BOMBS DROPPED ON NORTHERN TOWN
Day Attack by Enemy ‘Plane
Over Thirty Casualties – Fifteen Dead.
Two bombs dropped by a lone enemy raider on a north-east of Scotland town on Monday afternoon caused over 30 casualties among the civilian population, and did considerable damage to property.
Fifteen people lost their lives, a few were seriously injured, and a number sustained minor injuries. The dead include seven children, five men and three women.
‘PLANE SIGHTED
The explosion occurred shortly after 4.30 o’clock, and was heard over a wide area, even by those residing in districts about 20 miles distant.
Two bombs were dropped, and fell practically together, and the explosions were simultaneous and gave the effect of one crash, although a number of persons claimed that they detected two distinct explosions.
The enemy ‘plane, which was flying seawards, was seen by many people, none of whom guessed that it was a German machine until they saw the bombs being released and heard them go off. A pall of black smoke rising skywards marked the spot where the explosives fell.
The great majority of the inhabitants were unaware what had actually happened, and those in the vicinity rushed in the direction that the explosion was heard.
They were unprepared for the scene that confronted them. A row of buildings, consisting of shops and dwelling-houses had been shattered. Dead and injured lay on the ground, and others not so seriously hurt were staggering away
Prompt Rescue Work
Heedless of any lurking danger, first arrivals immediately began the rescue work, While the wounded were being helped into nearby houses, men were throwing aside debris, searching for others who might yet be alive.
Unfortunately, a number of people had been killed outright, but the quick action of the rescuers certainly saved the lives of others who were injured and could not free themselves from the wreckage.
A.R.P. services were promptly on the spot, and first-aid, rescue and ambulance parties did splendid work in getting wounded quickly conveyed to hospital and casualty posts.
The bombs had fallen on the roadway in front of a block of buildings, and the two holes were only a short distance apart. The cavities were not very large or deep, due probably to the hardness of the road. The explosions, therefore, were mostly on the surface, and caused very considerable damage to property.
The block contained four shops (one of which was vacant), all on the ground floor, and four dwelling-houses, all on the second storey. The whole building was ruined.
Opposite this block is an open yard, with a surrounding wall. The yard divides two streets, and a row of houses on the other side was saved from complete destruction by the intervening walls of the yard. Several of the occupants were injured, one or two rather seriously, and the houses were badly affected internally.
Also adjoining the yard, and standing between the two streets, is a children’s clinic (formerly an old police station). The clinic, which was unoccupied at the time, was badly damaged.
Other houses and shops in the neighbourhood received a severe shock, and all the windows were blown in.
An employment exchange is situated about 60 yards from the spot where the bombs fell. All the windows were smashed, and although there is a staff of 14 in the building, they all escaped, except one or two who received minor cuts from glass splinters.
In the same line as the block of buildings most seriously involved are several other shops and a number of dwelling-houses, and opposite them there are more shops and houses. All of them were damaged in some way, but no persons were seriously injured. A furniture shop with a large glass frontage had every window shattered.
The Casualties
There were over 30 casualties – men, women and children. Fifteen were killed or died as a result of their injuries, four are seriously injured and still in hospital, and eleven were taken to first-aid posts and allowed home after treatment.
The dead are: –
ROBERT MACKENZIE (71)
Pte. ROBERT MACKENZIE (30)
Mrs P.P. M’TAVISH (44)
Mrs DAVID MACKENZIE (25)
Mrs JOHN STEVEN (44)
WILLIAM SMITH (63)
DONALD WATERS (50)
DONALD THOMSON (16)
JOHN WARES (5)
BRUCE FLETT (7)
ISOBEL BRUCE (7)
ELIZABETH MILLER (9)
AMY MILLER (5)
KENNETH MACGREGOR (8)
ERIC BLACKSTOCK (5)
Five Struck Down
In one shop, a tailor’s business, there were five people, and all lost their lives. The most poignant feature is that three of them belonged to one family, and one was closely related. They were: – Mr Robert Mackenzie; his son, Pte. Robert Mackenzie; his daughter, Mrs P.P. M’tavish; and his daughter-in-law, Mrs David Mackenzie. The fifth person in the shop was Mrs John Steven, who was temporarily employed there.
The business belongs to Mr Robert Mackenzie’s younger son, Mr David Mackenzie, who had left the town only that morning to go on war service, having joined the R.A.F. He had taken farewell of his wife at the railway station. In the afternoon she had called at her husband’s shop.
Pte. Mackenzie, who was on leave for the weekend, is a tailor, and had been helping in his brother’s shop. Mrs John Steven, who was also helping, did not go to the shop until after three o’clock.
Two house doors separate Mr Mackenzie’s shop from Mr Wm. Smith, grocer. Mr Smith was in the shop when the bombs struck.
Above the shop is Mr Smith’s house. Mrs Smith was going about her domestic work, and was putting things away in a cupboard at the time. This fact probably saved her life. Badly cut in the neck and face, she escaped from the falling building.
