Kilmun Street, night of 14-15 March 1941

I was studying this photo from 1939, looking north across Dawsholm gas works and chemical works.  My clumsy attempt to match it using Google Earth is below:

To try to orientate you, you can just see the most westerly of the pools at Maryhill Locks on the right and the new houses in the middle on the right are on the corner of Maryhill Road and Cowal Street.  Maryhill Road runs from the right hand side just above the centre up to the left, crossing the railway at Maryhill Station, then heading diagonally up and left to the Garscube Campus.

Then I realised the building on the extreme right of the 1939 photo was Celtic Street Tram Depot:

The tram depot is on the near side of Maryhill Road, with the cantilevered roof.  To the right there are tenements (still standing, at the traffic lights in modern terms) but I was interested in the tenements on the other side of the street

This is a map of the area in 1910:

Here is the same area in 1933:

And again in 1938:

My interest was that the shadowy tenements just across Maryhill Road from the tramway depot are the only photo I know of the buildings around Kilmun Street.  As is now fairly well-known a landmine exploded here just before midnight on the night of 14th to 15th March 1941.  The devastation can be guessed at by comparing the 1938 map with the one for 1949:

As can be seen the properties on the south side of the eastern end of Kilmun Street, plus Shiskine Street, Kilmun Lane, and Kirn Street, have gone.

The aim of this post is not to try to retell the story or add to the narrative.  Many people have a memory of a relative having lived in the area or been involved so I have used two sources to try add some detail.  First, I used the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website to identify the people on their register of civilian war dead who might have died here.  I searched  people could have died subsequently in hospital.  This gave 79 names, four short of the total most usually quoted.  I also searched on servicemen who died on 14th March and were buried in Glasgow to see if any were killed while home on leave; this added two more names.  Second, I have used the 1940 Valuation Roll for the area which records the owner or tenant for each property (and its rateable value).  Fortunately very few people had moved flat between 1940 and 1941.

Within each address I have listed the surname in the order they appear in the Valuation Roll (presumably ground floor first?) and then noted whether anyone from that family died.

36 Kilmun Street.  A tenement with 12 flats (probably four stories each with three flats with 'room and kitchen' (source))

Hamilton: father James, 39, was a labourer in 1940 and a corporal in the Home Guard.  He died with his children James, aged 6, and twins Agnes and Robert aged 3.  Thomas, aged 8, died in Canniesburn Hospital three days later.  Margaret, born 1901, survived as did three older children, Hugh, Patrick and John, born 1924, 1926, 1928 respectively.

Blood: Charles Orr Blood, 47, was a labourer in 1940.  He died with his wife Margaret, 46, and five children: Ellen (16), Ada (10), Charles (7), Margaret (6) and Arthur (3).

Waterston: Robert, 68, had no occupation in 1940 so may have been retired.  He died with his wife, Margaret aged 35, his daughter Grace (37) and his son David (5 months).  Robert had been a railway fireman and foreman of locomotive cleaners.

McQueen: Adam, 64 and his wife Margaret, 63, died with their daughter Mary, 24.  Adam was a gasworker, presumably at Dawsholm.  Also staying was their married daughter, Jane (34) her husband Edward McElroy (38) and their daughter Angela (8) - their home address was Ferryhill Road in Aberdeen.  Jane and Edward died, Angela died two days later in the Western Infirmary.

Stirling: John was still a coal miner in 1940 despite being aged 73.  He died with his grand-daughter, Nancy, aged 10.

Jamieson: two James Jamiesons are listed at number 36 Kilmun Street in 1940, most likely this family was of James who gave his occupation as car cleaner and by 1941 was an AC2 in the RAF.  His wife, Elizabeth (28) died and his daughter Helen (7) died two days later at the Western Infirmary.  Comparing CWGC records James was actually at home on that night and also died with his wife.

Humes: Wiliam (52), a gardener, his wife Margaret (48) and their children Margaret (19) and Allan (18) all died.

Simpson: William, a tramwayman aged 34, died with his wife Isabella (30) and their sons James (9) and William (6)

Thus 35 of the 79 people named by CWGC as having died in this incident lived on the ground floor, first floor or second floor of number 36.  The occupants of the other flats, mainly the top floor, were a little luckier.  According to the 1940 Valuation Roll, the other flats were occupied by (1) John Geddes, plasterer, (2) Mrs Margaret Hannah, (3) James Jamieson the grocer, and (4) John Dudley, gardener.

