TheGlasgowStory 

Skip Navigation / Jump to Content

Featured Images

Big Rachel
Big Rachel

The Shack Ablaze, 2004
The Shack Ablaze, 2004

SCWS in Wartime

Glasgow City Archives, Photographic Series

*Open in New Window
SCWS in Wartime

General Bernard Montgomery on a tour of inspection of the "Flying Dustbin" landmine production facilities at the SCWS sheet metal factory, Shieldhall, probably in the early months of 1944. "Monty" commanded the British and Canadian units in Normandy on D-Day in June 1944, when Allied forces mounted an invasion of German-occupied France.

The fact that Montgomery visited Shieldhall to see for himself the production of these specialist munitions is an indication of the vital importance of the work being done there. The "Flying Dustbin" was a mortar shell fired from tanks or landing craft to destroy pillboxes and other defences, and it helped clear the Normandy beaches of both mines and enemy fortifications. The SCWS manufactured 230,000 "Flying Dustbins" in just fourteen months.

Reference: P9091/23

Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning

Keywords:
D-Day, flying dustbins, landmines, mortar shells, munitions workers, Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, SCWS, Second World War, Sheet Metal Factory, women workers



Quick Search


Photo Album

You have 0 images in your photo album.

View Photo Album

Log-In (Optional)

username:
password:
Not a user? Register now for FREE!

Other Options