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BBC Homepage Wales Home WW2 Memories Last updated: 17 February 2006 On Wednesday 1 February 2006, the Healthy Living more from this section Centre in Ystradgynlais held a special day to remember BBC Local Ystradgynlais World War II. The BBC Wales Coelbren's Bee Keeper Mid Wales Bus was also there to collect Local Photographs Things to do Penrhos Playing Fields people's stories which you can Phototour People & Places read below. Steve Meo Nature & Outdoors Then & Now Slideshow History Useful Info Stars in Battledress Religion & Ethics WW2 Memories Simone Lloyd Davies writes about her war years Your Town Arts & Culture spent with a military entertainment troop... Ystrad Art Club Music TV & Radio
Local BBC Sites The Fire Warden News Tommy Esteban worked at Ynyscledwyn Colliery Sport during the war and volunteered as a fire warden... Weather Travel From Scapa Flow to Singapore Neighbouring Sites North East Wales Daniel Griffiths joined the Royal Navy and served North West Wales on the arctic convoys before leaving for the Far South East Wales East... South West Wales
Related BBC Sites Leaving Liverpool Wales Dorothy Griffiths was evacuated to Ystradgynlais Cymru from Liverpool in 1941... Canolbarth
From Kent to Coelbren Arthur Goodall was evacuated from Kent during the war...
Rations and the Swansea Blitz Rose Evans was a child in Coelbren when the war broke out...
WW2 Mini Site Read more wartime memories written by people from across Mid Wales... 14 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only
BBC Homepage Wales Home Stars in Battledress Last updated: 08 February 2006 Simone Lloyd Davies lives in Ystradgynlais and teaches a more from this section belly-dancing class at the Healthy Living Centre. During BBC Local World War Two the war, she entertained the A Childhood Prank Mid Wales troops as a member of the A London Lass Things to do ATA in Action military entertainment group Action in El Alamein People & Places Stars in Battledress and Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors afterwards went on to dance at the Windmill Theatre. Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs Written by Simone Lloyd Davies From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture From Kent to Cardigan Music "During the war, my name was Joan Grew. I joined the ATS From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army (Auxiliary Territorial Service) when I was 19 and became a Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites Lance Corporal. Since then, I changed my name for Llwyndafydd Days News professional reasons as I had performed professionally as a Mulberry Harbours Sport dancer since the age of 16 . No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather Paraffin Cakes Travel We were training in Edinburgh at a place called Glencorse, Passage From India then we travelled down to Aldershot and I was in a place Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Spoils of War North East Wales called Parson's Barracks. I was a member of the ATS band and the only tune we ever played was some Scottish tune Stars in Battledress North West Wales Student Days South East Wales which was the only tune we knew! The Battle of Kohima The Fire Warden South West Wales I became a PT instructor but during this time I was also The Paratrooper Related BBC Sites chosen to join George Black's 'Stars in Battledress'. The The Russian Convoys Wales Training in Aberystwyth members of Stars in Battledress were all military personnel. Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru We travelled round giving shows to the troops. Wartime Romance Canolbarth I performed in the show 'Stage Door Canteen' in London and then toured barracks in the South East and Southern Command. This was during the time of the Doodle Bombs so it was a bit of a frightener.
I then went to Germany. I was appalled at the devastation in Germany. The company I was with took coffee, chocolate and other goodies which were bartered for commodities like Leica cameras.
I was part of an adagio dancing act and my partner was Sgt. Ronnie Cory (stage name Michael Ronni, who had been a member of the Diaghilev Ballet). One of our numbers was danced to the tune of 'That Old Black Magic'.
I remember saving food from the canteen to give to children who appeared to be pretty near starving. Children lined the railway lines and we threw out chocolate bars and sweets to them."
Written by Simone Lloyd Davies
Simone's war photos... More WW2 stories from Ystrad...
your comments Cassie Lawson from Leeds My grandad Frank (Frankie) Kennedy played the accordian in Stars In Battledress Tue Aug 18 08:51:49 2009
Stephen Nixon from Shildon, Co.Durham Hi, My late father James William (Bill) Nixon was involved with Stars in Battledress and The Rhine Army Theatre Company.He was also involved with ENSA. Have loved reading some of the stories on here.Would love to hear from anyone who knew him. Sun Jun 7 20:21:00 2009
Shirley Merrian . from , South Essex My dad was in George Blacks "Stars in battle dress".My dads stage name was *Al Gee*. He stared with Charlie Chester Mon Sep 1 11:53:43 2008
Denise Eaton, Orlando, Fla. My Mom Joyce Hardman was in s.i.b. & toured India in 1946 etc...Would love to find any recordings or films. She spoke very highly of Stan Stennett. Mon Nov 26 08:19:38 2007
David Scott My mother was in ENSA during the war working with George Formby in the Orkney and Shetland Isdlands.Her name was Winefred Scott singing the songs you love to hear.Does any- one out there remember her... Wed Nov 7 09:17:53 2007
Joe O Reilly Joe played trumpet and entertained troops in North Africa, 8th Army. any more information re this ? Mon Aug 6 11:26:02 2007
Audrey Elizabeth McClernon Hi Simone. My father (Reginald Farrow) was in Stars in Battledress and, like you, followed just behind the front line troops giving concerts. He was Terry Thomas' pianist - Terry referred to him as the "Farrow Fingers". The used to career about between "gigs" in an Army lorry, frequently getting lost, and the only protection they had was one rifle, which none of them were really equipped to handle (being as they were all showbiz types). Prior to Stars in Battledress, Reg was in ENSA and recorded some 78s with Stephane Grappelli and various other ENSA members (which I unfortunately do not now have). If anyone reads this who might have them, I'd love to hear. Mon Nov 20 10:07:43 2006
Bob Brown from Birmingham A friend of mine's father who's name was Mulholland played guitar with sib along with a tpt player who had the nick name 'tiny keys', does this ring a bell? Mon Sep 4 10:47:48 2006
Nola Graveney-Edwards - Llanidloes Hello Simone, My late parents were members of "Stars in Battledress" touring in the Far East. Eleanor(Ginger)Fuller and Reg Graveney (Crooner) along with Johnny Shakell, Billy Dainty Mildred ?, I wondered whether you knew them, Regards, Nola Mon May 22 15:29:46 2006
