The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission name 493 people killed in Clydebank on the two nights of 13th/14th and 14th/15th March 1941. Of these 484 people either have an address where they died or this can be deduced with reasonable certainty.
Nearly one-in five of those people died on Second Avenue. At numbers 72 to 80 there were 61 people who died. There is a second cluster at numbers 158 to 163 where a further 23 people died. Four more people are also known to have died on Second Avenue, giving a total of 88.
This photo is from 1934 (photo credit: Britan from Above), looking north from the river with the Singer’s factory in the bottom left:
Second Avenue is the first street above this, with buildings on the north side in this section. The road junction on the right edge of the photo is Singer Street and the properties numbered from right to left, numbers 44 to 54 taking us to Hill Street (just to the right of the centre of the photo). To the left of Hill Street are the properties numbered 58 onwards. Number 70 was skipped and I believe this was where the path cuts through the terraces behind. At the western (left) end the road splits with the curve of First Terrace visible.
Numbers 72 to 80 were the properties to the left of that pathway:
It’s incredibly lucky that there is an even better view (photo credit Stuart McBay, link to post):
So compared to the aerial view, this colourised photo is looking from left to right, back up the hill to the junction with Singer Street.
Looking at this map from 1937 the colourised postcard is just south of the allotment gardens, looking to the right in the map:
Frustratingly, no single map available online covers all of Second Avenue in the years before the Blitz.
The above photo, which I originally found on Tom McKendrick’s website, shows the view looking back down the hill. The location comes from the telephone box, compared to the 1937 map – in the very top left you can just see the letters TCB which stands for Telephone Call Box, suggesting the photo shows the view from the junction with Hill Street:
Those who were killed at Number 72
The Cahills: Williamina (nee Macdonald), known as Mina (47), who was married to John Cahill (died 1956). Her daughters also died here: Anna (11), Elizabeth (10) and Wilhelmina (4). When John and Williamina were married in 1929 they both worked in a sewing machine factory.
Samuel Harris (69), widower
The Mullingers: Rebecca (50) and her son William (17). Rebecca’s husband, Patrick, was not among the dead (possibly died 1956).
Those who were killed at Number 74
The Boyles: William (38) and Bridget (nee Duffy, 36), with their two children Elizabeth (5) and William (3). When they married in 1933, William was an engine fitter and Bridget was a dressmaker.
The Cullens: Patrick (27) and his wife Nora (nee Phillips, 32). When they married 1939, Patrick was a joiner and Norah (spelled with an h in her marriage record) was a domestic servant at 22 Drymen Road, Bearsden (the house named Carrickarden).
The Dorans: Charles (62), his wife Mary (65) and their daughter Isabella (25)
Elizabeth Duffy (64)
The Dunns: Mary (42) and her daughter Grace (20), who was a nurse. They lived at number 72 but are recorded as having died at number 74. Mary’s husband John was not among the dead.
The Joblings: Mary (nee Conlin, 39) and her children William (17), John (16), James (11) and Daniel (9). Mary’s husband, William, was not among the dead. When they married in 1922, William was a rivetter and Violet was a waitress.
The Lindsays: Violet (nee Macklam, 40) and her children John (10) and Margaret (7). Violet’s husband, Duncan, was not among the dead. When they married in 1929, Duncan was a hammerman and Violet worked at a sewing machine factory.
James Stevens (77)
The Williamsons: Catherine (37) and her children James (7), Janetta (6) and Annie (5). Catherine’s husband was a gunner in the Royal Artillery.
Those who were killed at Number 76
The Divers: Edward (76) and his wife Mary (76). Edward’s older brother (I presume) Hugh (81), a widower. Their adult children Edward (50, a widower) and John (44). John’s wife, Margaret (44) and their children Edward (13), and the twins, John and Margaret (9). Edward’s son, Edward (8).
The Gillies: Annie (62) and Margaret (23)
The McGills: Mary (nee Diver, 47) and her son John (10). Mary was the sister of Edward and John Diver, see above. Mary’s husband, John, was not among the dead.
The Mckenzies: John (56) and Mary (nee Hannah, 59)
The Peoples: James (37), his wife Janet (nee Gardiner, 28) and their son James (1).
These people were visitors
William Hunter (49) who lived in Albert Road; his wife Elizabeth was not among the dead.
William McKinlay (64) of 3 Kitchener Street
Samuel Ramage (31) of 56 Boquhanran Road
David Wilson (29) of 342 Nuneaton Street, Glasgow
Michael Crerand (39) of 129 Thistle Street, Glasgow
Joseph Logan (24) of 8 Wallace Street
Michael and Jospeh died at 76b Second Avenue
Those who were killed at Number 78
Alexander Mckenzie (70), widower
Visitors
Elizabeth Baxter (53) of 6 Buchanan Street
Margaret Rankin (6), daughter of David Rankin
This person was killed at Number 80
Rachel Reid (70)