QUEEN'S STREET 4586
It's 1914 and World War One will be starting on the 28 July in Europe and the start of thousands of soldiers on both sides will be be getting shot, Blown up, maimed, drowned in the shell holes they have slipped into, to be sucked down into the mud and some left with shell shock and some of the officers don't believe them and they are shot for cowardice in a land that is more shaped like Hell. And yet day after day they still went over the top knowing they could be killed, such brave men. Well back to the men parading down Queen's Street in Belfast this is a recruitment parade the only real soldiers there are the officers at the front and the band in the middle. These men have all volunteered join up, yes that's right Volunteered for in Northern Ireland there was no conscription so if you didn't want to go you didn't have to. Men came from the South of Ireland as well which was neutral and volunteered because they belived in the cause.
But they did in their thousands and sadly thousands didn't come back.
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QUEEN'S STREET 4587
This is the Queen's Bridge in 1955 and though there are plenty of various lorries on the bridge the good old horse and flatbed cart are still delivering goods.To the right is lamp man who is probably replacing the gas mantle. The lamps are part of the bridge and still run on gas but the main street lighting is all electric.
QUEEN'S SQUARE 4590
This is Queen's Square with five cabs waiting for passengers while the fourth driver polishing the bonnet and to the left are the horses and flatbet carts they are pulling, just look at that load the second hors is pulling, as least the driver is walking with the horse.
QUEEN'S ROAD 4589
Finished for the day in 1911 are these shipyard workers employed by Harland & Wolff and only a few eagle eyed ones spotted the camera the rest are too busy wanting to get home. In the distance you can see the ship they are hurring to finish so she can be launched and finished dockside Inside and out before sailing to undergo sea trials and then travel to Southampton on the the 2nd April 1912 On Wednesday 10 0th April 1912 shortly after 12noon, set sail from Southampton's White Star Dock on her ill fated maiden voyage, for she was the RMS Titanic. In the foreground is a young boy selling most likley the Belfast Telegraph and is in his bare feet.
QUEEN'S QUAY 4588
Here we are back in the 1980's and this large building is queen's Quay Railway Station and in the 1960's I used to get the train here to go swimming at Helen's Bay It must have been a special day for look at all the men looking at the camera.