Re: Billy Conelley
Scotland's Blitz
When people talk about 'the Blitz', they often mean the air raids on London or Coventry. But lots of other places in the UK were bombed during World War II. Scotland came under attack from German bombers. Glasgow and the Clyde, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee were bombed as well as towns and cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Why was Scotland bombed?
Scotland had factories, coal mines, engineering works and shipyards. These industries were important to the war effort. Scotland's industrial areas were important targets for German bombers. German planes flew across the North Sea to drop bombs on Scotland.
Glasgow had many factories. There were shipyards along the River Clyde and cargo ships gathered in the river to form convoys.
Many people in industrial areas lived near their workplaces. When factories and shipyards were bombed during Scotland's Blitz, hundreds of people were killed. Many more were left homeless.
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Over two nights in March 1941 Clydebank was attacked by German bombers. All along the River Clyde were factories making ammunition, and shipyards. These were important targets for German bombers, but homes too were hit.
Clydebank was home to tens of thousands of people. Many lived in tenement flats close to the factories and shipyards where they worked. After the bombs fell 4,000 homes (out of 12,000 in Clydebank) were in ruins.
It's probable this family, like 40,000 other people, had seen their home destroyed by bombs. Very few tenements survived without damage. Most blocks were so badly damaged they had to be pulled down. It was years before new homes were built.
Rescuers worked very carefully to bring out people still alive but trapped beneath rubble. It was a very dangerous job, because damaged buildings often collapsed.
Shows just how much YOU know about Scotland!!
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