Front face in tribute to the citizens of clydebank who suffered and endured in the devestation by enemy action on and 14 march 1941. When the blitz came to clydebank open university in scotland. Clydebank blitz documentary about scotlands worst civilian disaster the intense bombing suffered by clydebank over two nights in march 1941, news of which was censored at the time. Clydebank blitz military wiki fandom military wikia. People who lived in clydebank a scottish town largely destroyed during luftwaffe air raids in 1941 share some of their firsthand experiences of life during reconstruction of the town. Seventy five years ago the air raid sirens were beginning to sound in clydebank. As a result of the raids on the nights of and 14 march 1941, the town was largely destroyed. The clydebank blitz 15 march 1941 national records. The blitz was a severe blow to the town, with the aftereffects almost as horrendous as the bombing itself. Clydebank blitz survivor weeps for brother killed in. Artist tom mckendrick researched the impact of the blitz and the aftermath on local residents. Intense bombing in march 1941 left the town devastated with thousands of homes destoyed, high casualties and many left homeless. The clydebank blitz has always been at the back of my mind. Read about the effects of world war 2 on the industrial town of clydebank.
It was considered to be the worst case of destruction and civilian deaths in scotland during the war. Picture gallery clydebank blitz clydebank was set ablaze during waves on luftwaffe attacks on and 14 march 1941. Discover the history of the clydebank blitz with the clyde waterfront heritage guide. Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the clydebank blitz project is a communityled project, funded by a heritage lottery fund sharing heritage grant. The worst of these attacks was the clydebank blitz, which took place on march th and 14 th 1941. Welcome to the new and revised site about the clydebank blitz by the artist tom mckendrick. Remembering the clydebank blitz picture britainpicture. One of the most intense german bombings took place there on the th and 14th march 1941. Thousands were killed over a period of only two days in march 1941. The worst of these attacks was the clydebank blitz, which took place on march th and 14th 1941. It was the only location in scotland to be subjected to intensive luftwaffe bombing. See more ideas about the blitz, battle of britain and war. A service is being held at westminster to mark the 75th anniversary of the clydebank blitz a total of 528 civilians were killed when the west dunbartonshire town was devastated by two nights of. Clydebank blitz download srt and ass for movies and tv.
Dedicated to over 500 known victims of the clydebank blitz who lost their lives during the clydebank blitz th and 14th march 1941. My grandfather was in the fire service in edinburgh and was called to help all i know is he fell through floors in a tenement building i know no more as he died in 1988. It is agreed by all observers that the bearing of the people in clydebank was beyond praise. Glasgow suffered the highest number of fatalities about 650, but in proportion to its population of about 50,000 the burgh of clydebank suffered the worst.
There can be no doubt that the clydebank blitz succeeded in causing massive dislocation and hardship to the population. Most people are aware clydebank was attacked during world war ii to deadly air raids known as the blitz in 1941. Importantly, the psychological effect was the exact opposite of what was intended. The forgotten blitz on scotland that left hundreds dead. Part one of the documentary about scotlands worst civilan disaster. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. This is a valuable account of the traumas suffered by clydebank as it was bombed by the luftwaffe on and 14 march 1941. But how much do we really know about the attack that left hundreds dead. Janiece calabrese download cassell military classics. A target during ww2 due to the concentration of shipbuilding with john browns shipyard located on the river clyde. On the nights of 14 and 1415 march 1941 luftwaffe bombers raided clydeside and inflicted casualties in several.
The bombing destroyed the towns infrastructure and thousands of homes. The clydebank blitz on th and 14th march 1941 saw in excess of 450 elite german pathfinder bombers fly over the area during the two nights of bombing. Over the nights of the th and 14th march 1941 clydebank, glasgow, was repeatedly bombed in a. With reference to written sources and the memories of those who survived the experience, john macleod tells the story of the clydebank blitz and the terrible scale of death and devastation, speculating on why its incineration has been so widely forgotten and its ordeal denied any place in national honor. Westminster service for clydebank blitz heart scotland.
According to the local councils website, this cemetery, just south of great western road, opened in 1911. The first devastating aerial attacks had hit england in september 1940, but the luftwaffe only focussed its efforts on some of scotlands large industrial towns in march 1941. This clydebank blitz powerpoint will help your children to learn about events in the second world war and how they affected the people of clydebank. Click on the link below to be taken to the new site where you will find survivors accounts, photographs, a bomb map, a list of casualties and images from the blitz exhibition. On a moonlit evening on thursday march 1941, just after 9pm, the first of 236 german bombers converged on clydeside.