34 Kilmun Street.  In the 1940 Valuation Roll this is described as a confectionery shop (a sweetie shop), owned by Norman Macdonald who (in1940) lived at number 32 Kilmun Street.  No casualties are recorded at that address.

Artwork titled Kilmun Street, Maryhill, by Ian Fleming (National Galleries of Scotland) - note confirmation tenements were four stories high.  Probably sketched from the corner with Shiskine Street, looking back towards Maryhill Road.

32 Kilmun Street.  A tenement with 11 flats in the 1940 Valuation Roll

Macdonald: In 1940 Norman Macdonald was the tenant.  In March 1941 he lived at 55 Hartstone Road in Priesthill and was not killed.  But Agnes (4) and Joan (20 months) died and their surname was "Macdonald (formerly Smith)" - CWGC says Norman was their father.  In addition Agnes Gray Smith (32) was killed at this address - she ran the sweetie shop at number 34 that Norman owned.

Lapsley: no deaths. 1940 listing for Robert Lapsley, motor driver.

McCallum: Thomas had been a barman in 1940 but by 1941 was in the armed forces.  His wife, Jane (38) was killed.

Greig: no deaths. 1940 listing for George Greig, tool finisher.

Burnett: no deaths. 1940 listing for Arthur Burnet, miner.

Smith: no deaths. 1940 listing for James, a blacksmith.

Graham: no deaths. 1940 listing for William Graham, tramwayman.

Scott: in 1940 the tenant was listed as John B Scott, scavenger.  In 1941 a widow, Marion Scott (58), her daughter of the same name aged 23 and a child David Scott (7) all died.

Findlay: no deaths. 1940 listing for William Findlay, riveter.

Isbister: Thomas (48), a joiner, Jessie (45) and their sons Thomas (10) and John (9) all died

Reid: no deaths. 1940 listing for William Reid.

Two men died at 32 Kilmun Street who were not residents.  One was Adam McWilliam, 41, from 230 Bearsden Road, Anniesland.  He was in the Home Guard and hence may have been on duty in the area.  The other man was Andrew Binnie from Stow Street (now demolished, located in Cowcaddens).

In total, thirteen people died at 32 Kilmun Street.  Ten flats are listed.

Artwork titled "Rescue Party, Kilmun Street" by Ian Fleming (National Galleries of Scotland)

9 Kilmun Lane.  In the 1940 Valuation Roll, number 9 is the only property on Kilmun Lane.  

Murphy: no deaths.  1940 listing for Michael Murphy, labourer.

Hill: no deaths.  1940 listing for Andrew Hill, rubber spreader.

Scott: no deaths.  1940 listing for William Scott, signalman.

McBride: William, a labourer. lived here.  His wife, Margaret (34) died with four of their children, William (11), Sarah (7), Grace (3) and Charles (18 months).  In addition, James Buick (28) and Margaret Buick (9) are recorded to have died at 2 Shiskine Street and at 9 Kilmun Lane respectively.  Both had a home address of County Antrim, Northern Ireland.  Margaret's mother was called Grace, so presumably James's wife.  We can link them to the McBrides because Margaret McBride was born Margaret Buick. 

Murray: no deaths.  1940 listing for David Murray, miner.

Connelly: no deaths.  1940 listing for John Connelly, moulder.

Scullion: no deaths.  1940 listing for Charles Scullion, gardener.

Scanlon: no deaths.  1940 listing for Edward Scanlon, labourer.

Irvine: no deaths.  1940 listing for Mrs Janet Irvine.

Hamilton: Edward (68), a labourer, and Mary (62) died 

In total nine people died at this property.

IWM (PL3119A) Shiskine Street, 17th March 1941 (see the end of this post for a then and now comparison)

2 Shiskine Street.  This tenement with 14 apartments is the only property listed on Shiskine Street in the 1940 Valuation Roll

Johnson: no deaths.  1940 listing for William Johnso, labourer.

McBride: William (56) died with his son Robert (7).  William was a cooper; he was the father of William McBride of 9 Kilmun Lane and father-in-law and grandfather of the McBride family who were killed.

Meichan: Helen (52) died; while she is listed in 1940 as 'Mrs' there is no mention of her husband.

Connelly: John and Annie (both 42) died with their daughter Elizabeth (11).  Note CWGC spells their surname Connolly.

Brogan: no deaths.  1940 listing for Daniel Brogan, labourer.

