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Rear-Admiral A.K. Scott-Moncrieff is pictured here being transferred on a light jackstay from HMS Belfast to HMS Ocean during the Korean War. The Admiral paid a visit to the light fleet carrier on 11 July 1952 and spent 4 days aboard while her aircraft attacked targets in north-west Korea.
Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM A 32245
In December 1942 HMS Belfast rejoined the fleet ready for battle. She had been out of service for almost three years following a hit by a magnetic mine on 21 November 1939.
Belfast hadn’t just been repaired however, she had been redesigned and rebuilt to become the largest and arguably the most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy. And she would need to be, because she was about to embark on the most active period of her life.
HMS Belfast is pictured here at anchor in Plymouth Sound after her repairs had been completed.
Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM FL 1656
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Onboard HMS Belfast you can find the Mail Room where post would have been sorted for the crew. Post from home often provided the only link with family during long months at sea. ‘Anybody in England that wanted to write to any ship in the Royal Navy, the address was always the same: “HMS Belfast” or whatever name ship it was, "care of GPO London”. And that address would find any ship in the world’- Keith Davie, Boy Seaman, 1948-1950
In this video a Shackleton MR.1A of 205 Squadron RAF drops mail to be retrieved at sea and brought on board.
Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© ADM 2129
To extend the ships ability to locate targets, HMS Belfast was designed to carry two reconnaissance seaplanes. These Supermarine Walruses were housed in hangers on the Boat Deck and launched by catapult to search for vessels beyond the horizon.
A Supermarine Walrus aircraft is pictured on board HMS Rodney being lowered for a reconnaissance flight.
Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM A 193
HMS Belfast is pictured coming up the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China, with the city in the background. Arriving in September 1945, Belfast’s crew would help liberate British families from Japanese civilian internment camps.
When it was discovered by the crew that some of the children had never tasted chocolate before, there wasn’t a man’s locker on board that remained unscoured!
Learn more about HMS Belfast's journey East by planning your visit today: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM HU 56825
The crew of HMS Belfast would have been split into two distinct groups - officers and ratings. Whilst visitors today arrive on board via the Quarterdeck, most of the men serving on Belfast could only walk the boards of the Quarterdeck if they had special reason. Otherwise, the Quarterdeck was an area usually reserved for officers, a long standing tradition in Royal Navy ships.
Each group wore different uniforms with recognisable badges and insignia to show their rank and specialist trade. A selection of the insignia and badges worn by officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines from 1944 is pictured here.
Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM A 26973
On D-Day 6 June 1944, the Allies launched the largest naval, air and land operation in the history of warfare. Almost 7,000 vessels participated in Operation Neptune, the naval component of D-Day. Over six days HMS Belfast fired close to 2,000 rounds at fortified positions, enemy batteries, and troop concentrations.
The bombardment force itself was also a target for U-boats, torpedoes, mines, shore-based batteries, and dive bomber attacks. In this image, HMS Holmes drops a depth charge on a suspected U-boat position during the landing operations.
Learn more about the history of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM A 23959
Today on HMS Belfast, we mark Remembrance Sunday and remember all those who have lost their lives and suffered as a result of conflict.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
At 11am on the 11 of November, we commemorate the signing of the Armistice which marked the end of the First World War.
In this video titled Homecoming of an Unknown Warrior, the coffin of the Unknown Warrior is transported from France onboard HMS Verdun to Dover before being laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on the 11 November 1920.
Any visitors to HMS Belfast on Friday 11 November are welcome to join us on the Quarterdeck to hear the ringing of the ship's bell before a two-minute silence to remember all of those who have suffered and died in conflict.
© IWM 505
This December will see a celebration of the Second World War’s most hard-working fighter aircraft, the Hawker Hurricane, with the opening of Hurricane: Unsung Hero at IWM Duxford.
With only fourteen airworthy Hurricanes remaining in the world, this spotlight exhibition will offer a unique opportunity to see seven of these brought together under one roof to explore the rich history of Fighter Command’s finest enemy destroyer.
Often overlooked in favour of the Spitfire, the Hurricane accounted for sixty percent of air victories in the Battle of Britain and highlights of this new spotlight exhibition include a Hurricane MK1 veteran from the summer of 1940, the world’s only two-seater Hurricane and a Sea Hurricane Mk1b which was received by No 880 Squadron, the first Fleet Air Arm Squadron to be equipped with Hurricanes.
