Wartime Memories by Betty Sivertsen
British Legion Hall, Oystermouth Station Square, Mumbles, Swansea
On the third of September 1939 I was at Pickett Mead, at Alf Owen's riding club, when a lone plane flew over. We did not see so many planes in those days, and noticed this one. On returning home I was told War had been Declared. Not unexpected but, a shock all the same. A few days later the Siren sounded— maybe a trial run. What did we expect? What was in front of us? Little by little all was revealed.
We had gas masks, identity cards, rations, we all started to Dig for Victory, even the grass between the runways at the Aerodrome was planted with potatoes. Black-outs, pitch black streets, queuing for meat, fruit, all food. I remember the faces of children queuing at Newton Post Office and, for the first time seeing a banana. All railings and gate posts were removed—indeed anything that could be melted flown for the war effort, and there were some pretty ones both in Mumbles and Newton. Black out material was supplied and heaven help you if the A.R.P Wardens came around and saw even a chink of light. My Father was an A.R.P Warden and every night he donned his tin hat and did a tour of Newton. Car headlights had been adapted, but there were those few car owners, who left their cars on the roads outside with their lights on, if only for a few minutes. My Father would go out armed with brown paper bags, which he put over the headlights . I do not know what the owners thought when they returned, maybe Hitler was on the prowl! I worked at Cwmfelin Steel Works, Cwmbwrla and was exempt from call up, so joined the Red Gross and, together with St, John’s Ambulance, A. R.P Wardens, Car Drivers, First Aiders and a band of wonderful volunteers, who would turn up irrespective of danger immediately the siren sounded. We met at the wonderful old British Legion Hall, which was behind Boots and Somerfield and was a large Hall used in peace-time by all Mumbles, for all sorts of things. It was the hub of the Mumbles, but now in War time it was worth its weight in gold.
An earlier view of the old British Legion Hut in Oystermouth Square, Mumbles, between 1922 & 1929
Many of the names are further below:
The volunteers at the Red Cross Hospital, at the Mumbles British Legion Hall, behind Boots, Oystermouth Station Square, Mumbles.
(The caption is at the end of the article, below).
By now ships were getting mined in the channel and the injured would be brought to the British Legion Hall before going to hospitals, the very serious being taken went straight to Hospital. We had dedicated Doctors on hand, who never seemed to sleep—Dr. Marks, Dr. Kyle, Dr Lloyd Jones and so on.
Now a subtle change was coming over. All our young men were in uniform, only coming home on leave, although many were being sent a long way from Mumbles, with the sadness of not being able to return home.
Fairwood was a very active Aerodrome, full of personal Pilots, Air Crews W.A.A.F's, and all types of Aircraft, which |it was possible to count going out and coming back in, which could be very sad. Fairwood ended up with those huge Flying Fortress.
One day, The Sussex Regiment arrived. They marched down to Mumbles and Newton to the tune of ‘Sussex by the Sea’, and arrived at Newton Church Hall (photo), where there was a whist drive going on, run by my Mother. These Ladies much to their disgust were ushered out of the Hall, and from then on all Church & local activities were held in the two top rooms of Newton Church School, now private houses. Mother organised the Church and Mother's Union, to buy wool to knit for the Missions to Seamen. Their output was prolific—socks jumpers, mittens, long sea boot stockings, balaclavas and so on. Our front room was full of oily smelling wool.
The causeway to the Lighthouse
Mumbles Pier and the defences at the Lighthouse
The Sussex manned the guns at the lighthouse and Mumbles Head, and when they went off, one knew there was a war on.
A causeway was built out to the Light House to get out there, sadly due to the tides, there were some casualties. Remnants of the path are still there.
Air Raids now became regular and, when the siren would go off at night, I and others would run down Newton Road to the British Legion Hall in pitch darkness, only to arrive in time for the all clear. Then back up to Newton for a couple of hours and off goes the siren again.
The planes came in from the sea and in our back garden in Newton, we could see them drop their bombs over Swansea, prior to which they had lit the place up with hundreds of incendiary bombs which caused many fires, and damage. Thank goodness for Mr Anderson and his shelters—they
did save lives. The dreadful part was, when one could hear the bombs hissing down, but where did they land. Sometimes we could hear the planes and see them if the night was bright. They commenced their bombing over Newton and then dropped them in a bee-line over Swansea. I am sure there must still be hundreds of bombs deep down way out in the channel.
