Invergordon Image Library | The Bombing of Tank 13

	389
	Acky Davidson
	1941

The Bombing of Tank 13

This is an aerial photo taken by the RAF soon after the event in February 1941. The picture shows snow on the ground and points highlighted.
The inset photo at the bottom left shows detail of the main picture, in particular the wrecked tank 13 and the hole in the top of the tank next to it.
See picture #180 for comments and details of this event.
Picture Added on 07 September 2004.

Comments

I am amazed to see this picture. I was often told of the incident and the non-existence of a tank number 13. The bombing took place the year before I was born. My family lived at 2 Munro Street at the time (a bicycle shop the last time I looked). If the bomb had done its job properly I guess I and many others would not be around today.
Added by Bill Geddes on 24 December 2004.

Bombs ejected to allow German airforce bomber to fly home. Look at location of tank on site and look at location of hit on tank. Too much to periphery. PERHAPS!!! Sorry I don't think they would have mean't it otherwise they would have the town apart including the docks which were an even more prime target.
Added by Shuna Webster on 10 February 2005.

My late father, Hamish Askew, was working as a clerk for the Admiralty about this time before later joining the RAF. I recall him telling me about the attack on the 'tanks' as a result of which the main rail line north was affected by oil flowing down past the railway station and into the sea. I understood that the bomb had not actually detonated but the impact had caused the tank to burst. No shots were fired by our AA batteries which were at either side of Invergordon (Rosskeen and Saltburn) and after dropping its cargo on the tanks, it then flew over the front of the town, opening fire with machine guns on seaplanes moored near the dockyard. It then flew out through the Sutors unscathed. The raid on the tanks subsequently featured in a German propaganda broadcast by Lord Haw Haw (Joyce?) who claimed destruction on a massive scale.
Added by Graeme Askew on 01 April 2005.

I recently met Davie Matthews, Tomich Road, Invergordon, and happened to mention this website to him and the bombing of tank 13. He recalled the incident and was in class standard 2 at the Academy at the time. Davie confirmed that there was no actual detonation but that the tank collapsed with the weight of the bomb. He also remembers oil running down the railway line and out onto the bottom of the High Street. No doubt there are others with vivid memories of the event.
Added by Graeme Askew on 30 April 2005.

There were also gunposts on the ground between the middle and dockyard pier - I think it was a single bofors gun there. Also at the end of Shore Road on the ground by the old coal yard were more gun positions; again I think they were bofors guns.
Added by Douglas Will on 22 March 2006.

Graeme, you mention Davie Matthews. Is this the same Davey Matthews that rode his bicycle everywhere? Recall him having a "racing bike" - suppose he still rides a bike to this day...
Added by Harry O'Neill on 04 September 2006.

I remember Davie well as he was our neighbour when we lived in Joss Street. He was a very keen racing cyclist and used to enter for the races at the Highland games. Those races were tough as the track was grass and bumpy, not at all like a normal bike race. I know he competed more widely, does anyone know if he had any big successes?
Added by Bill Geddes on 05 September 2006.

Graeme, glad you could fill us all in. Remember Alice Wilson? (Of course you do!!) She told us a similar story. Apparently it wasn't the only bomb to hit the area. At some point something "up the back" near Ardross/Newmore. Ena Gordon told me about this but I can't remember the whole story.
Added by Shuna Webster on 05 September 2006.

Harry, yes this is one and the same Davie Matthews. I am currently working in Jordan, Middle East, but when home still see Davie cycling, usually from Invergordon to Inverness and back. Always have a blether with him when I get the chance. For those who remember, Davie was the designer and maker of 'The Bomb' as we called it - a tricycle motorcycle with two wheels at the front and one to the rear with an aerodynamic glassfibre body. Another piece of Invergordon history from the 1960s which must be worth an entry and photograph if possible.
Added by Graeme Askew on 05 September 2006.

Just spotted the comment by Shuna. Think about it: if the bombs had gone off, the damage caused by the resultant fires would have done considerable damage, much more than bombing the docks. Remember the oil flowed down from the tank through the cutting leading to the station; passing that, it went thro the goods yard before finally flowing into the sea by the railway cottages. When I left the station where I worked there were still traces of oil along the platform walls and inside the cellars under the secure store next to the booking office. The plane also machine-gunned the trucks and vans on the long siding going along the bottom of 'The Bulls' hill and you could see where the bullets had chipped lumps out of the rails . The seaplanes were moored between Inverg and Alness in lines.
Added by Doug Will on 05 September 2006.

Graeme, I find that fascinating and agree that it would be great to see a picture of the "Bomb", and some info on its composition.
Imagine, he still rides back and forth to Inverness. Over here they have what they call the "Ironman" contest. I think that Davie would fit in that category quite nicely.....
Added by Harry O'Neill on 07 September 2006.