W.V.S. Warden Martha Allister of Enid Parade, Belfast died on 5th May 1941 as a result of enemy action at Witham Street, Belfast in The Belfast Blitz.
Women’s Voluntary Service Warden Martha Allister was a fatal casualty of the Belfast Blitz during the Second World War. She lived with her husband Robert Allister at 21 Enid Parade, Belfast at the time of the Luftwaffe attack on the city.
Martha Allister died on 5th May 1941 aged 48 years old at Witham Street, Belfast. She had gone to help a friend salvage her belongings on the morning after the Fire Raid. Her name is on the Women’s Voluntary Service Roll of Honour, which records 241 names of those who served and died during the Second World War. A citation reads:
Hearing that a friend’s house was damaged in the raid, she went to help her salvage her belongings. An unexploded bomb in the house next door exploded, killing all the occupants and destroying both houses.
The Commonwealth War Graves civilian casualty list records a date of 4th May 1941 for Martha Allister. However, the circumstances surrounding her death indicate that time of death would have been on the morning of 5th May 1941. Martha Allister’s grave is in Section A1, Grave 241 of Dundonald Cemetery, Dundonald, Co. Down. A funeral service took place on 8th May 1941.