Hurricane: Unsung Hero runs at IWM Duxford for a limited time only from 27th December to 19th February. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3zReL01
The IWM Christmas range has landed!
Cosy up this festive season in our brand new Santa in a Spitfire Jumper and Socks:
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Explore the entire Christmas range on the IWM Shop: https://bit.ly/3WviaL
On the 14 October 1971, after 24 years of active service, HMS Belfast took up her moorings in a specially dredged berth in the Pool of London.
IWM had been investigating the possibility of preserving a Second World War cruiser from as early as 1967, which led to the formation of a trust headed up by one of HMS Belfast’s former captains, Rear-Admiral Sir Morgan Morgan-Giles. This trust eventually succeeded in salvaging HMS Belfast from the scrapyard, safeguarding her for future generations and today HMS Belfast is the last remaining vessel of her type.
In this clip from IWM Collections, Belfast can be seen sailing under Tower Bridge before taking up her permanent moorings.
Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© ADM 4524
During the Battle of North Cape 1943, HMS Belfast operated at full power for 17 hours straight as she pursued the powerful German battle cruiser, Scharnhorst.
Scharnhorst was one of the most dangerous German warships of the Second World War. After a running battle, under hammering gunfire, and hit by torpedoes from British and Norwegian ships, Scharnhorst was sunk just after 7:30pm on the 26 December 1943.
What was it like for the crew working below deck in the Engine and Boiler Rooms during the battle? Here, Conservation Manager, Andy Curran describes what the experience would have been like in the latest video from the IWM Youtube channel.
Watch in Full: https://bit.ly/3Vv2G9E
Did you know that the sailors of HMS Belfast used to cool off in the shark infested waters of the Far East by swimming inside a big net attached to the ship?
In this clip the crew can be seen enjoying taking some free time to enjoy a swim and a game of water polo.
© MGH 4488
Did you know that there would be 27 crewmen and one officer operating in HMS Belfast’s gun turrets when firing the ships guns?
Each of the four gun turrets on Belfast housed three gun crews of seven men to load, lay and fire, one Officer of the Turret, and five men in turret crew. Each gun could fire up to eight rounds per minute, sending shock waves through the ship.
The interior of a 6 inch triple Mark XXIII mounting on board HMS Jamaica is pictured here. From this angle you can see the centre and right guns of the three contained within the turret.
Book a visit to experience what it would have been like inside one of the gun turrets during the Second World War: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM A 16320
On 21 October, many in the Royal Navy observe Trafalgar Day - the commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Printed 110 years later in 1915, this recruitment poster refers to Horatio Nelson's famous message to the fleet immediately before the battle - "England expects that every man will do his duty".
Admiral Nelson himself stands against a seascape, whilst three British warships sail in the background, silhouetted against a glowing horizon
© IWM Art.IWM PST 5032
There’s plenty of fun to be had on HMS Belfast this October Half Term! Join in on our interactive family activity 'Find Your Sea Legs' and complete fun tasks as you explore the ship!
Hop on the balance board to test how steady you’ll be on choppy seas, figure out just how to feed 950 on board with limited rations, and solve nautical puzzles to see if you’ve got the skills needed to survive on HMS Belfast during the Second World War.
'Find Your Sea Legs' will run every weekend, then daily from Monday 24 to Sunday 30 October 2022: https://bit.ly/3SooSR4
HMS Belfast can be seen here entering the Grand Harbour Valletta, Malta, on her way home from Korea to Britain, October 1952.
Belfast spent more than 400 days on patrol during the Korean War, steaming over 80,000 miles.
© IWM HU 36596
On Saturday 24 September, Sea Cadets on board HMS Belfast stood in salute as a flotilla of a hundred and fifty or so vessels travelled downriver through Central London towards Tower Bridge.
The flotilla, titled 'Reflections', floated peacefully illuminated with white lights to mark the passing of Her Majesty the Queen and the accession of King Charles III.
'Reflections' is thought to be the first illuminated flotilla to be seen on the Thames for over three hundred years and encouraged both a reflection of the past, and optimism for the future.
Photo credit- Thames Festival Trust
Did you know the Compass Platform (also known as the bridge) of HMS Belfast used to be out in the open?
Between 1956 and 1959, Belfast was rebuilt and modernised. She gained new anti-aircraft weapons, masts, and a new fully enclosed bridge which radically altered her appearance. These two images show a view of the bridge before and after Belfast's refit.
