THE CLYDEBANK BLITZ
Producer and director
Documentary | history
On the 13th and 14th of March 1941, the town of Clydebank was almost wiped from the map. It was the heaviest Luftwaffe bombing raid on any Scottish town in the Second World War and by the morning of the 14th, tens of thousands had been made homeless.
After the second night of bombing, it was estimated that only seven buildings were left undamaged and only 2000 people were left living in the town that had a population of 60,000 only two nights earlier. Clydebank lay in ruins and the legacy of that raid is a town that has still not fully recovered – even seventy years later.
Spoken mainly by the people who were children at the time, the programme tells the story of the Clydebank Blitz and of the effects it had on the town. They talk of the air raid preparations, the raid itself, the damage, the refugees, the repercussions and the reconstruction. They also talk of the countless acts of heroism that night: 28 medals and commendations were awarded, including five George Medals.
The Clydebank Blitz
60 min with Finestripe Productions for BBC Scotland
First TX March 2011, 70 years after the bombing
Camera DOUGLAS CAMPBELL
Assistant Producer
LORRAINE McKECHNIE
Exec Producer KATIE LANDER
Editor JOE SPEIRS
Written, produced and directed by
IAN LILLEY