Scottish shelfie.

A “shelfie” of my Scottish cookery books.

Today marks the anniversary of Clydebank Blitz. Both my parents were there- my mother as a baby, held in my grandfather’s arms all night and my father as a wee boy. Both were evacuated afterwards- Mum to Rothesay and Dad to Darvel.

I came across this today- I hadn’t seen it before. I have reproduced it in full.


I came across this a few years ago and it touched me on so many levels. We who didn't experience the horror of the Blitz will never truly understand it and my heart goes out to all those who saw things that no human being ever should, especially the children.
The letter is striking in that it is written in a very matter-of-fact way, probably mindful of the wartime censors, and this , to me, makes it so much more harrowing. God bless all who suffered and also those who have survived and lived their lives with this horror in their minds

A first-hand account of the terrible nights of the Clydebank Blitz, March 1941.


This letter was written between March 28th and April 3rd, 1941 by Thomas Kearns, a riveter, who had been evacuated with his family, from 83 Dumbarton Road (Brown’s Buildings) to Main Street, Alexandria.
It was written to his old friend, Patrick Diamond, a Bankie (although originally from Ireland), who was then living in Belfast. Mr. Diamond never received Mr. Kearns letter. So touchingly, and in such detail did it describe the devastation of Clydebank that the wartime censor banned it.
The letter was only returned to Mr. Kearns after the war had ended and the original is in the hands of the Smith family – Mrs. Kay Smith is one of the twins mentioned in the letter, known at that time as Kathleen Kearns.
It was re-printed in the Clydebank Press of March 12th, 1971 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Blitz.
There is no censor now, and Thomas Kearns’ letter will bring many memories to those who lived through those terrible nights, and educate present and future generations of the horrors of war.
Thomas Kearns died in 1965.
28th March, 1941.
370 Main Street
Alexandria
c/o J.Shannon
My Dear Patrick,
I guess when you see this above address you will wonder what this is all about.
Well, P. I received your letter alright delivered at headquarters thanks ever so much for very kind enquiries regarding our safety in terrible time we had during the Clydebank Blitz.
God knows P. we are ever so thankful to our Merciful Saviour that we are all alive and sound to tell the story. The wife, Margaret, the twins Kathleen and Ellen and Jim with myself are so far happy and contented down here in the beautiful Vale of Leven. Tommy and Willie are evacuated to Kirkintilloch and alright, just a misunderstanding we are not together, kind of mix-up in the evacuation from Clydebank.
Well P. no doubt you have limited news regarding the raid by the Murderous Knights of the Air. So this is a war, not as we have fought and read about on the battle-fields of France and Belgium but a “Murderous Attack” on the poor defenceless women and children in their homes, terrorising and sending to eternity the peaceful and industrious citizens of the industrious town of Clydebank. Paddy to tell you by writing what we have come through would be almost impossible.
The town of Clydebank, Dalmuir, Radnor Park, Parkhall, Mount Blow Scheme, Whitecrook, Yoker and Duntocher and starting at Bowling the bombers almost wiped out the entire Clydebank and named districts.
Well P. as you are really a native of Clydebank and much interested in your Old Town Land I do hope Mr. Censor will be good enough to let this go through to you, being one of the Old Contemptibles.
On the night of 13th March the sirens sounded around 9 p.m. We were just sitting at the fire after the children got to bed, the gunfire started, this made us a bit panicky naturally, a hurried dressing of the children and rush down to the close level with our neighbours and there we remained for 9½ hours, with the bombs and land-mines dropping from the moon-light heavens.
They seemed never to cease their terrible murderous attack. The buildings began to rock with the heavy high explosives, windows began to blow in, doors and ceilings, slates and plaster with mixtures of soot and God knows what.
The building was on fire at the bridge end, and to keep Goering’s Bombers with a good target Singer’s enormous piles of wood got set to a raging furnace which could be seen for miles and high. They peppered away, never a lull in all this time.
We prayed and prayed and God must have heard our prayers and at the break of day after 9½ hours we received the all clear. We got out to the street to give a hurried look over what was once the big building , tattered and torn from end to end, but still standing , a place like it and surrounding districts is practically indescribable a shambles of a once Browns Building.
After returning to the house, alright in a way, but with doors off and windows out never-the-less with the children wearied and tired out after their awful experience they got a few hours sleep.
Well P.I had a walk up the town. What a place, only wreckage piled up all along Dumbarton and Glasgow Road, and everybody it seemed to me to be making for somewhere. I could not just at that time realise, however, I was not long in getting wise to it, the people were making for some kind of safe refuge away from it.
The Great Evacuation of Clydebank had begun. I guess it was a desperate state of affairs. So far I didn’t learn how other parts of the town had fared.