Book your visit to HMS Belfast today to learn more about the ship's history: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM MH 28668
© IWM HU 8796
We’re recruiting for Front of House ‘Discover’ volunteers at all of our branches.
Whether you’re a regular visitor or new to IWM, a history expert or an enthusiastic beginner – this is your chance to get involved.
Find out more and apply by 17 October: https://bit.ly/3V2eGPM
Between 1956-1963 HMS Belfast toured some of the world’s greatest ports. During her long journey home from the Far East, she stopped off for two days in Hong Kong.
The ship’s company used their available time to scour local shops for gifts. Wicker-work chairs, children’s toys, typewriters, radios and tape recorders were some of the items bought and stored below decks ready to be taken home.
The crew of HMS Belfast were not the only ones to enjoy a bit of souvenir shopping. Pictured, leading Aircraftmen G Smith, W Kirk and H Dickel shop for gifts in a Hong Kong Street Market, 1945-6
Plan your visit today to learn more about HMS Belfast's final years at sea: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM CF 1108
Ready to find your Sea Legs this October?
It’s 1942 and HMS Belfast is ready to set sail. The only problem is we don't know where we are supposed to be going! Take charge of HMS Belfast in Find Your Sea Legs, an interactive family activity where you can complete fun tasks around the ship.
We need your help to plot the course for the upcoming mission and make sure everything is shipshape and ready to go. Hop on the balance board to test how steady you’ll be on choppy seas, and solve nautical puzzles to see if you've got the skills needed to survive on HMS Belfast during the Second World War.
Find Your Sea Legs will run every weekend, then daily from Monday 24 to Sunday 30 October 2022: https://bit.ly/3SooSR4
The tradition of issuing a daily ‘tot’ of rum to all sailors dates back to the age of sail. For many, ‘up spirits’ at midday was the highlight of their day.
'At eleven o'clock every morning on every ship, they come on the tannoy and they say, “Up spirits”, and everybody on the lower deck shouts “Stand fast the Holy Ghost”’- Keith Davie, Boy Seaman HMS Belfast Crew (1948-1950)
Plan your visit today to learn more about what life was like on board HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
Wherever the ship was in the world, HMS Belfast’s Sick Bay offered the crew access to a full range of medical services, from treating minor infections to life saving operations.
During the Battle of Changni-do, the ships junior surgeon Lieutenant Anthony Rowan undertook sixteen operations in just 24 hours to keep alive both servicemen and civilians from North and South Korea.
Visit HMS Belfast to hear from Rowan’s own words the emotional impact of this important role on board in the Sick Bay: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
![‘[The sea] was grey-black, death itself… forty-foot waves, sea temperatures below zero, ice forming on the upper works, ...](https://img4.gluseum.com/772/622/10160421937726228.jpg)
‘[The sea] was grey-black, death itself… forty-foot waves, sea temperatures below zero, ice forming on the upper works, ice three and four inches thick that would have to be chipped by hand’ recounted Stoker, Larry Fursland, on the conditions HMS Belfast and her crew faced during the 18 months she spent operating in support of the Arctic Convoys.
The crew of HMS Belfast are pictured here with shovels, hooks and crowbars hacking at the ice from the forecastle. Such duties were vital onboard Belfast as apart from putting the guns and fire control systems out of action, a build up of ice could make the ship top-heavy and unstable and in extreme cases, put her at risk of capsizing and sinking.
Today you can explore the Arctic Messdeck for yourself to get a sense of life on board during the perilous Arctic Convoy missions. Plan your visit: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
© IWM A 20686
Timeline photos
During the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the world changed dramatically as a result of conflict. From her childhood and wartime service, to her role as a monarch, these photography and film records held by IWM help tell the story of her extraordinary life.
Discover more: https://bit.ly/3DtHP03
Visitors are advised to allow extra time when travelling to and from HMS Belfast between Wednesday 14 September and Sunday 18 September, as mourners gather in central London to pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We at IWM are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty The Queen and would like to express our condolences to all her family.
IWM is hugely grateful to HM The Queen for the generous support and interest that she has taken in IWM during her reign and lifetime.
As a mark of respect, it has been decided by the Trustees and Executive Board of IWM to close our five branches on the day of HM The Queen’s state funeral, which will be announced by the Royal Family in due course. This decision was taken in consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Books of condolence are open for visitors at IWM London, HMS Belfast, IWM Duxford and IWM North. The Royal Family has opened a digital book of condolence, which can be found on their official website. Flags at IWM London, IWM Duxford and HMS Belfast are being flown at half-mast.
