Clydebank Blitz

Post by **HeatherH** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:42 am

Hi there,
I came across this earlier and thought it might be of interest to some.

http://www.wdcweb.info/OnlineStorys/blitz/site01.html

Hope the link works.There is both pictures and voice telling of the devastation of the area and the efforts of the local citizens.
Happy Hunting,
HeatherH

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:08 am

This was Scotland's "Coventry", - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/date ... 522785.stm ....

In the case of Clydebank, the government managed to keep the fact of the real extent of this bombing raid relatively secret until quite recently; their original fear being that, otherwise, panic would break out among the civilian population in the West of Scotland ..........

David

Post by **Ina** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:42 am

Greenock also suffered at the hands of the Germans for two nights on May 6th and 7th 1941. ........I was just a baby but I survived it. There is a great book " The Greenock Blitz", I believe it is available on Amazon. Worthwhile reading, also has many photos of the devastation suffered in the town.

Ina

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:41 am

Below is a link to the casualty list of the blitz

http://www.clydebankrestoration.com/bli ... 0list.html

For the Aberdeen, Dumbarton, Glasgow, Greenock and other Scottish Lists see the National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle or visit the Mitchell Library Glasgow

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:33 am

A new book about the Greenock Blitz and hundreds of other wartime stories has been complied by Vincent Gillen, curator of the McLean Museum in Greenock. Will find out more.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:18 pm

Andy wrote:A new book about the Greenock Blitz and hundreds of other wartime stories has been complied by Vincent Gillen, curator of the McLean Museum in Greenock. Will find out more.

Yes please !!

David

Post by **joette** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:33 pm

I grew up adjacent to the Oil Refinery pictured in the Clydebank Blitz link
in fact my Great-Uncle(whose wife I was given the middle name off.) was working there the nights it was bombed.He was given a civilian decoration-?George Medal for his bravery that night.
My Aunt was six weeks old & she was spared an almost certain death when their shelter had a bomb drop in the next street.When the raid was over the young couple with the husband home on leave that my Grandparents had swopped places with to give them some privacy found that their baby had either been suffocated by the shock wave or had her lungs collapsed by same.Not a mark on her but dead.My Granny felt so guilty & so relieved at the same time.
I grew up with marks of the Blitz all over town.I loved to hear the tales my rellies told not releasing the danger,pain & loss involved.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:45 pm

Thanks for the link, Heather. My family was from Greenock and I have only recently begun to learn the full story.
Catherine

wini · Post by **wini** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:11 am

Don't know if any one has mentioned the details of the book on the Greenock Blitz.

The book is available in 2 forms-printed, or on a CD disc in pdf format. The book is in 2 volumes and costs twenty five pounds plus p&p
The CD costs five pounds plus p&p

Vincent Gillen is the contact at the email address below

museum@inverclyde.gov.uk

wini

Post by **HeatherH** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:33 pm

Welcome Catherine,
I haven't found any rellies in Greenock yet during WW2 but my Mum and Dad both told us stories as we were growing up.Dad remembered seeing the skyglowing bright red from where they stayed in Nitshill and Mum remembers seeing the flames from a Sugar Refinery that was hit.She lived in Millport at the time.I would imagine that while many were lucky that their areas were spared they must have lived with all the same fears at this time wondering if they or a loved one would be next. I found the site to be a good source of what was going on in those times and how peoples lives were affected.I'm not happy with a tree full of just dates and places I want to know about the people and the times.After looking for my rellies for 2 years now I feel I know some of them as I uncover more facts to go with the family lore.
Happy Hunting,
HeatherH

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Clydebank Blitz

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CLYDEBANK BLITZ