Whisky Focus - Auchentoshan Distillery Commemorates 70th Anniversary Clydebank Blitz

Continuing support for its local community and Erskine, the charity that provides nursing and medical care for former members of the Armed Forces, Auchentoshan Distillery today marked the 70th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and tree.

On the 70th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz, which fell today, Monday 14th March, Auchentoshan Distillery invited local residents, veterans, dignitaries and volunteers from the Erskine charity to the Distillery Visitor Centre for a VIP lunch and unveiling.

Founded in 1916, Erskine has provided nursing and medical care for former members of the Armed Forces through two World Wars and the more recent conflicts and peace-keeping initiatives of the 20th and 21st centuries. Rebuilding shattered lives, restoring dignity and providing first-class care to ex-Service men and women both young and old have been the cornerstones on which Erskine has built an unrivalled reputation.

Seventy commemorative bottles of the Auchentoshan 12 Years Old triple distilled single malt whisky have been created, all individually numbered and packaged with an additional commemorative label on the carton. A portion of the sales proceeds of the 70 bottles will be donated to Erskine.

The Clydebank Blitz was two devastating Luftwaffe air raids by 439 bombers on Clydebank over the nights of 13th and 14th March 1941. 528 people died, 617 people were seriously injured, and hundreds more were injured by blast debris. Out of approximately 12,000 houses, only seven remained undamaged — with 4,000 completely destroyed and 4,500 severely damaged. Over 35,000 people were made homeless. It was during this time that Auchentoshan Distillery was bombed destroying one of the warehouses and several others were damaged.

The above picture shows one of the Clydebank streets where blitz casualties were high, Napier Street near Rothesay Dock. Here, at numbers 2 and 4, 27 people lost their lives in the two nights of the bombing. Like the surrounding properties on Glasgow Road, the closes were reinforced with scaffolding, and their entrances further protected by brick-built baffle walls. Tenants were expected to shelter in the protected closes during air raids.
 

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