The lower decks on HMS Belfast contain three of the most heavily protected levels. The bottom two were protected by 10cm of armoured plating on the sides of the ship, and a 7.5cm reinforced deck immediately above.
These decks held some of the most important equipment: Belfast’s stores of ammunition and explosives, which the ship could least afford to be hit. Each of the four 6-inch gun turrets was served by its own shell room and magazine, positioned in the bowels of the ship directly below each gun.
The shell room on Belfast now holds a replica of the 6-inch shells positioned on a revolving carousel. This mechanism would have hoisted up the shells to the gun turret at a rate of ten shells per minute.
See all of this when you visit HMS Belfast. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp
The Queen's Walk
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| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 6pm |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 6pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 6pm |
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It is with great sadness that we announce that Bernie Bristoll, a volunteer on HMS Belfast, passed away last week. Bernie began volunteering with IWM in March 2018 and also served onboard as a Leading Telegraphist during the ship’s final commission in 1962-63. Bernie greeted every visitor with a smile and a friendly comment as he sat in the Bridge Wireless Office with his Morse Key, album of photographs, and a never-ending anthology of stories. On most days, Bernie refused to take a lunch break, and would often insist on staying beyond the end of his 'watch' so as not to disappoint anyone in the queue waiting patiently to meet him. Everyone who had the privilege to meet Bernie will have a different story to tell. All will have experienced the delight as he tapped back their name in fluid Morse Code far more rapidly than they had 'transmitted' it to him on their Morse key, and seen the expressions of wonderment on the faces of our youngest visitors when he correctly announced their names. Smiles and laughter characterised every encounter with him. The warmth and generosity with which Bernie shared his memories was treasured by members of the HMS Belfast Association, the ship's staff and volunteers, and the thousands of visitors who regularly named him as the favourite part of their visit.
Are you planning a visit to HMS Belfast soon? Hear what visitors had to say below about their experiences on board below. If you've already visited HMS Belfast this year, tell us what you enjoyed most in the comments below. Plan your visit: bit.ly/3j2Z2lE
On Boxing Day 1943, Vice Admiral Robert Burnett was in Soviet Russia on board HMS Belfast, having escorted an Arctic convoy there. Burnett’s warships were preparing to escort the next convoy back to Britain, when intelligence reached them from the Admiralty in London. The battleship Scharnhorst and five destroyers had left their Norwegian base. These convoys had baited out one of the Allies’ most wanted warships. HMS Belfast and the rest of the convoy were no longer embarking on a return journey home, they were heading for battle. Find out what happened at the Battle of North Cape in this episode of IWM Stories: bit.ly/34KfenI
Have you visited HMS Belfast since we opened brand new displays and interactive experiences on board? Hear what visitors had to say about their experiences below, and let us know what you enjoyed most! Plan your visit: https://bit.ly/3BdiqVo
“I was a primary school teacher so I never come unprepared, because you get so many different people from all over the world. You just hope that it'll interest people. What I'm able to do is use what I was trained to do all my life, so that children can be brought in to hear the stories." Edith was born during the Second World War, describing her memories as "snapshots from an album". She now volunteers with IWM’s We Were There programme on board HMS Belfast, sharing her experiences with visitors. On Friday 18 February, meet veterans and eyewitnesses on board HMS Belfast, and gain first-hand insight into the impact of war on people’s lives. Find out more: bit.ly/3sBViMh
"I teach the children the basic morse code. The morse is there but to actually do it with the public is like being back in the navy again. Just seeing them go away happy, that's what it's all about." Bernie served as a leading Radio Operator in the Cold War. He is now a volunteer on board HMS Belfast for IWM’s We Were There programme, where he introduces visitors to Morse Code. We Were There is running on board HMS Belfast on Friday 18 February, where you'll have the chance to meet veterans and eyewitnesses to conflict. Find out more: bit.ly/3Lx1gqb
Mike Matthews served on board HMS Belfast as she neared the end of her active life at sea. He would go on to have a long career in the Royal Navy but back then, he was an engineer under training. He remembers the adventure he had getting on board for the first time, life on the ship and how he learned how to stay warm on long night shifts. Hear more: bit.ly/3Ij93pn