Next to Mr Smith’s house was another house, occupied by Sergt. James Clark, 5th Seaforths, and his wife and young son. Sergt. Clark is on service, and was absent from home. Mrs Clark had gone shopping, taking her young son with her.
The only person in the place was a woman lodger, who was saved by flinging herself to the floor.
Three Women Injured
In the house immediately adjoining there were three women – Mrs D. Gunn; her daughter, Mrs G. Hepple; and her daughter-in-law, Mrs A. Gunn. All three were injured and were removed to hospital. Mrs D. Gunn and Mrs Hepple suffered leg injuries, and Mrs A. Gunn was badly bruised. Mrs Hepple was going upstairs when she heard the ‘plane, and said to her mother: “That’s a German ‘plane.” She returned to the room and took a seat at the fireside when the bombs exploded.
Mrs D. Gunn, along with her husband and family, had removed to this house only a month ago.
Another tenant in the building is Mr Robert Sutherland, but he was out at the time.
In the same storey as the Gunn family was a workroom in which Mr Alexander Stephen was working. He had a most amazing escape. The building collapsed beneath him, but he struggled free of the debris.
Bruised and badly shaken, Mr Stephen immediately went to the assistance of others less fortunate than himself. Those arriving on the scene found Mr Stephen helping in the rescue work, and were unaware that he had been involved in the crash.
Interviewed by a reporter, Mr Stephen told his experience:
“I was working in my room,” he said, “when I heard a swishing sound and felt the floor give way beneath me. I fell through, and the roof of the house collapsed about me. I was pinned down by the legs, and a beam was across me. I lay there dazed, and then heard people speaking above. This was Mrs Gunn, who thought I had been killed. I shouted: “Is that you, Mrs Gunn?” and she shouted back: “Is that you, Mr Stephen?” Mrs Gunn and her daughter and daughter-in-law were also trapped by the debris. I managed to get my legs clear, and crawled through a hole. I tried to get up to the Gunns, and fell again. I ultimately succeeded in getting up, and by that time rescuers had arrived and got the women clear.”
Mr Stephen’s opinion was that the three women and himself were saved from death because they were occupying rooms at the back of the building.
A pair of spectacles and a watch belonging to Mr Stephen were later found undamaged in the wreckage.
Next to Mr Gunn’s house was the house occupied by Mr and Mrs I. Sinclair and family. Fortunately, none of them were at home, Mrs Sinclair having just left the house a few minutes beforehand.
Children Struck in Street
When the bombs fell a number of children were playing in the street. Two of them were killed outright, and three were fatally injured and died later. Some other children further away from these five were badly hurt, but not seriously.
Two of the children were blown underneath a stationary motor car by the effect of the explosion. The rescue work had been proceeding for some time before these children were discovered. Both were dead.
Fell Dead
Donald Thomson was walking towards the scene when the explosion occurred. He was killed by the concussion and dropped dead a few yards away from a woman who was going in the opposite direction.
This woman was Mrs Benjamin Sinclair, who also had a remarkable escape. Her rainproof and hat were blown clean away. She suffered from shock, resulting in temporary deafness. She managed to get away from the scene and walked home. Later it was discovered that she had been struck in two places by small pieces of shrapnel, and had to go to hospital to have these removed. She is now at home, and is quickly recovering. Mrs Sinclair is a member of an A.R.P. first-aid party.
John Wares and Jenny Wares, brother and sister, were among the children playing in the street. The boy was nearer the explosion and was fatally injured. The girl was seated on a wall and was blown off. Suffering from facial injuries, the little girl picked herself up and ran to her home, which is quite near. Her mother had passed the spot only a few minutes previously, and had just arrived at the house when the bombs fell.
Policeman Injured
A police constable passing near the scene sustained a rather severe leg injury. He was accompanied by another man who was unhurt.
A postman delivering letters in the next street was stunned by the explosion, and on recovering staggered to safety.
Shortly before the explosion this postman had given a parcel to the boy Eric Blackstock, who took it in to his father and came running out to the street again.
In one house an invalid woman was sitting in her home looking out from a window. She could see the children playing in the street. One of them was her grandson, Bruce Flett, who died in hospital.
This woman had a lucky escape from serious injury. A hanging metal sign on a shop opposite her house came flying in at the window, missing her and landing in the room. She was unharmed, and immediately took shelter in the house.
Below Mr Sinclair’s house was a shop occupied by Mr David Swanson. The shop was destroyed, and Mr Swanson escaped with injuries to the hands, and shock.
Horse Escapes Injury
Behind the block of buildings was a kiln and fish-house, which were destroyed, and a stable in which there was a horse. The horse received a slight scratch, and when the owner went into the stable after the explosion he found the animal quietly feeding.
Particularly sad is the death of the two little girls, Elizabeth Miller and Amy Miller, sisters.
Mrs Blackstock, whose son Eric was killed, is in hospital suffering from serious injuries. Her husband was slightly injured.
Mr Donald Waters had left his business premises a few minutes before, and arrived in the street shortly before the raid.
