I’ve used this photo from 1934 before for the parachute mine that landed on 72-80 Second Avenue just after midnight on the 13th/14th March 1941 (link) but I am now using it to show the approximate positions of six other incidents that night or the following night in the Radnor Park area.
To briefly recap, the air raids sounded over Clydebank and Glasgow at 9pm on the 13th March and the first bombs fell around 9.15. When an explosion caused a death, it was referred to as an incident by the civil defence organisations, and I have used that term here as well.
The records I currently have access to are the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) register of civilian war dead. My understanding is that this was compiled by local authorities in the mid-1950s and submitted to become a central register. This gives a name, usually an age, immediate family relations (parents, spouse) in most cases, home address and the address where the person died. I’ve taken this information and worked out who died in the same incident.
In addition, I can access the record of each person’s death on the Scotland’s People website, as well as information from the 1940 Valuation Roll, which shows the head-of-household for each property by address.
The incidents listed here were a mixture of high explosive bombs and parachute mines.
Radnor Street (yellow circle)
There are several photos of Radnor Street before and after the Blitz but they are all in the section between Kilbowie Road and the junction with Robertson Street / Singer Street.
There was a pub on the corner of Radnor Street and Robertson Street owned and run by a member of the family who established the Tennent’s Brewery, makers of the famous lager at Duke Street in Glasgow (this is a great link, click). In 1941 the owner was George Beaconsfield Tennent (1882-1961 who lived at 35 Victoria Crescent Road in Hyndland). He also ran Tennent’s Bar and the Three Judges on Byres Road (among others?)
Working from the 1940 Valuation Roll:
The pub was numbered 62-64, and the tenement above it was number 60.
Going down the hill towards Kilbowie Road, number 58 was a butcher’s shop and next door at 56 was a pawn broker’s; the tenement above was numbered 54.
Number 52 was a draper’s shop, with 50a above. Number 50 was a stationers, number 48 was a ‘provision merchant’ (presumably a grocer’s), and number 46 was a butcher’s; the tenement above was number 44.
Number 42 was a shop (type unknown) and number 40 was a shoemakers, with the tenement above numbered 38.
This was the end of the shops, the other tenements having flats at ground floor level.
This is significant for understanding the photos we have of Radnor Street.
The camera is at the junction of Radnor Street, which runs downhill to Kilbowie Road, with Roberston Street out of shot to the left and Singer Street out of shot to the right.
The pub owned by the Tennent family is on the left, then there are two shops with shades, the one nearer the camera being a butcher’s – of course this was in a time before refrigeration so the last thing the butcher wanted with the meat on display was direct sunlight. Next to that, also with a sunshade is the pawn brokers and, sure enough, at first floor level you can see the distinctive three balls.
Beyond that there are three shops, the third of which has a sunshade because it was also a butcher’s, and beyond that again two more shops. At that point the buildings start to slope down the hill.
Two other small points to notice. First, the houses on the right pre-date the tenements, from the turn of the century when Radnor Street (Skypes Road?) linked the cluster of houses at Church Street, Spencer Street, Granville Street, etc to Kilbowie Road. Second, there appear to only be two street lights, one outside Tennent’s Bar and one a little further down on the right-hand side – I wonder if they were gas or electric?
Graham Stenson previously posted this excellent comparison to the present day view:
We can compare this to one of the best-known Blitz photos, what we assume to be a family with father carrying a suitcase (not looking very heavy in his left hand), mother with a bag, two children and an older woman.
But we can now position this about twenty yards further along Radnor Street from the previous photo, the shops just above the children’s heads being numbers 42 and 38 i.e. the shops furthest down the street.
There is a second photo, possibly in the same series. Here is the colourised version:
We can see the same buildings in the background as in the previous photo, but now with a parked car. The photo seems to be taken from the junction with Robertson Street, an impression that is confirmed on seeing this second photo, possibly a second photo taken from the same spot but pivoting slightly to the left:
I wonder if the trailer-type vehicle we can see on the left is a mobile water supply for the people still living in the area? It’s known the water mains were damaged by bombs and they may not have been restored at this point.