There’s no ship quite like HMS Belfast. No other vessel surviving in Britain today has witnessed historic events of the same magnitude. HMS Belfast took part in one of the greatest naval engagements of the Second World War; survived Arctic conditions to bring relief to Britain’s ally, the Soviet Union; led the way on D-Day in 1944; and played a major role in Britain’s support for the United Nations forces fighting in Korea from 1950 to 1952. There’s also no museum quite like HMS Belfast. You can walk the same decks, duck through the same hatches and climb up and down the same ladders that the men who served on board the ship would have done. Explore all nine decks and discover what life was like for the 900-strong crew for whom this ship was home. Plan your visit today: bit.ly/3aWqOfF
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the history lover in your life? With an IWM membership they'll get year of free entry to all of our sites. From the perfectly preserved Churchill War Rooms underneath the heart of Westminster to the most significant surviving Second World War Royal Navy Warship - HMS Belfast, there’s no end to the stories you can discover as an IWM member. Find out more about gift membership: https://bit.ly/3qjuvVl
Today, 21 October marks 50 years since HMS Belfast took up residence on the River Thames and opened to the public as a museum on Trafalgar Day 1971. This footage, captured a week earlier shows HMS Belfast travelling under Tower Bridge through the Pool of London. Learn more about HMS Belfast and plan your visit today: https://bit.ly/3aWqOfF © IWM ADM 4524
The allied evacuations from Dunkirk in 1940, codenamed Operation Dynamo, are often described as a miracle. After Germany's blitzkrieg swept through France and the Low Countries, expectations were dismally low, and yet over 338,000 allied soldiers were saved. So how did they do it? Find out in this episode of IWM Stories: https://bit.ly/3zbmNgI
Have you ever been watching TV and recognised a certain historic warship? HMS Belfast isn’t just a huge name in London’s long list of world leading museums. She has also played a starring role in some iconic cultural moments from the past few decades. Maybe you’ve seen her in music videos, on TV or even in films? Let us know below. Find out more on our website: https://bit.ly/3BKTzqP
Are you planning a visit to HMS Belfast soon? Hear what visitors had to say about their experiences on board below. If you've already visited HMS Belfast this summer, tell us what you enjoyed most!
HMS Belfast is one of only three remaining vessels from the bombardment fleet which supported the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. But two years before D-Day and Operation Overlord, the Allies mounted a daring rehearsal raid on the French port of Dieppe. The attack ended in disaster, but out of its ashes came one of the greatest unsung inventions of the Second World War, one that would keep the Allies in the fight when they returned to invade Normandy. Find out about the Mulberry Harbours in this episode of IWM Stories: https://bit.ly/2Y1kdNx
This summer, we opened brand-new displays, refreshed exhibition spaces and new multi-sensory, interactive experiences on board. You can enter one of the 6-inch gun turrets for an immersive sound experience, steer HMS Belfast to her destination in time for D-Day and explore the 'World of Warships' fully equipped free interactive gaming room. But don’t just take our word for it. Hear what visitors had to say below.
It’s 1944 and the most important day of the war so far is looming. You and your family are needed as the latest naval recruits. Learn about the biggest invasion in history as you explore HMS Belfast. This interactive storytelling experience is based on personal stories from those who served on D-Day. Drop-in activity recommended for families with children aged 7+. Free with general admission. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3i7pk6y
Are you planning a visit to HMS Belfast this summer? Hear below from visitors about the COVID-19 precautions on board. We want you to book a great day out at HMS Belfast, without worry. If you, or any member of your party test positive for COVID-19, are asked to self-isolate by NHS test and trace (or the Test and Trace app), or have any symptoms of COVID-19, please let us know and we will be happy to rebook your tickets for another time.
On 25 June 1950, the Korean War broke out when Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. HMS Belfast played a major role in Britain’s support for the United Nations forces fighting in Korea from 1950 to 1952. But the Korean War was primarily fought on land, so why did HMS Belfast see such intense action during this period? Why was the Navy so important during the war? And what made the so-called Forgotten War so brutal? Find out more from IWM curator Rob Rumble in the latest episode of IWM Stories: https://bit.ly/3wCNSIu. Visit HMS Belfast today to discover more about the Korean War.
