Skip to content

Groomsport and World War 2

Find out about Groomsport’s War Memorial at:
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/War-Memorial-v1a.pdf

Able Seaman Robert Waterson, 1939

Robert Waterson (1913-1999), third from the right, served on the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous which sank after being torpedoed by a German U-boat, off the south-west coast of Ireland, on 17th September 1939. 519 lives were lost.

0236 Newspaper cutting supplied by Perry Moore
If you have more information about this photo don’t hesitate to get in touch with discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Nellie Green née Waterson, date unknown

0126 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Wrens in Bangor, 1943/44. 1 of 2

These Wrens served in Bangor before D-Day in 1944. This photograph includes Nellie Waterson, in the middle row.

0186 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Wrens in Bangor, 1943/44. 2 of 2

These Wrens served in Bangor before D-Day in 1944. This photograph includes Maureen Oughton (later Lightbody) in the middle of the front row and Nellie Waterson, on the right of the front row.

0187 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Sam McDowell, 1954

Able Seaman Sam McDowell, a member of a Groomsport seafaring family, served in the merchant navy in WW2 and afterwards. 1953 he served on SS Gothic which took the young Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on a Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand.
0208 Photograph supplied by Julie Crawford

If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.

Mrs Molly MacManaway and Rev Launcelot MacManaway RN

Rev MacManaway, a Church of Ireland minister, served as a chaplain to the Royal Navy. He later became chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II.

While he was serving in World War II, Mrs MacManaway lived on The Hill with her two young daughters. One of her daughters, Maureen, returned to live in the village as the wife of the minister of Presbyterian Church – Rev David Irwin.

0282 Photograph supplied by Maureen Irwin