大象传媒

This is an extension of my WW2 memoirs thanks to some encouragement from Researcher Helen!

My last article was about the Raid on the Forth Bridge 16Oct1939 under Ref A1975872 on Nov 5th 03.I have since reseached an old notebook I kept as part of a School project I took part in towards the end of the War.

My first note referred to the Clydebank Blitz and this was my experience of it's spin off as it affected us in Edinburgh.

Along with my friend Jack Thomas we had gone to the Embassy Cinema in Boswall Parkway(Edinburgh)watching a color film called (I think)The Rains Came.The mid evening screening was interrupted by the Manager coming on stage to announce there was an Air Raid Warning in force but the screening of the film would continue.Knowing our parents would be worried and as we only lived near the cinema we decided to sprint for our homes.

Outside the sky seemed to be full of aircraft obviously German droning along some visible in the moonlight.There was an A>A>Battery at West Pilton and a Rocket Battery at Crewe Toll not far off they seemed to be sending up a few desultory rounds not the barrage the situation required according to our local ARP Warden Mr Williamson who I met as I jumped into our Anderson Shelter he was having a cup of cocoa with my parents.We went into the shelter at around 8pm and I believe the All Clear went off around Midnight which meane we had no School until the afternoon. There seemed to have been little opposition to this massive strike force and I now know it was the Clydebank Blitz of13/14 March 1941.The glow of the fires could be seen from Edinburgh 47 miles away.I was13 years old and my father sent my mother and I away to relatives in Aberdeen for safety (!!!)

After a short time Aberdeen also fell victinm to Luftwaffe attacks aircraft based at Stavanger could reach the City in just over an hour and we were forbidden to visit th Beach Esplanade which was heavily fortified with AA guns (mainly Bofors)to defend the Harbour installations and Shipyards.It was quite common to have a daylight strafe from either a Heinkel or Dornier spraying the Beach area and Football grounds with MG fire.At this tine we were staying with relatives in Mannofield which was about as far out of Aberdeen as you could go on the tram.I attended school locallly and one day there was a major air attack on the Harbour,again we had taken shelter in one of the concrete public shelters by the school in Broomhill Road.A great many powerful detonations were heard and we heard thet fire tenders go tearing along to what had been the Ice Rink a policeman asked me where I was going and I said Morningside Drive so he directed me past the blaze which was caused by a German bomber crashing.At this time there was talk of us returning to Edinburgh but it had also been bombed so it was decided we'd stay put.

Later in the War thre was a raid on the Mannofield Reservoirs at the back of the Cricket Grounds and the bombs whistled down on a night Raid ,only two exploded.The next morning we watched the Royal Engineers bomb disposal boys pull another two UXB's from a field using a couple of Clydesdales borrowed from the local farm.That was enough to get us sent back to Edinburgh on the next day.I thought no more about it for almost 20 years until I met a colleague on a BOAC Course in London,he had been at a Boy's Brigade meeting in the Music Hall in Union Street during the Ice Rink incident.He was the late John Morrison from Tullos Circle which had been bombed the same day.

To finish on a more light hearted note I had returned to Trinity Academy in Edinburgh in 1943 to finish my wartime education.On the declaration of VE Day on the 8th may 1945 school was dismissed for the day.We were told to return next day for a Thanksgiving Service by the Rector Albert Weir.If we wanted there was to be a record session on the school radiogram (a Disco if you like)and bring your own records.My contribution I recall was Military band marches which was appreciated .Ian Oldham my classmate (and evacuee from bombed Plymouth)brought Glen Miller records he had been given by a US serviceman
The Music teacher got to her feet and switched off the record"I dont approve of this "she said and the day finished up with stodgy country dance music!!
Having got all this down now I feel I really have gone on too much but if any of it is of interest to any reader then I am satisfied.
greenhill2

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