Brechin - World War II : Where The Bombs Fell
(Article published in the Brechin Advertiser on Saturday May 19 1945)
Do you remember that Monday afternoon of October 1939? Fine sunny day it was, with fleecy clouds. That was the first day raiders tackled Britain - an attack on H.M.S. Edinburgh and H.M.S. Southampton lying east of the Forth Bridge.
H.M.S. Mohawk, too, was hit by bomb fragments, and lost her gallant commander.
What a thrill it all was!
People in the afternoon train crossing the bridge had a front-seat view of the new type of warfare, and many round the coast also saw the battle as A.-A. guns and fighters went into the defence. Four Jerries were downed.
It's still a wonder how the bridges escaped during these long years, for Jerry made many trips to Angus and Fife.
Dundee had 128 sirens. The worst months were October 1940 and March, April and May 1941, each with eleven. In February 1942 there were ten siren warnings. Those of the longest duration were during the Glasgow blitz in March 1941, lasting from 10 pm to 1:35 am to 6:30 on on 13th and 14th.
In Angus alone between 300 and 400 bombs of varying calibre were plastered over the county.
Here is a list of places where they fell.
(H.E. = high explosive I.B. = incendiary bomb)
1940
28 Jun : Leyshade Farm, Tealing - 2 H.E. Balbinny Farm Arbirlot - 2 H.E.
03 Jul : East Braikie, Kinnell - 3 H.E.
17 Jul : Montrose - 16 H.E.
23 Jul : Montrose 1 H.E.
02 Aug : Linlathen House - 23 H.E. Broughty Ferry-Forfar Road near Kellas - 4 H.E. East Pitkerro, Broughty Ferry-Forfar Road - 8 I.B. Dundee (Linlathen) - 23 H.E.
03 Aug : Tealing - 4 H.E.
04 Aug : Newmill of Craigeassie - 4 H.E. Miltonbank, Tannadice - 7 H.E.
15 Aug : Montrose - 2 H.E. Montrose - 1 H.E. The Links, Barry - 1 H.E. Fauldiehill, Carnoustie - German plane brought down
25 Aug : Montrose - 15 H.E.s Kirkton of Craig, Montrose - 3 H.E. Balkeillie - 5 H.E.
28 Aug : Monifieth - 8 H.E. Monifieth - 1 I.B. Hillside Farm, Forfar (Balmashanner) - 2 H.E. Bogardo - 1 H.E. Near Edzell - 2 H.E. Auchenblae - 1 H.E. (this not reported in original article)
25 Sep : Dundee (Dalkeith Road and Kingsway) - 2 H.E.
02 Oct : Asylum, Hillside, Montrose - 5 H.E.
11 Oct : Bank of Arbirlot - 90 I.B. Kirkton, Inverkeilor - 4 H.E. Mains of Kelly, Arbroath - 3 H.E. West Scryne - 2 H.E.
14 Oct : Small Holdings, Tealing - 1 H.E.
16 Oct : Crudie, Arbirlot - 4 H.E. Burgh of Arbroath - 4 H.E.
25 Oct : Train machine-gunned near Montrose Montrose - 20 H.E. Montrose Burgh - 22 H.E. Balfour and Chapelton, Menmuir - 1 H.E. Arbroath - 8 H.E. Nazis claim Dundee bombed (no bombs dropped)
31 Oct : Bell Rock machine-gunned
04 Nov : Whitefield Farm, Strathmartine - 1 H.E. Dundee (Baxter Park and Arbroath Road) - 3 H.E.
05 Nov : Philiphie Farm, Airlie - 3 H.E. Grange of Airlie 1 H.E. Milton of Ruthven - 4 H.E. Hayston Hill, Glamis - 1 H.E. Knockenny, Glamis - 1 H.E. Dundee (Farington St., Fernbrae, Briarwood Tee, Rosefield St., Forest Park) - 8 H.E.
19 Nov : Off Auchmithie - 1 H.E.
1941
12 Feb : Junkers 88 plane down at Pitairlie - 5 killed
19 Feb : Manse, Lunan - 4 H.E.
11 Mar : Heinkel shot down off Tay
16 Mar : Huntingfauld, Tealing - 6 H.E.
30 Mar : Bell Rock machine-gunned
08 Apr : Carlungie Farm - 4 H.E. Baldovan House - 1 H.E.
17 Apr : Arbroath 1 H.E.
10 May : S.E. Fullerton, Meigle - 1 H.E.
16 May : Montrose -3 H.E.
27 May - Montrose Burgh - 2 H.E.
27 June - Arbirlot - 2 H.E.
16 Aug : Arbroath - 2 H.E. Rossie Island, Montrose - 2 H.E.
03 Oct : Balfour Hill, Menmuir - 4 H.E.
02 Nov : Mains, Wellbank, Monifieth - 1 H.E. Linlathen Farm, Monifieth - 1 H.E. Blairfield, Liff, and Benvie - 1 H.E. Linlathen Housing Scheme, Glenconner Drive, Dundee - 1 H.E.
09 Nov : Off Montrose - 6 H.E.
08 Dec : Lunan Bay - 4 H.E.
1944
22 Apr : Dundee machine-gunned
Despite having two munitions factories, Brechin escaped being bombed, probably as they lay in the valley of the River Southesk and were well hidden. (not in original article)