World War II

People from Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State (the Republic of Ireland) helped with the war in various ways. In England, Scotland and Wales, the Westminister Government had used conscription to call up able-bodied men to military service. Conscription means that the government has the right to order people to join the military and it is usually only imposed during times of war.	^{An RAF ID Card.} ^{© Fermanagh County Museum}
Conscription was not introduced in Northern Ireland because the Irish Free State was neutral during the Second World War and the Westminister Government did not want to anger the Irish Government by imposing conscription on the men of Northern Ireland. Despite this, many men from Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State volunteered to join the army, navy and airforce to fight overseas. Those left at home worked in industry, assisted in Air Raid Precautions, the Ulster Home Guard and on farms.
In Fermanagh, men worked on the construction of airbases at Castle Archdale, Killadeas & St. Angelo airport which were to become of major strategic importance for the Allies. This provided employment for men from Fermanagh as well as others from places such as counties as far away as Donegal, Sligo, Cavan and Leitrim. To conserve supplies of petrol and diesel, people were advised not to travel by car or lorry unless it was completely necessary. People often cycled to work partly because petrol supplies were so scarce but mainly because few people had enough money to purchase a car.	^{A military Jerry Can to store diesel and petrol.} ^{© Fermanagh County Museum}