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'Our house split in two' says Clydebank Blitz survivor
Margaret McDougall was only two years old when she was living in the town during World War Two.
The Clydebank Blitz was a devastating two-night Luftwaffe bombing raid on the ship-building town on March 13 and 14, 1941.
The attack resulted in significant damage to the town and its industrial infrastructure, as well as heavy casualties.
Speaking to the Glasgow Times, the 86-year-old told us of the awful night when a bomb came down on top of her home.
She said: "We didn't go to a shelter; there were shelters you could go to, but my father was the kind of person who would say, 'I'm not going'.
"So we just stayed in the house; however, an incendiary came down and the house split in two, it collapsed, and we fell down.
"My father was holding me, and my mother was holding my sister, who had just been born in the previous December; this was in March. The way she was holding her at the most awful time in her life, she let go of her.
"We had to be rescued from the rubble."
Margaret McDougall, 86, was a toddler during the Clydebank Blitz. (Image: Newsquest) One of the items on display at the new museum in Clydebank Library is a collection of Singer's sewing machines, which Margaret finds delightful, given that she sewed her own wedding dress with one.
Margaret on her wedding day, in the dress she sewed for her and her sister using a Singer sewing machine. (Image: Newsquest) Opening of Clydebank Museum. (Image: Newsquest) The Clydebank Museum was officially opened on Friday, August 15, the anniversary of VJ Day, by local councillors.
Sam Gibson, 83, was also very young during the Blitz, and says most stories he knows have been passed down from his family.
He said: "I remember being in the house and getting carried out when there was an air raid going on.
"My mother used to hang a bag in the hall with all the papers, insurance and all the important documents. The bag was the first thing that was taken, and then it was me and my three sisters.
"I remember being in the shelter and a warden or somebody was coming, and I thought he was a German and I was saying, 'they are coming.'"
Sam Gibson, 83, was very young at the time of the Clydebank Blitz. (Image: Newsquest) William Henderson, interim team leader of West Dunbartonshire Arts and Heritage. (Image: Newsquest) William Henderson, interim team leader of West Dunbartonshire Arts and Heritage, says the new museum can give residents pride in their town.
He said: "There has never been a fixed exhibition that tells the story of Clydebank in one place. So the intention with this is to give an overview of the town and its very rich history and heritage.
"People need to know about this to have a sense of place and to feel that pride that they should have in the heritage of the area.
"It was a hugely skilled and productive area. World-leading, world-renowned and people need to be reminded of that. I think the museum display certainly does that, and it's a celebration."
Councillor William Rooney, convener of Corporate Services, said: 'We're proud to officially open Clydebank Museum, and it is all the more poignant that we are also marking the anniversary of VJ Day, which signalled the end of World War II, today.
'The Clydebank Blitz has shaped this town, and the museum provides a fantastic opportunity and insight into the strength and spirit of its people in the aftermath, so it's fitting that we are marking both occasions today.
'This is an absolutely fantastic space which has something of interest for everyone — whether you're looking to trace your family history, explore the town's industrial roots, or simply enjoy learning more about the place we call home. It's an important part of how we preserve our shared story for future generations.'
