a number of targets in the heart of Belfast. This ‘Type 24’ military pillbox was one of the defence positions around the city which was manned on that morning by a platoon of soldiers of the Gloucestershire Regiment who were based at nearby Victoria Park. … The Oval, the home of Glentoran Football Club was reduced to smouldering rubble as bombs and incendiary mines landed on an area perceived by German intelligence to be an oil storage facility adjacent to both Harland and Wolff shipyard and Short Brothers aircraft factory.”

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Preparations For The Twelfth, East Belfast 2023

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The Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast readies itself for the Twelfth: above, a few pallets are collected in Thistle Court, just across the Short Strand “peace” line; immediately below, bunting in Tower Street; finally, flags flying on the “understanding” mural in Lendrick Street.

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Andrew Cairns

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Andrew Cairns of the UVF was chased and beaten by about a dozen people before being killed by a single shot to the head (BBC). The killing took place next to the burning Boyne Square bonfire and the memorial (shown below) is on the other side of the bonfire site. Sutton attributes the killing to the UDA (Sutton); the Sunday Mirror reported that the killer was rejected by the UDA and was a member of the LVF (Free Library); see also BelTel | Guardian. One of the accused (Irish Times) was later UDA South East Antrim chief (BelTel).

Cairns was included in an old UVF mural, also in Wellington Green.

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Upward

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The new arch at Denmark Street and Carlisle Circus, next to the Clifton Street Orange Hall, was a year in the planning, both technical and financial (News Letter). There are seven windows and four flag-holders built into the arch. On the Denmark Street side, we see the emblem of the Association Of Loyal Orangewomen Of Ireland, the breaking of the boom (to end the Siege Of Derry), National Memorial (in the arboretum in Staffordshire), Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee (crown and Bible over rose, thistle, shamrock, daffodil, New Zealand silver fern, and Canadian maple leaf), City Of Belfast Loyal Orange Widows Fund, Orange Order symbols. On the Carlisle Circus side, we see the shutting of the gates (to start the Siege Of Derry), William Johnston (WP), the stained-glass window in Schomberg House to murdered OO members, Pietro Annigonni’s 1995 portrait of Queen Elizabeth on garter day (WP), Wehle’s portrait of Martin Luther, and the 36th Division going over the top.

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Flags Of The Kingdoms

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The road in Glynn is painted with loyal emblems and slogans: on one side of a red hand in a six-pointed star, “God save our Queen” with the Union Flag, and on the other “No surrender – 1690” with the constituent flags of England (St George’s Cross), Scotland (St Andrew’s Saltire), and Ireland (St Patrick’s Cross). Above the road painting is the arch, on one side of which is the traditional King Billy and on the other a soldier (perhaps covering both WWI and the B Specials & UDR) standing in front of a cross.

For the Lambeg drums at the Eleventh celebrations, see While I Live I’ll Crow.

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Our Lady Of Perpetual Peace

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A statue of Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart stands in front of the “peace” line on the Divis side of Boundary Street.

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You’re In The Anderson’s Band

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This is the scene around the Boyne Square (Larne) bonfire, hours before it was set alight on 11th night. There are multiple flags from Constable Anderson Memorial flute band (and LOL 1297 Boyne Defenders); Clydevalley flute band “stand with Soldier F”. On the bonfire itself there are only loyal flags – compare with the Tricolours and electoral posters on the Sunnylands bonfire in Carrickfergus.

There’s also a sticker for live coverage of the Craigyhill bonfire on The ‘Gers TV.

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Stop Sign

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The fourth condition (‘Good Relations’) for funding for bonfires under Mid and East Antrim council’s ‘Cultural Celebrations’ grant scheme asks organisers to discourage “the flying of flags or emblems or the burning of election posters at [the] bonfire site” (MidAndEastAntrim.gov.uk). The Sunylands/Woodburn (Carrickfergus) bonfire shown in today’s post – the images are from July 11th – lacked either funding or sufficient discouragement, as there are six Tricolours flying and ten Sinn Féin and SDLP election placards. The Council notice on the lamp-post, below the red hand – see the final image – is more direct, simply stating “No fly tipping, by order”.

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Commonwealth Handling Equipment

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The Craigyhill (Larne) bonfire was officially measured at 202.3 feet in height, exceeding the existing Guinness World Record for tallest bonfire, a 199-ft pyre in Austria in 2019. More than 40,000 pounds was raised for the effort (Belfast Live). In preparation for lighting, houses around the green were boarded up with sheets of plywood (see below).

The red and blue pallets mostly go at the bottom because they are sturdier pallets; they are also longer lasting and more expensive to produce. The red pallets come from La Palette Rouge while the blue come from CHEP (Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool) (Belfast Media). They can be legally bought or sold only by their respective companies.

In nearby Antiville, a bonfire builder fell to his death. See With Heart And Hand.

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With Heart And Hand

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The Antiville (Larne) bonfire was toppled and set alight on Sunday night after the death of one its builders, John Steele, who fell from it at about 9:30 p.m. the previous evening (Belfast Live video | BelTel | Belfast Live). The Antiville bonfire was perhaps 50 ft in height; the nearby Craigyhill bonfire, at 202 ft, continued to stand until it was lit at midnight on Monday night.

Many floral tributes were left along the fence of the adjacent Presbyterian church, including ones from other bonfire sites (Craigyhill, Old Mossley, Doonbeg), flute bands (Anderson Memorial, Ballycraigy Sons Of Ulster, Ladyhill, Cairncastle, North Down Defenders, Tullycarnet), UVF (Rathcoole RHC), and UDA (Tullycarnet); Steele’s funeral will take place on Thursday (Irish News).

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