Hansard

I thank Marie McNair for securing this members’ business debate to mark the 85th anniversary of the tragic events that took place in Clydebank on 13 and 14 March 1941.

It is entirely fitting that we come together today to reflect on what was the worst destruction and civilian loss of life in Scotland during the second world war. It is something that should never be forgotten, especially as we move further away from the events themselves. I am sad to say that the lessons of the past are becoming increasingly relevant as world events grow more turbulent in ways that we might not have expected a few years ago.

Standing here responding to the debate, I have a sense of déjà vu. Five years ago, I found myself filling exactly the same role when Ms McNair’s predecessor, Gil Paterson, brought a members’ business debate to mark the 80th anniversary of the blitz. Just to spare mischievous colleagues from indulging in research, let me assure them that my speech is not a copy‑and‑paste job from 2021. However, I must say that I seem to have heard before the tangential tale that Bill Kidd regaled us with, and there is a nagging doubt at the back of my mind that it may have featured five years ago.

To be serious, what is clear from the debate—we have had some excellent contributions from members, who have vividly brought back to life the events of 85 years ago—is that we are united in recognising the formidable spirit of the people of Clydebank and that their courage, their determination and their efforts to rebuild their community amid such devastation deserve lasting remembrance.

As we have heard, in just two nights, Luftwaffe bombers transformed a once vibrant industrial community into a landscape of ruin. The scale of destruction was immense, with only seven of about 12,000 homes undamaged by the blitz and 35,000 people left homeless. Many families were devastated by loss and injury. It is almost impossible to comprehend the scale of what unfolded.

Those nights left an indelible mark on Clydebank, but they also forged a legacy of unity and resolve that continues to define the community today. In the face of devastation, people pulled together and worked tirelessly for three days to rescue trapped victims and minimise loss of life. Their actions serve as a lasting reminder of the strength that can arise from even the darkest of circumstances.

Of course, it was not only the people of Clydebank who pulled together but the brave crew of the Polish navy destroyer ORP Piorun. As we heard, the destroyer came to the defence of the town, where it was docked for a refit at the John Brown & Company shipyard. Coincidentally, the vessel was, when she was acquired by the Polish navy in 1940, constructed in the same John Brown dockyard at Clydebank that she later defended during the blitz. By the time of the blitz, the vessel and its commander had already played a key role in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck.

The story of the ship and her crew are symbolic of the enduring ties between Scotland and Poland, which span centuries and reach across culture, economy and society. The very depth of our ties is demonstrated by the fact that, by the 17th century, there were more than 30,000 Scots in Poland.

We are extremely grateful to our large Polish community today for making the opposite journey and calling Scotland home. From the courageous Polish soldiers of world war two to the young families who have settled here in more recent years, and the many Polish nationals who now contribute their talent and dedication within the Scottish Government, we thank them for their service and the vital role that they play in shaping the Scotland of today.

The redevelopment of the former John Brown shipyard, which is now called Queens Quay, where the ORP Piorun was built and docked on the night of the blitz, marked a major milestone in the regeneration of the historic shipyard site. The first phase of the development has delivered 146 high-quality affordable homes, which is a significant investment in the future of Clydebank’s community.

We have a monument commemorating the civilians killed during the Clydebank blitz that was unveiled in West Dunbartonshire in 2009, with the names of the people inscribed on a bronze plaque. The memorial sits over the remains of Clydebank’s unclaimed dead, to ensure that we never forget those who lost their lives and that current and future generations learn of these historic events and the strength that emerged from them.