The Blitz on Clydeside

Poster Pack

Digital versions of images of posters issued to Glasgow schools as part of this project.

Posters 1-6 (of 12)

1.Aerial reconnaissance photograph of Govan taken by the German airforce in October 1939 (Archives and Special Collections, The Mitchell Library) 

Reconnaissance photographs were taken from 30,000 feet by Luftwaffe Junker aircraft. Although this photograph was taken in 1939, it was not printed until September 1941, presumably in preparation for future raids. After the war most of the German archive of these photographic prints was discovered by the United States forces and is preserved in the United States National Archives. This is one of the copies of some of those in British archive collections.

This photograph is of an area containing a number of potential targets; the 'GB' notations are references to other, more detailed photographs. The main purpose of this map seems to have been to obtain details of Harland & Wolff's engine works in Helen Street - the Clyde Foundry - and these are listed as items 1, 2 and 3. The Harland & Wolff shipyard itself is, of course, by the river (GB 83 49).

  
 
Translation of the German text: 
 
GB 8325bc Glasgow-Govan 
 
Marine Engineering Foundry, 'Harland & Wolff Ltd.' 
 
1. Workshop and manufacturing shed, large multi-storeyed saddle roof with bars and small chimneys
[area]c.36,300 sq.metres 
 
2. Workshops and outbuilding, large saddle roof
[area]c.2,400 sq.metres

3. Material storage sites

Railway sidings

built area c. 38,700 sq.metres 

Total extent c. 93,600 sq.metres

GB 45 42 Princess Dock (Prince's Dock) GB 45 43 Queens Dock

GB 50 11 Power Station

GB 56 76 Silo (Meadowside Granary)

GB 82 77 Ventilation plant for warships

GB 83 19 Harland & Wolff ship's engine construction

GB 83 20 Shipyard, Henderson

GB 83 44 Shipyard, Curle, Barclay & Co.

GB 8347 Shipyard, Stephens & Sons

GB 83 48 Shipyard, Fairfield

GB 83 49 Shipyard, Harland & Wolff GB 83 50 Drydocks and workshops 

2.Sandbagging at the entrance to Glasgow Corporation offices in Bath Street (The Herald and Evening Times)

This was just one method of protection adopted against the expected bombing of cities. Sandbagging protected key buildings from some damage, though not from direct hits. These offices in Bath Street were the headquarters of the city's Transport Department.

3.Children being evacuated from Ibrox station, Glasgow (The Herald and Evening Times) 

This photograph shows the characteristic labels, gas mask boxes, luggage bundles, excited children, and anxious parents.

4.Building air-raid shelters on Glasgow Green, [1939].(The Herald and Evening Times)

Lord Provost Patrick Dolan inspects progress in the building of public shelters. These were particularly important in a city of tenements that had a high population density and very little space alongside people's houses.

5.Bombs leaving Shieldhall sheet metal factory, [1942] (Archives and Special Collections, The Mitchell Library)

The Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (the Co-op) had an industrial estate at Shieldhall which manufactured groceries, clothing and household goods during peacetime. Like so many other factories these were turned over to making munitions, rations and equipment for the troops.

6.Field Marshall Montgomery inspecting the manufacture of landmines at Shieldhall Co-op factory (Archives and Special Collections, The Mitchell Library)

Posters 7-12 

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