Killyleagh WWII hero to feature in TV show on first generation after Northern Ireland founded

Killyleagh WWII hero to feature in TV show on first generation after Northern Ireland founded

21 October 2020

KILLYLEAGH World War Two veteran Martin Charters features in a new BBC documentary which will be screened next Monday evening.

Exploring the remarkable lives of some of Northern Ireland’s oldest citizens, True North: The First Generation, reveals the heartwarming stories of those born in 1921 when Northern Ireland was founded.

Mr Charters — affectionately known in Killyleagh as Tina — grew up in Shrigley and remembers the economic hard times of the 1930s. 

The new documentary hosted by journalist Stephen Walker who has been reporting on events and politics in Northern Ireland for over 30 years for BBC News NI, hears from some of the men and women who are as old Northern Ireland itself as the province approaches its centenary in 2021.

And with the Killyleagh man’s very own centenary on the horizon, the documentary hears from him and others who have witnessed great social, economic and political change over the decades. Stephen sets out to discover how events have shaped their lives, the places they have been and the memories that they treasure.

Through his intimate conversations with Martin, Aileen Pollock, Isobel Lavery, Eileen Sweeney and Mairead Liddy, the BBC man discovers that they have many fascinating and important stories to tell. 

Stories of childhood, the world of work, the life-changing impact of war and of love and marriage.

The journalist hears how Martin joined the RAF and became a tail-gunner in a Lancaster bomber, taking part in dangerous bombing missions over Europe with the local man and the programme’s other contributors sharing their warm, affectionate and life-affirming stories of meeting their partners in the dance halls of the 1940s and ’50s, where romance and love blossomed and marriage beckoned.

Using rich archive and music from bygone years to illustrate, the heart-warming and life-affirming personal stories of Martin, Aileen, Isobel, Mairead and Eileen are a timely reminder of the challenges they faced across the decades and what we can learn from their long lives.

Mr Charters is a familiar figure in Killyleagh and on Remembrance Sunday continues to lay a wreath at the town’s war memorial in memory of his fallen comrades.

In November 2014, Martin was presented with a prestigious Bomber Command Clasp during a special presentation ceremony during a ceremony at the Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick.

He flew nearly 40 missions during the Second World War, many of them as a rear gunner in Lancasters and was presented with his special award by former Down Council chairman William Walker.  Also taking part in the ceremony was RAF Air Vice Marshal David Niven and other guests.

Martin joined the RAF in 1941 and during his remarkable service throughout the war he worked as a mechanic on Spitfires and later as rear gunner in a Halifax, seeing nearly 40 missions over Europe. He also trained rear gunners for Lancaster bombers.

The Bomber Command Clasp was approved by the Queen for those who qualified with service to Bomber Command between 1939 and 1945 and who already hold the 39-45 Star. 

Mr. Charters was sent to train as a mechanic in Blackpool after joining the RAF before he was deployed to St Athens in South Wales.

He initially trained on a Hawker Fury biplane, with his training lasting around 11 months before he was sent to Fighter Command 11 Group to work on Spitfires as a mechanic in early 1942. 

The veteran, who is one of just a handful of surviving members of Bomber Command, was later moved to an army unit before being transferred back to the RAF unit in 1943 and based in West Yorkshire with his operational training for bombing missions to Germany carried out in the Isle of Man.

After the war, he worked in Australia and Canada before returning to settle in Killyleagh.

Martin saw a lot of active service and was delighted to be a special guest at the international Festival of Flight in Newcastle a number of years ago to witness the distinctive Lancaster bomber soaring overheard. 

Next Monday night’s documentary which is made by DoubleBand Films for BBC Northern Ireland, will be screened at 10.45pm on BBC1 and is also available on the BBC iPlayer.