There have been 100th anniversaries from the first world war as well. Due to the crucial wartime role of its shipbuilders, clydebank suffered heavy bombing during the second world war. Clydebank blitz march 1941 world war two devastation in the street b448jh from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Know your history the clydebank blitz rebecca graham. But, outside scotland, few have ever heard of the clydebank blitz.
The number of casualties attributed to the clydebank blitz is 528. During world war ii, on march and 14, 1941 at around 9pm, the majority of the town was destroyed by german bombers. With reference to written sources and the memories of those who survived the experience, john macleod tells the story of the clydebank blitz and the terrible scale of death and devastation, speculating on why its incineration has been so widely forgotten and its. On a moonlit evening on thursday march 1941, just after 9pm, the first of. Government information released after the war stated. But clydebank people were no stranger to hardship, as those acquainted with the towns history will know.
On th march 1941 more than 200 german bombers took off from airfields in norway, denmark, germany, holland and. Scran is a uk charity with a learning image service. As in london, the clydebank blitz had not broken the peoples spirit. Clydebank blitz victims memorial garden war memorials.
It contains a memorial link for those who died in the clydebank blitz of 1941. From 1936, clydeside was involved with the whole of britain in preparations for a war which was likely to involve aerial attacks on civilian and industrial targets. Glasgow, greenock, aberdeen and the coastal burghs of the north east were all bombed during the war, but clydebank suffered the sad distinction of being the most heavily damaged town in britain. Plans were made for the evacuation of children to safe areas and for the.
One resident is quoted as saying, i dont think that clydebank has ever fully recovered from the blitz. Bbc news in pictures picture gallery clydebank blitz. Westminster to hold service to mark 75th anniversary of. Gary ralston joined some of the survivors as they paid tribute yesterday to the loved ones they lost. Clydebank blitz march 1941 world war two devastation in. This can be confirmed by british and german archives. The two nights saw 528 people dead and a further 617 residents seriously injured. By downloading any images or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and. More than 1200 people died when nazi bombs rained from the sky 60 years ago. Clydebank blitz world war ii 193945 scotlands history. This cemetery was eventually superseded by north dalnottar cemetery link which opened in 1972, and which is located on the other side of the road. Rear face this memorial cairn was erected by the provost, magistrates and councillors of clydebank and was unveiled on their behalf by provost frank downie jp 11th october 1961. March 15, 1941 it is 9pm in scotland as i write this.
The clydebank blitz refers to two devastating luftwaffe air raids on the. The morning after a luftwaffe blitz on clydebank march the disability history museum promotes understanding about the historical experience of people with disabilities by recovering, chronicling, and interpreting their stories. It was terrible to see the town that you lived and grew up in disappear in two nights they should have rebuilt the place to give the people a chance they had paid dearly. We found subtitles for the program clydebank blitz. On thethursday, th march 1941, they came back to their house at 191 langholm street in yoker, not knowing what lay ahead of them that very nightthe start of the clydebank blitz. The following list of civilian war dead was compiled by the war graves commission and is to be found in the roll of honour placed in westminster abbey. The german airforce targeted local munitions factories and shipyards during the blitz. The clydebank blitz 15 march 1941 on the nights of 14 and 1415 march 1941 luftwaffe bombers raided clydeside and inflicted casualties in several industrial centres.
A map showing the impact of the clydebank blitz in 1941 tom mckendrick it got worse, with the skylight smashed by the bombing, and. Wwii march 1941 civilians who have lost their homes to bombs during the clydebank blitz near glasgow, scotland, uk. Specially commissioned stained glass window by eilidh keith 1997 in a memorial side chapel. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading clydebank blitz. The clydebank blitz, comprised two devastating luftwaffe air raids on the shipbuilding and munitionmaking town of clydebank in scotland which took place in march 1941. And yet their spirits, while challenged, rallied as london rallied, as britain itself. A total of 528 civilians were killed when the west dunbartonshire town was devastated by two nights of. Clydebank blitz memorial lairich rig geograph britain. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Scotlands history modern scotland the clydebank blitz the clydebank blitz 1941 the adobe flash player and javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page.
After 10th may, hitler abandoned the blitz and most of the luftwaffe were reassigned east in preparation for germanys invasion. On and 14 march 1941, clydebank was the target of one of the most intense luftwaffe bombing raids of world war ii. The forgotten blitz in ww2 that left hundreds dead and. Heavy industry and shipbuilding naturally made clydebank a target for the german bombers when the war came. The principal feature of the book is the way in which macleod gives prominence to the voices of those who witnessed the bombing, although he does not engage critically with these accounts.