But by counting back from the shop fronts identified above in the photo with the family, we can be fairly certain this is a photo of the rubble from the demolition of three tenements, numbers 60, 54, 50a and 44. The roofs visible just above the rubble are presumably in Cornock Street.
But keep your eye on the wall on the far left of the photo with the fireplaces, just above the water-cart (if that’s what it is). Here it is again:
In the caption to this photo it is definitely identified as Tennent’s Pub, so the chimneys to the left are in Robertson Street. Given that the pre-Blitz photos show tenements of four stories and the ruin in this photo shows three fireplaces before the roof, then the rubble is probably six to twelve feet deep (the slots to take the floor joists are visible just below the lower fire place).
Note the young girl gazing at the ruin, possibly the same child who appears in the photo of the family walking away down the street. You can also see that while the earlier photos show a path for vehicles had been cleared through the rubble up Radnor Street, it still seems to fill the roadway of Robertson Street.
I’ve gone to some pains to piece this together because number 60, the flat above the Tennent’s pub, was the place where 26 people died.
These people had number 60 as their home address:
Gilbert and Euphemia Dempster, both aged 54. Mary Dempster, 57, and her daughter, also Mary, 29 died here as well; Mary was the widow of Gilbert’s brother (died 1932). Gilbert came from Forres and his job was as a polisher at Singers.
Hugh and Sarah Kelly and their daughter Doris, ages 49, 47 and 16. Hugh’s job was as a carpenter at Singers.
Margaret Lockwood, 38, and three of her children Elizabeth (14), Frederick (10) and Margaret (6). Margaret, nee Russell, had been recently widowed; her husband, James, was the driver of an electric crane. Elizabeth worked at Singers.
John and Catherine Richmond (41 and 43), and seven of their children Christina (17), John (15), Margaret (13), Douglas (10), Elizabeth (7), Catherine (5), Janet (3). John and Catherine married in Glasgow in 1924. John occupation was as an engineer (engine fitter).
These people were visitors to number 60:
Peter Russell, 38, who was a shipwright and was married to Elizabeth Downie Hind. Peter was born and married in Clydebank, with his first child being born at 34 Radnor Street and the second at 60 Radnor Street. CWGC records his wife’s address at the time as 6 Stewart Place, Catrine, Mauchline, Ayrshire which I suspect was her parents’ home. If correct, this probably reflects the wartime policy of evacuation out of potential targets for bombing.
Hugh Hart, 60, worked at Singers. His home was across the street at 51 Radnor Street but his place of death is recorded as number 60 – could he have been in the pub when the air-raid sounded?
Alexander Campbell, whose home at 34 Granville Street had been destroyed the previous night. His job was as a town cleansing labourer and he was married to Isabella Parker; they had at least one child, Sarah.
Two visitors to the building had as their occupation “spirit salesman” which makes sense now we know Tennent’s bar occupied the ground floor. They were: Archibald Wilson, 31, of 42 Millbrix Avenue, Garscadden, and Alexander Lochhead, 17, of 13 Gordon Street (off of Glasgow Road, Clydebank, I believe?)
In addition, Mary Ann Murphy, aged 67, suffered multiple head injuries at number 44 Radnor Street. Her husband, James, ran the butcher’s shop at number 46, on the ground floor of their tenement. She was evacuated to Blawarthill Hospital (by Garscadden Station) but died at 3pm on the 15th March.
Crown Avenue (orange circle) – Untold Stories 10 (Esther Anderson, 13)
In the book “This Time of Crisis”, it is stated that the incident at Radnor Street was caused by one of two parachute mines that came down at the same time, with the second landing on 64-66 Crown Avenue. The records of the deaths of those who died tend not to be specific but in two cases, one from each incident, there is agreement on 10pm on the 14th march (i.e. the second night of attacks).
Nineteen people died here at 64 and 66 Crown Avenue:
William Duncan, 37, a house painter
Margaret McKenzie, aged 16, who worked at Singers. She was the daughter of Duncan and Margaret McKenzie; Duncan was an engineer’s labourer.