I was looking for a place I could get a little refreshment, only one open and fit for business the Blythswood, got a little pick-me-up and went over to my brother Pat’s place in Whitecrook. He was bombed out house and everything total wreck, but thank God, his wife and family safe and well after their ordeal in their Anderson Shelter.
Hundreds of people in this district homeless and many without fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. Paddy to give you the facts, I venture to say right now the places you know so well starting from Bowling, bombed, several places on up to Old Kilpatrick along the housing scheme between O.K. and Dalmuir, houses wrecked and burning heaps of debris.
Dalmuir from the car terminus to the Benbow Hotel a terrible sight, most all houses all bombed and burned with incendiaries to the ground.
St. Stephen’s, Dalmuir, completely levelled and house and school likewise.
From there right around the Holy City as we used to call it, Radnor Park. Well, you can imagine for a moment those houses on the terraced hill all a mass skeleton of walls and entanglements of twisted iron.
We have read in our time of Earthquakes and seen some in America, but God help us and keep us from a sudden an unprovided Death. But this Hill was a Hell upon earth on the morning of 14th March. Hundreds must have lost their lives in this terrible affair.
Well P. let me come along Kilbowie Road. Them streets leading on to Cbank Juniors New Field awful destruction, now on to your old lodging quarters, Gordon St & Livingstone St. Bombed and blasted with Gun Fire what a place. Over the Canal Bridge Patsy Gallagher’s pub demolished and completely out of action. The Big School burned to its Four Bare Walls.
The L.N.E.R. Bridge got a direct hit and surrounding Buildings down and out Kilbowie Rd pretty sound from here and along Glasgow Road to Miller St on fairly good shape. But the Poor old Model received one right on its no more at least in the mean-time. The town Hall and all that Block intact. The Library in bad shape.
From the cross right up to Elgin St standing good and safe so far, and yet, I may say P. this one stretch are all the Oldest Buildings in the Town.
Our Holy Redeemer’s School and Priests House escaped all harm, thank God for that.
I may say just now you remember our Parish Priest, Dr. McEwen. He is dead and was buried yesterday, a very big funeral. He had been unwell and seemed to be improving but I guess this terrible Blitz was to hasten his end. May he Rest in Peace.
Now then P., to carry on with my story, as we arrived quite safe in Alexandria City. I guess you were here many a time in the Good Old Football Days. We like the place very well and billeted with very nice Catholic people, and they do their utmost to make us happy away from Heart-Breaking surroundings.
Well P., just as was expected The Raiders and murdering Bombers came over again on the Friday night thank God we were out of the immediate danger. CBank got it Dalmuir again, Yoker and Duntocher. We heard the Guns Booming and Bombs and Land Mines exploding. We were safe, but so many yet remained and I am sure many have lost their lives in Friday Nights Blitz.
Our Big Buildings with the exception of the first three closes which includes ours, No. 83, was almost unrecognisable on Sat morning. A lot of people were killed in the Building. I know of six. Bob Marshall, George, James and Maggie had a miraculous escape form instant Death. Their part of the building was hit Land-Mine totally destroyed on the Friday Night. They were sheltering in the close with some Neighbours but Thank God got through. They had to be dug out of the Building but with wonderful Luck escaped serious injury. Bob a little lame, and Geo a bit of a knock on his arm. They are evacuated to Paisley. I was talking to Bob and Geo yesterday at Requiem Mass in O.H.R.
Well again to carry on. Yoker Napier Street heavily land-mined and buildings down to the ground along Campbell St Yoker at Yoker’s Park, you know well; great destruction and on to the Cawdor Vaults and Lovat Arms at the burn completely wiped out, also the Yoker distillery and Buildings adjoining.
Well P. I may be right and I may be wrong, but if this gets through I will be surprised. I started writing this on the 28th last month. This is now 3rd April. Excuse delay. I started work on Monday after my rest-up after the Blitz, I was more than surprised to learn from your former letter of the Death of Eddie the Gateman. Well, if you mean big Lehan he is alive and well. I was talking to him on the Friday Night at pay-time on the job at the Gate. I was telling him about you and what you had heard of him. He had a good laugh and said “Well tell Patrick I was asking for him kindly.” He is very much alive and came through the Blitz O.K.
I was talking to John Craig he is safe and well. He was asking for you kindly.
Well P. I was thinking about big Frank your Old Room-Mate and your Land-Lady. I have not seen him but I must be making enquiries.
Now P. I wish I could only get a talk with you these times and troubles we are going through are all against the proper spirit in the way we ought to be enjoying Peace – Perfect Peace. Let’s hope with God’s help that the termination of this horrible bombing will soon be ours to enjoy many Happy Years with Our Own Family and Friends.
Well PatK I trust again this finds you and Mrs Diamond and Family in the Best of Good Health. The Twins particularly ask to be remembered to you and the Children.
So, Patrick, the Mrs joins in Wishing you the Best of Luck and Regards.
Good Night.
God bless you all.
Yours very Sincerely,

(signed) Thos. Kearns.