The North’s industries Northern Ireland’s industries grew, so unemployment fell from pre-war levels of 25% to 5% during the war. Warships and merchant ships were built at Harland and Wolff, over 1,600 aircraft were built by Shorts. Tanks, parachutes, rope and shells were all produced for the war effort. The North’s farmers also prospered. They received guaranteed prices for their food on the British market. Food was shipped from Belfast port to Britain every day, as compulsory tillage orders increased the acreage under flax, oats and potatoes.
Northern Ireland’s contribution to World War II Historian Thomas Hennessy said, ‘Northern Ireland’s main contribution came in the areas of food production and munitions. Farmers provided Britain with £3 million worth of cattle and sheep per year, 20% of home-produced eggs and 25,000 gallons of liquid milk in four out of six wartime winters. Belfast’s shipyards produced 140 warships, 123 merchant ships and repaired 3,000 ships. Munitions producers manufactured 75 million shells, 180 million incendiary bullets, 50,000 bayonets, and a variety of other military material. ... Northern Ireland’s only Victoria Cross was won by James Magennis, a Belfast Catholic in the Royal Navy, in July 1945.’
