A TV documentary on the Clydebank Blitz has unearthed some amazing stories of the bombs that hit Paisley.
Anecdotes, memories and stories passed down from nearly 80 years ago were sparked by Peter G Heron who’d watched the programme.
Peter was flooded with information after asking: “I know several bombs were dropped on Paisley, notably Woodside First Aid post.
“Does anyone know the other locations in the town that were hit?”
That provoked a deluge of responses on the Paisley Facebook site and Mags MacGee revealed all the streets where a bomb landed.
A total of 34 bombs and a pair of landmines were dropped by the Nazi Luftwaffe on Paisley between March and May 1941.
The town was not their target, but Renfrewshire was so close to the Clyde shipyards the Germans wanted to obliterate.
Mags said the information detailing where the bombs fell was contained in the book ‘Bombs over Paisley’ by George Prentice.
It all happened between March 14 and May 7.
Matthew Canavan said: “The parachute mine which landed in Newton Street hit and totally destroyed my grandfather’s house and stables.
“He was on firewatch at the time and was blown the length of the street.
“One of my uncles refused to get out of his bed when the sirens sounded and was dug out from the rubble barely alive.”
Tony Allison said: “I remember my gran saying one landed in Newton Street damaging St Mary’s Church hall and the West Primary.”
And Moira Albers Labonte added: “My mum was in the cellar of their home on Roffey Park Road when the bomb went down in Barshaw Park.
“She remembered the dirt falling on their heads.”
Jean Harrison lived in Springbank Road and can remember running to her gran’s house in Shortroods Crescent.
She recalled: “The planes were just above our heads and when the all clear came we were shocked. The building next to gran’s was flattened.
“Next day I remember picking up pieces of shrapnel in the park across road from where we lived.
“It was a night I will never forget.”
And Kate Anderson revealed: “My uncle Hugh Goudie was injured at Woodside and was found alive in the mortuary by his father James, who was thought to be hysterical when he screamed he was alive.”
Two Buddies were killed when ordnance fell in Newton Street, below.
Rae Bellshaw Haye was sure she was going to be hit by a bomb.
She said: A landmine hit the Ferguslie area and I remember that night we were in the shelter on Candren Road.
“We were all praying and crying and so scared.”
The worst incident by far was on May 6 when a Heinkel-111, returning from bombing Greenock, dropped another which landed on the Woodside First Aid Post, staff seen below, and a tenement.
It killed 92 and was remembered four years ago at the 75th anniversary.
Jenny Enterkin, then 102, paid her respects at a memorial service.
She was 27 and was knocked out, her leg was shattered and all her teeth were blown out.
When someone found her, all she was wearing was her shoes — and one of the metal hair curlers she had in became embedded in her skull.
RAID TIMELINE
A total of 34 bombs and two landmines dropped in Paisley between March and May 1941. Here is a timeline of events:
March 14, 1941
On a field between Windsor Crescent and Glasgow/Paisley railway line.
April 7/8
Barshaw Park — near the bandstand
78 Seedhill Road — two killed
5 Ardgowan Street — field at rear
11 Braids Road — adjoining tennis court
1 Shortroods Avenue
59 Oakshaw Street — at the close
Riccartsbar Mental Hospital
May 5/6
3 Underwood Road — garden at rear and between the house and railway
St James RC School, Inchinnan Road
Craw Road Institution Piggery
9 and 11 Bankfoot Road
40 Bankfoot Road
92 Tannahill Terrace — road
92 Tannahill Terrace — garden at rear
42 Greenock Road – Garden at front
St James Park — north of McFarlane Street
34 Newton Street — two killed
Woodside First Aid Post — 92 killed
141-147 Tannahill Terrace — garden at rear
93 McFarlane Street — garden at rear
87 McFarlane Street— road
21 Ferguslie Park Avenue
Six Bombs dropped on fields beyond Ropeworks Gockston
West Campbell Street/Ferguslie walk junction
May 6/7
16 Main Road Castlehead — garden
28 Main Road Castlehead — garden
Ferguslie Gardens
St James Public Park — 80 yards from Greenock Road
Stirrat Street.