Margaret Robertson, 46, and three of her children David, Mary and Annie, ages 15, 12 and 10. Margaret’s husband, Andrew, was a ship beater’s helper, also a member of the ARP Rescue and Demolition Squad.
Robert and Joan Skinner, ages 40 and 43, and their children Margaret (12), Elizabeth (9), Joan (4) and Robert (2).
Thomas Anderson, aged 33, and his daughter Esther, aged 13.
Thomas Dolan, 49, and two of his children, Thomas and Mary, aged 17 and 15. Thomas’s job was as a public gardens labourer.
Elizabeth Heggie, 32, and her daughter Charlotte, 10. Born Elizabeth Abbot, she married William who worked at Singers.
Church Street and Spencer Street (red circle on map)
To my knowledge there is one view of Church Street pre-1941, posted by Stuart McBay to whom I send thanks for making so many unique views of this area available:
Here is roughly the equivalent Google Street View from 2019:
Church Street numbered from the Radnor Street end with the even numbers on the left so the furthest house is number 2, counting up as you come towards the camera.
A bomb fell, probably just behind Church Street at between 10.30pm and 11pm on the 13thMarch, the first night.
The following people died here:
Marion Aird, 44, and two of her daughters, Isobel aged 18 and Tomina aged 15. Their home address was 23 Planetree Road, Dalmuir, so they may have been visiting someone in the area when the raid started.
Lilian Bowman, 46 and three of her children, Hannah aged 19, Archibald aged 16 (an apprentice engineer) and Albert aged 21 who survived and was taken to the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow where he died the next day. Lilian’s husband, Richard, was a labourer.
Two people died here who seem to have been visiting. Isabella Shaw, 20, lived at 55 Crown Avenue. Archibald Adamson, 19, was a Home Guard (possibly on duty?), of 19 Rosebery Place. In the CWGC record, Isabella’s place of death is given as Church Street and Archibald’s as Church Street Shelter.
In addition eleven people died or were fatally injured in Spencer Street – where a specific address is given (1, 7, 9, and 10) it is often in a property backing onto 10 Church Street. This could suggest they were all killed by the same bomb.
The following people died here:
Brother and sister John and Margaret Forrester, ages 57 and 48. John was a boilermaker’s labourer. They died at 1 Spencer Street which was Margaret’s sweetie shop.
Nellie Clason, 31, and two of her daughters, Elizabeth aged 8 and Agnes aged 5. Nellie was born Nellie Forrester Pollock (although she used Helen as her name on the record of her marriage) and married John Clason in 1928; at the time John was a wood sawyer and Nellie was a machinist, probably at Singers. At least one of their children, Peter, survived.
Marie Young, aged 6. The CWGC record I am working from does not list any parents so I checked the record of her death. This gives her mother as May Pollock, afterwards Hardie; no name of a father is given. Pollock was, of course, the maiden name of Nellie Clason. On checking Nellie was indeed the older sister (by six years) of Mary (May) who married William Hardie in Glasgow in 1939. Marie could have been a visitor but as this was during the school week it’s also possible she lived with her aunt Nellie. Her surname, Young, is a mystery.
John Morgan 62, was injured and evacuated to Robroyston Hospital where he died on the 17th. His job was as a machinist, probably at Singers. He was a widower
Patrick Curran, aged 77. He had been an iron turner earlier in his life and had lived in the Hutchesontown area in the Gorbals. With his wife, Elizabeth he had at least eight children.
In addition, three young women visiting the street died:
Isabella Cooper, 20, of 179 Duntocher Road, who worked at Singers.
Emma Scrimshire, 16, of 128 Second Avenue and Janet Slater, 16, of 48 Second Avenue. Emma’s job is difficult to read on the record of her death but may be biscuit baker. Janet worked for the Cooperative Society – it’s possible they both worked at the Co-op bakery.
If I am correct in believing this was a single incident, 20 people died or were fatally injured.
In addition, James Leckie, aged 75, died at Granville Street (he lived at number 34).