All used to go out to the shelter armed with blankets, thermos flanks and. Uncle Tom Cobley but, as time went on, many remained in their beds, and took a chance. We loved our shelters and they eventually became garden sheds, where children could hide from their Mothers. And, of course a bit of courting—what girl could resist nylons and chewing gum, also a dance in the British. Legion or Church Hall with a handsome look-alike film star!
The big day come out of the blue for Newton— one unexpected raid, which I think it was a badly-navigated attack meant for Swansea, during which they dropped bombs starting at Murton, across Highpool and the Cemetery, and not quietly! Many were Hysterical - the doors of the blew out, drinkers came flooding out with pints in their hands, some fled home down the village, some it is stated ran a good Olympic race, still with their pints and arrived in Murton through the old Murton Lanes!
My Mother was running a Whist Drive in the School Rooms. ARP Wardens helped them, but not my Mother as she had the takings in a tin box and raid or no raid, she was coming home with Church Money! Several people tried to stop her in Nottage Road, but I do not think she realised what had happened. I still have that money box.
People were very frightened although used to air raids, this was too near home, but fortunately no one was hurt, although houses were damaged, windows broken and big holes in the ground. My Father had a love for gold fish and he had obtained three large glass containers used in those days for holding acid, which he had picked up in a scrap yard. He had arranged them in the garden with goldfish and they were very attractive. These mere our only casualties—completely shattered and. the lawn full of goldfish! How lucky can one get, when you considered all these terrible raids allover G.B and Europe?
The Church School rooms
People come down to Mumbles and Newton after raids. They walked with their belongings down Mumbles Road and everyone was kind to them. They came to the huts in Caswell Valley and to the summer huts of Locals, in Millands Field. There was great kindness and many stayed and became integrated in Newton Life, and Newton was the better for it.
Eventually things started to get better. In certain areas, troops disappeared overnight, no more air raids, and a little more food.
When VE DAY came, it was a mixture of joy and great sadness and, in London, they danced in Trafalgar Square and in the centre of Swansea and Mumbles and there were street tea parties.
Not much joy for Fathers, Brothers, Husbands, Sons and Daughters, who did not return.
VE Day Party at Victoria Road
Many of the names are below:
The Red Cross Hospial volunteers at the British Legion Hall, behind Boots
Back Row: Jim WILLIAMS, Betty KEMBREY, Billy JENKINS Kath ELEY, ?, ?, Sydney ORR, PRICE, Percy HARTWELL SADDLER, ?, ?, Margery TAYLOR, Jack WILLIAMS, GUNTER, Tom WILLIAMS, Nora WILLIAMS, ?, Evelyn BAILEY.
2nd Row: Dorothy BENNET, Ray MORRIS, DOUGLAS-JONES, Charles MORRIS, Lilian TAYLOR, ?, ?, GROVE, ?, ?, Mc ILWAINE, VINEY, Audrey MESSER, ?, RUST, Harry WILLIAMS, Veronica WEEKES, Horace SHEFFORD, Ralph SAMPSON.
3rd Row: Bert HUGHES, Phyllis LEGGE, LONG, ?, BEEDLE, ?, ?, CASBORN, SNAPLES, Dot JONES, ?, ?, Stan ROGERS, ?, ?, ?, Aubrey WOOD, Chrissie, Vera ELLIS.
4th Row: Peggy MORGAN, ?, Olive, Bill NICHOLLS, ?, Ken WILLIAMS, Sister LEMON, Dr. MARKS, ?, GUNTER, KOSTROMIN, Harry BEYNON, Betty SIVERTSON, David Gwyn JOHNS, Monica, ?, Dorothy BAILEY.
Front Row: ?, Dorothy BENNET, ?, ?, ?, Peggy DANIELS, Mrs Aaron THOMAS, ?, ?, Grace DAVIES, ?, ?, DOUGLAS-JONES, Barbara JOHN, Mrs. Trevor REES, Rosemary REES, ?.
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