Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 1:00pm

Book to 'redress' Blitz censorships

DESPITE being one of Scotland's "biggest human disasters", an author believes there is not enough known about the Clydebank Blitz away from the Clydeside.

This weekend will mark the 69th anniversary of the Luftwaffe's two-day bombardment of Clydebank on March 13 and 14 1941.

John, 43, says wartime censorship had a profound affect on the way the Clydebank Blitz was reported in the rest of Scotland and Britain, and believes the stifling effect that had still has repercussions today.

The number of people who were killed in the Blitz was not openly reported in the press at the time.

And although 528 people are identified and remembered on the Blitz Memorial at Old Dalnottar Cemetary, John says there is evidence to suggest there were people killed who have never been accounted for due to the lack of proper records on who was in the town on those two nights.

John told the Post: "In wider Scotland there is not a lot of awareness about what happened in Clydebank.

"Surprisingly few books have been written about it although this really was a big human disaster for Scotland.

"There was a censorship, so the number of people that died was most likely under-estimated."

He also thinks the Government had not prepared residents well enough for the bombing raids despite the high risk.

The book will also explore confusion surrounding provisions put in place to tackle the aftermath of such raids.

Fire engines from all over Scotland were called in to help put out the raging fires in Clydebank but John said the hose couplings each area's fire engines used were often different, meaning some vital equipment was effectively rendered useless.

He is looking for anyone with anecdotal evidence of these things.

He will be attending the Blitz Memorial Service in the Blitz Chapel, Kilbowie St Andrew's Church, Melfort Avenue, Drumry, at 2pm on March 13.

He is keen for anyone with stories about the Blitz to approach him afterwards.

Stories can also be emailed to jm.macleod@btinternet.com.

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