Second Terrace (green circle on map)
There are several views of the terraces before the Blitz. Here is one example:
As is well-known, First Terrace fronted onto the main road, Second Terrace and Third Terrace then curved around the hill behind.
The following photos are from “Clydebank Blitz in Pictures”, published by West Dunbartonshire Libraries (possibly edited by Iain McPhail?). The first includes pipework in the grounds of the Singer factory in the foreground:
This photo is in the heart of the terraces, showing the destruction:
From the record of death of one victim, this incident is thought to have taken place at 4.30am on the 14th, late on the night of the first attack.
These people are definitely thought to have died at Second Terrace:
Rosetta Bell, 31, married to a blacksmith, James Bell. James was an ARP warden on duty in another part of Clydebank went it happened. One of Rosetta’s sons, also James, has left a moving account of his upbringing with aunts and uncles in “Untold Stories”, page 132.
Mary Cairns, aged 50, wife of Thomas Cairns
William Shuter, aged 31, who was a shipyard labourer. His usual address was 196 High Street, Dumbarton, so he may have had temporary lodgings at Second Terrace.
In addition, four people died that night where the CWGC record gives no specific location within Clydebank but a home address of Second Terrace. It is not certain they died here as well.
Eric Betty, 16, formerly Eric Middlemiss adopted son of William and Mary Middlemiss. He worked at Singers.
Malcolm Brown 46, who survived to be evacuated but died in the ambulance possibly on the way to the Cottage Hospital, Dumbarton, certified on arrival at 4am. His address is not given in CWGC records but it was number 1 Second Terrace. With his wife Mary McLachlan he had at least two children. He worked at Singers.
Ethel Gillespie, 25, who lived at Second Terrace. She survived with injuries to her back and head, and evacuated to her parents’ home in Blantyre where she died two days later.
Mary Wood, 63, who survived with multiple injuries and made it to the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, where she died at 9.20 the following morning. Her husband, Andrew Wood, was a general labourer.
If all four of these people did indeed die or receive a fatal injury at Second Terrace then the total is seven for this incident.
La Scala (purple circle shows site)
The cinema opened on Valentine’s Day, 1938 (see link for an excellent history) so it is missing from the aerial photo at the start of this article (from 1934).
On the evening of 13th March 1941, the air raid sirens sounded while a film was showing and an air raid warden in the cinema told people it was not safe to leave; people were quite frantic to get home, but the order to stay seems to have been obeyed.
I am not aware of any evidence the cinema was hit by bombs, although buildings were destroyed all around, including a major incident in neighbouring properties on Graham Avenue. I have also seen reference to bomb damage to a near-by hall possibly on the opposite side of Graham Avenue with injured people being brought to the cinema. Formally or informally, it became a first aid post.
John McLafferty, 47, a shoemaker of 15 Livingstone Street. Died at 1am on the 14th
Robert White, 18, of 48 Crown Avenue
The cinema building itself bore a charmed life. This view is south from Kilbowie Road, by the junction with Crown Avenue:
This view is from the south with Kilbowie Road on the right-hand side, Second Avenue below the cinema with a sole surviving building. The row of tenements at the top are on Radnor Street, as seen earlier in this article:
Greer Quadrant (light blue circle)
Three people died here, at numbers 4 and 14:
Catherine Hughes, 59, of 4 Greer Quadrant. She was the wife of David Hughes.
Russell Thomas, 37, and his daughter Rosemary aged 9 – their home address was 170 Hope Street, so they must have been visitors. Russell was an Adjutant in the Salvation Army and married to Elsie Thomas.
I cannot find any pre-1941 view of Greer Quadrant. This is the closest I have seen, looking north across Kilbowie Road with West Thomson Street junction to the left of the tram:
I believe Greer Quadrant are the houses at the crest of the hill.
At West Thomson Street (precise location unknown), bus driver Thomas West, who lived in Sinclair Street, Milngavie, was struck in the throat by flying shards of glass. He was evacuated to Robroyston Hospital but died on the 17th March.