Remembering the Clydebank Blitz

The Clydebank Blitz was one of the most destructive air raids in Scotland during the Second World War which had a lasting impact on the town and its people. The brutal attack occurred over two nights on the 13^th and 14^th of March 1941, and a large number of the population of Clydebank homeless. Dunbartonshire is one of the ten recruitment areas of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and so whilst many of the Argylls from this area were in service overseas, this Blitz had a horrific impact on them and their families.

Clydebank, a key industrial town near Glasgow, was heavily targeted due to its significant contribution to the British war effort. During the First World War, Scotland’s shipbuilding, engineering works, and coal mines were some of the main supply sources for the war effort. When the war ended, however, many people became unemployed as demand fell which caused widespread poverty. For many young men, joining The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was one way to escape poverty. When the Second World War began, many of the industries that thrived during WW1 bounced back. More than 100,000 people found jobs in the shipyards on the River Clyde and 20,000 were employed in the Royal Ordnance Factory in Renfrewshire. Many of these workers were women and they produced propellant for the British Army and the Royal Air Force, and later cordite (an explosive powder) for the Royal Navy.

The west coast was known for its shipbuilding and Clydebank was to exceed all previous records at shipbuilding production during WW2. As well as producing naval vessels, Clydebank began to produce weapons. Beardmore’s Works became as Engineering Royal Ordnance Factory in 1941 which produced anti-aircraft guns and The Singer Sewing Machine Factory in Clydebank began to produce munitions. These shipyards and factories made Clydebank a high-profile target.

On the 13^th and 14^th of March 1941, 439 German bombers dropped over 400 high explosive bombs and 100,000 incendiaries. Bombing on the first night alone lasted for nine hours and despite the blackout, bombers were able to see due to the light of the full moon. Although the shipyard and munition factories were the targets, many of the bombs landed in residential areas. As a result, 528 people died, thousands were injured, more than 4,000 homes were completely destroyed and a further 8,000 damaged. Out of around 12,000 homes, only 7 remained intact. Different sources will note different numbers, but between 35,000 to 55,000 people left homeless. That was almost all the population of Clydebank. Many large schools and churches were also destroyed. Clydebank was the only town in Britain to be completely evacuated during the war. However, despite the casualties and displacement, Clydebank was able to restore production in the factories and shipyard to near normal levels in just over two weeks.

To commemorate those that lost their lives during the Clydebank Blitz, a memorial was built in Dalnottar Cemetery above Clydebank. The large memorial was designed by artist Tom McKendrick and is made of granite with bronze cast plates at its base. The castings name the 528 casualties of the Clydebank Blitz and is located over the remains of the unclaimed dead. There is a yearly memorial service held at Kilbowie Saint Andrews Parish Church on the anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz and a memorial garden is located there. This is the only Church of Scotland building to survive the Blitz bombings. An additional memorial is dedicated to the crew of a Polish destroyer which helped to defend the town from the docks of the John Brown & Company shipyard, and it is located opposite from the Town Hall.

The museum currently doesn’t have many objects, images or stories about Clydebank Blitz, Argyll soldiers experience of this, or the experience their families and friends. If you, or anyone you know, has anything in relation to this, and would like to share this, please contact: museum@argylls.co.uk . Even if you wish to keep any originals, we would be happy to keep digital records of these.

Written by Caitlin Stewart, Digital Content Volunteer