Greenock Bombing

[brycewj]

Hi,

Our house at 7 Thom St. was bombed on the night of Tuesday, April 15, 1941.  Our cousin and our father's cousin were both killed.  My mother with her six children (me being one of them!) survived.  She told me that we were subsequently moved to another house but that most of our possessions were lost or looted. I have a photocopy of an article in the Greenock Telegraph describing the incident but wondered if anyone out there had photos of the scene.  I would also be interested in hearing from any other families who lived at that address.

Thanks for any help.

Bill Bryce
Roberts Creek, BC
Canada

[elaine447]

Hi Bill
if you google Greenock Pictures of the Blitz
there are some old pictures of the damage done
I haven't been through them all yet so I dont know if there are any of Thom street
but worth looking at
Elaine

[MonicaL]

Hi Bill

No photos, but just thought you might want to have a read through this - Col. 536 if you use your search/find tool mentions Thom Street:

www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-01/or110502.htm

Interesting read given the memories aroused by today's date.

Monica 

[brycewj]

Hi Elaine & Monica,

Thanks for the quick responses!  The Blitz site is extremely interesting although it concentrates on a later date in 1941 than our bombing.  The memories on the Scottish Parliament site also gave me a little more insight into those times---I was only two and a half at the time so don't remember much!

Again, many thanks for your replies!

Bill

[damnonii]

Hello, I had a quick look at the Scotsman who don't have photos but I notice your name is Bryce - is Shauna Bryce one of your family?  There's a paragraph on her chatting to and inspiring the rescuers while they fought to free her legs (she got out after 7hrs).  Her aunt Mrs F Delacruz was beside her and killed outright, other members of her family were safe in a shelter.  I can send you a copy if you're interested, just pm me your email address.

Lora

[brycewj]

Hi Lora,

Thanks for your email.  Yes, Shauna is my cousin and Feliciana Delacruz was my father's cousin.  And yes, I would love a copy of the paragraph from the Scotsman!  My email address is:  (*)     

Look forward to hearing from you,

Bill

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[damnonii]

Hi Bill have sent you the article, let me know you get it ok.  Does that mean Shauna didn't survive if she was your cousin? Or was it another cousin that was killed.  That's very sad if she did after all that, it sounds lile she was a brave woman. 

Lora

P.S. It's best not to post your email address publicly, send a private message.  It means you're less likely to have problems with spammers. 

[weemary]

Hi Bill

I belong to a forum for ex-pats for Greenock -  its a private forum, so you will have to join

http://suesscotchcorner.yuku.com/

If you go to the old days, page 6 there is a list of casulties on there.

this is the Bryce names that are listed


BRYCE, Mrs Ann
BRYCE, Catherine (9)
BRYCE, Miss Feliciana
BRYCE, Mrs Helen
BRYCE, Miss Margaret
BRYCE, Sarah (Infant)

[apanderson]

Hello Bill,

All the Bryces are listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Site, see:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=bryce&initials=&war=2&yearfrom=1941&yearto=1941&force=Misc&nationality=&send.x=36&send.y=7

Name: BRYCE, ANN
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 33
Date of Death: 07/05/1941
Additional information: of 24 Clydeview Road. Wife of Gnr. Peter Bryce, R.A. Died at Rue-end Street.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND

Name: BRYCE, CATHERINE
Initials: C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 9
Date of Death: 06/05/1941
Additional information: of 86 Belville Street. Died at corner of Lauriston Street and St. Lawrence Street.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND

Name: BRYCE, FELICIANA
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 21
Date of Death: 17/04/1941
Additional information: of 96 Rankin Street. Daughter of Margaret Bryce, and of the late Henry Bryce. Injured 16 April 1941, at 7 Thom Street; died at Royal Infirmary.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND

Name: BRYCE, HELEN
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 67
Date of Death: 07/05/1941
Additional information: of 8 East Blackhall Street. Died at Rue-end Street.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND

Name: BRYCE, MARGARET
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 26
Date of Death: 07/05/1941
Additional information: of 8 East Blackhall Street. Daughter of Helen Bryce. Died at Rue-end Street.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND

Name: BRYCE, SARAH
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Date of Death: 07/05/1941
Additional information: Aged 1 month; of 24 Clydeview Road. Daughter of Gnr. Peter Bryce, R.A., and of Ann Bryce. At Rue-end Street.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: GREENOCK, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND

Anne.

P.S. I presume Gunner Peter Bryce, Royal Artillery, survived the war?