On Thursday 13th June 1940, The Evening Telegraph reported,

“Jean Paterson, aged six, of John Street, Blantyre, was knocked down and killed by coal lorry on the main Glasgow Hamilton road while on her way to school.”

Looking into this more, I found out that the accident happened just after midday on Wed 12th June 1940. The accident happened when six year old Jean was leaving Ness’s (Low Blantyre Primary School) on her way back home to 6, John Street. Whilst crossing the main Glasgow road in front of the school, (immediately in front of where Blantyre library is today), she was knocked down by a heavily laden coal lorry, the rear wheels of which passed over her head. Death was instantaneous. Her little body was removed to the Police Mortuary and a Police enquiry opened up that same day, closing the road.

Whilst this would have been too unbearable for her poor mother, the situation was even more difficult as Jean’s father was off fighting in the War, with the Royal Navy.