Mumbles Red Cross Hospital in WW2 by Betty Sivertsen
An earial photo of Air Raid Shelters at Norton
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.
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.
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 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, ?.
If you can add any of the missing names or corrections, please contact Editors >.
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 pub 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!
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.
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.