Conditions in the Arctic were so cold that a ship's metal and the crew's skin would freeze tight against each other in an instant; so dark in the winter that dawn and dusk were only an hour or two apart; the seas so mountainous that a gun turret roof could be ripped off by the force of a single wave. Such was the life awaiting HMS Belfast. On 21 February 1943, she began work as an escort ship for the convoys crossing the Arctic Ocean to and from the Soviet Union. You can find out about the Arctic Convoys on board HMS Belfast when we reopen on 8 July. Until then, discover more on our interactive timeline: https://bit.ly/3gcojcs
In June 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. HMS Belfast was soon in action. She spent more than 400 days on patrol, steaming over 80,000 miles, and firing more shells than she did in the whole of the Second World War. She even had her 6-inch guns replaced part-way through the conflict after wearing them out providing constant support for the troops on land. The Americans christened her ‘that straight-shooting ship’ and could hardly believe that her guns were partially hand-worked. You can find out more about the Korean War on board HMS Belfast when we reopen on 8 July. Until then, learn more on our interactive timeline: https://bit.ly/3z3OiKF
“My favourite object in the whole museum’s collection is HMS Belfast… It’s like a second home”... Edith was born during the Second World War, describing her memories as "snapshots from an album". She now volunteers with IWM’s We Were There programme on board HMS Belfast, sharing her experiences with visitors. Although it’s not possible to meet our We Were There volunteers right now, you can still discover their stories online. Find out more about Edith: https://bit.ly/3g9PFyE
“When we came along the English Channel we passed thousands of landing craft, of all shapes and sizes… And as we approached the coast of France we could hear thousands of bombers overhead and then all along the coast there were loud explosions and great fires.” HMS Belfast crewman A Jones wrote a letter to his family in Stoke-on-Trent, the day after D-Day, describing the extraordinary events he had witnessed. D-Day was the largest naval, air and land operation in history. On 6 June 1944, HMS Belfast helped lead the opening bombardment of Operation Overlord. At 07:30 the first wave of landing craft surged past HMS Belfast to cheers of support from her crew. By nightfall Allied troops had established a firm foothold along a 50-mile stretch of the shoreline. You can find out more about D-Day on board HMS Belfast, when we reopen on 8 July. Until then, visit our interactive timeline: https://bit.ly/3u1q53C
"I sent press reports by Morse Code to newspapers in London. In 1959, I was transferred to minesweepers which were patrolling Cyprus. Our mission was to stop fishing trawlers smuggling weapons to Cyprus from Greece and Turkey.” Bernie served as a leading Radio Operator in the Cold War. He is now a volunteer on board HMS Belfast for IWM’s We Were There programme, where he introduces visitors to Morse Code. Although it’s not possible to meet our We Were There volunteers right now, you can learn more about their experiences through their online profiles. Find out more about Bernie here: https://bit.ly/2S5nzfG
With the end of the Korean War, HMS Belfast’s future was uncertain. In 1955, the decision was taken to modernise her. Between 1956 and 1959 HMS Belfast was rebuilt. She gained new anti-aircraft weapons, new masts and a new fully-enclosed bridge. New equipment was also fitted to protect the ship against nuclear, biological or chemical attack. Once modernised she embarked on a whistle stop tour of the world’s greatest ports for her final tour of duty. Find out more on our interactive timeline: https://bit.ly/3gw6d5J
Although HMS Belfast is closed until the summer, you can now visit Duxford Outdoors! At Duxford Outdoors, you can explore the mile-long grounds of Imperial War Museum Duxford – Europe’s largest air museum, and another of our five museums. Discover the stories behind the historic site with our self-guided trail, get up close to the huge hangars, and uncover hidden gems you might miss during a regular museum visit. IWM Duxford is in Cambridgeshire and accessible by car, train or bus with free parking onsite. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3goEJit In line with government guidelines, the museum remains closed and only outdoor spaces are accessible.
“I went for’rd to the fo’c’sle mess deck. I was standing at the bottom of a ladder when an explosion lifted me some feet in the air, jarring my teeth and chipping them. The lights went out and there was a deathly silence. I rushed up on deck to find many bewildered men milling around.” George Woodley was a boy seaman on board HMS Belfast in 1939 when a magnetic mine exploded beneath the ship’s hull. HMS Belfast headed for a practice shoot in the Firth of Forth on the morning of 21 November 1939, at 10:52, when there was a violent explosion. She had struck a magnetic mine – the damage to her hull was so severe that she was out of action for three years. Find out more on our interactive timeline: https://bit.ly/3vhbouB
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