The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

graeme.ruxton · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

It is not surprising that somewhere as important to shipbuilding and Atlantic convoys as Greenock was targetted by German bombers in WW2. There were a number of small-scale raids in 1940 and 1941. However, on the nights of 6th and 7th May 1941 the "Greenock Blitz" left 280 people dead and 1200 injured. Of the towns 18,000 houses, 10,000 were damaged and 1,000 totally destroyed.

It has been suggested that the toll would have been much higher, but for lighting of decoy fires on the hills inland from the town on the second night.

The memorial was unveiled by Provost Robort Boyd on 6th May 1951 to mark the 10th aniversary of the blitz. It can be found in the main cemetery in Greenock, on the left hand side as you walk into the cemetery by the main entrance.

PaulC · Joined: 31 May 2014 Posts: 15 Location: Lancashire

Looks like they've done a bit of landscaping around the memorial since those photos were taken...

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DelBoy · Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 2:29 am Post subject:

Oocha! Hacked down the trees and exposed a horrid fence... bad show.

David McNay · Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 11:39 am Post subject:

You can't see it in that photo, but taking down the trees has actually improved the view behind the memorial.