Orr: Annie, a widow (68) and her daughter, also Annie (29) both died.  The younger woman was a draper's assistant.  From the records, their bodies were found at the same time as Jane Elizabeth Webster, 25, a hospital nurse, whose home was at 64 Gairbraid Avenue.  Initially I suspected she may have been with the rescue parties from Garbraid School but given the fact the bodies were found together, my assumption is that Annie and Jane could have been friends and the latter was staying the night. 

Livingstone: no deaths.  1940 listing for John Livingstone, labourer.

Bradley: John (52) was a labourer.  He survived but his wife Margaret (52) died.

Burnett: no deaths.  1940 listing for Charles Burnett, miner.

Watson: Leonard (58), Catherine (52) and their children Henry (15), Catherine (12) and Frances (4) all died.  In 1940 Leonard was a engineman.  In addition, their son James (19) was home on leave from the army and was killed; he was a signalman with 52nd Division headquarters.

Higgins: no deaths.  1940 listing for Thomas Higgins, labourer.

McCue: no deaths.  1940 listing for Thomas McCue, baker.

Myles: no deaths.  1940 listing for Edward Myles, miner.

McCallum: Donald McCallum was a blockmaker.  He survived but his wife Mary (29) and their daughter Helen (9) both died.

In total 17 people died at 2 Shiskine Street.

11 Kirn Street.  Only two houses are listed on Kirn Street, numbers 3 and 11.  Number 11 had 15 apartments.

Doyle: no deaths. 1940 listing for Michael Doyle, miner.

Doyle: no deaths.  1940 listing for Annie Doyle.

Simpson: no deaths.  1940 listing for James Simpson, riveter.

Lamont: no deaths.  1940 listing for John Lamont junior, labourer.

Harrison: no deaths.  1940 listing for James Harrison, storeman.

McRoberts: no deaths.  1940 listing for McRoberts, moulder.

Docherty: no deaths.  1940 listing for John Docherty, coal carrier.

Clegg: no deaths.  1940 listing for Mrs Catherine Clegg.

McIlroy: Robert (16) died here.  1940 listing for Mrs Margaret McIlroy.

Townsley: no deaths.  1940 listing for John Townsley, hawker.

Coonie: no deaths.  1940 listing for John Coonie, engineer.

Butler: no deaths.  1940 listing for Joseph Butler, conductor.

Tuthill: Edward aged 6, and Daniel aged 5 months died here.  1940 listing for Terence Tuthill, labourer.  In addition, their cousins, Daniel and John Gregg, aged 5 and 3, of 19 Kilmun Street were injured here; both died the next day at Canniesburn Hospital.  They were probably staying with the Tuthills because their mother, Helen, had tuberculosis - she died of this cause in October 1941.

Murphy: no deaths.  1940 listing for George Murphy, moulder.

Cooke: no deaths.  1940 listing for William Cooke.

In total, five people died at 11 Kirn Street, all children.

Analysis

The IWM photo above is said to show Shiskine Street.  The first thing to note is the changes to street names since 1941.  Today, Cumloden Drive runs right up to Kilmun Street, forming the eastern boundary of St Mary's Primary School.  In 1941 this was Shiskine Street.  Today's Shiskine Street and Shiskine Drive did not exist.

Therefore we have to match the IWM photo to today's Cumloden Drive:

Fortunately the ground is sloping down from bottom left to centre right in the photo.  We know the men are standing in a roadway because the pavement is visible in the bottom left corner.  And we can see the streetlight on a road running at right angles to the sloping road.  This makes it reasonably certain the match is here:

We're looking downhill, St Mary's School just visible on the left, tenement rooves on Maryhill Road behind that.  Left turn into Kilmun Street.  The 'straight on' road in Google Street View was not there in 1941.

John 'Ian' Fleming (1906-1994), the artist who produced the two pictures I have used, served as a reserve policeman during the war.  He was based in Glasgow and taught at the School of Art before the war.  In 1940 he lived with his mother at 24 Saxon Road, Knightswood so it's possible he was called out to Kilmun Street as part of his job.  He's not the same Ian Fleming who wrote the James Bond novels!

And finally, here's what took all those lives, a German parachute mine (imperial War Museum H8281):

As you might gather, this one had been defused but two of them were carried strapped under a bomber and released over the target area.  As they dropped, a parachute deployed - this means any discussion of what target they were aimed at is meaningless because dropping something like this from (say) ten thousand feet is reliant on the wind and chance.

The caption on the photograph only says it is in Glasgow, but we can see enough of the sign on the building behind the men to guess it is Cameron Grant & Curle:

The IWM photo is likely to have been taken at Kennedy Street in Townhead, just south of the St Rollox chemical works.