Mannie and Jennie from Hove Futher to my email dated March 29th. I should have mentioned that your own Stan Stennett was in the show too. Tue May 16 15:45:25 2006
Mannie Silverton My wife and I were both in a s.i.b show which toured India in 1946 called "On board to-night". If you are in touch with anyone from this time we would love to hear from them. Wed Mar 29 16:03:33 2006
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BBC Homepage Wales Home Simone's War Photos Last updated: 08 February 2006 Simone Lloyd Jones from Ystradgynlais worked as a professional dancer from the age of 16. During the war she more from this section was a member of the military entertainment troop Stars in Battledress. Here are a few of her photos from those days. BBC Local World War Two A Childhood Prank Mid Wales A London Lass Things to do ATA in Action Action in El Alamein People & Places Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture From Kent to Cardigan Music From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites Llwyndafydd Days News Mulberry Harbours Sport No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather Paraffin Cakes Travel Passage From India Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Spoils of War North East Wales Stars in Battledress North West Wales The A.T.S. Band Student Days South East Wales The Battle of Kohima 1 2 3 The Fire Warden South West Wales The Paratrooper Related BBC Sites The A.T.S. Band photographed at Aldershot. Simone is The Russian Convoys Wales seated at the bottom right of the picture. Training in Aberystwyth Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru Wartime Romance Canolbarth your comments
Henry Holland, Bridgwater, Somerset. I remember my parents telling me that during 1944 (prior to D Day) they were invited to attend a concert at Aldershot Barracks - I have no idea whether the show would have been by "ENSA" or "Stage Door Canteen" but I do know for sure that my brother, who was stationed at Aldershot at the time, was due to sing, this he did, and according to my parents it went down very well with the audience. I also know at the time, there was some talk of an audition with the BBC, but sadly my brother lost his life in France after D Day. My brother was BQMS F W Holland. I was flying with Bomber Command at the time but this occurrence has always been on my mind and at 84 years young would love to learn find out more.
Katherine Mason from Windsor My late father Colin Mason was in 'Stars in Battledress'. I belive from 1945 to 1946 or 47, I believe they did some shows in the middle east. If any one has any stories about that time I would love to hear them.
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BBC Homepage Wales Home Simone's War Photos Last updated: 08 February 2006 Simone Lloyd Jones from Ystradgynlais worked as a professional dancer from the age of 16. During the war she more from this section was a member of the military entertainment troop Stars in Battledress. Here are a few of her photos from those days. BBC Local World War Two A Childhood Prank Mid Wales A London Lass Things to do ATA in Action Action in El Alamein People & Places Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture From Kent to Cardigan Music From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites Llwyndafydd Days News Mulberry Harbours Sport No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather Paraffin Cakes Travel Passage From India Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Spoils of War North East Wales The Field Stores Group Stars in Battledress North West Wales Student Days 1 2 3 South East Wales The Battle of Kohima The Fire Warden South West Wales A promotional shot for the pantomime Aladdin presented by The Paratrooper Related BBC Sites the Field Stores Group of the A.T.S. Simone is on the far The Russian Convoys Wales right. Training in Aberystwyth Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru Wartime Romance Canolbarth
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BBC Homepage Wales Home Simone's War Photos Last updated: 08 February 2006 Simone Lloyd Jones from Ystradgynlais worked as a professional dancer from the age of 16. During the war she more from this section was a member of the military entertainment troop Stars in Battledress. Here are a few of her photos from those days. BBC Local World War Two A Childhood Prank Mid Wales A London Lass Things to do ATA in Action Action in El Alamein People & Places Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture From Kent to Cardigan Music From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites Llwyndafydd Days News Mulberry Harbours Sport No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather Paraffin Cakes Travel Passage From India Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Spoils of War North East Wales Dancing the Adagio Stars in Battledress North West Wales Student Days 1 2 3 South East Wales The Battle of Kohima The Fire Warden South West Wales Simone dancing the adagio for the company 'Stars in The Paratrooper Related BBC Sites Battledress' with her partner Michael Ronnie. The Russian Convoys Wales Training in Aberystwyth Read more about Simone's war years... Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru Wartime Romance Canolbarth
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BBC Homepage Wales Home The Fire Warden Last updated: 29 June 2006 Tommy Esteban from Cae Hopkin was a miner at more from this section Ynyscledwyn colliery for the whole of his working life. BBC Local World War Two During the war he also A Childhood Prank Mid Wales volunteered as an auxillary A London Lass Things to do ATA in Action Fire Warden. He told his story Action in El Alamein People & Places when he visited the BBC Wales Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors Bus in Ystradgynlais in February 2006. Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs Written by Tommy Esteban From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture From Kent to Cardigan Music "I was brought up in Cae Hopkin. I was 17 years of age when From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army the war started. At the beginning of the war we were given Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites identity cards with our full name address and number. We Llwyndafydd Days News were also given ration books for food. The shopkeeper would Mulberry Harbours Sport then stamp the book as it was used. No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather Paraffin Cakes Travel Passage From India It came on the wireless that Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Spoils of War North East Wales there was to be a war effort. This meant that we were to Stars in Battledress North West Wales Student Days South East Wales volunteer to take part in the The Battle of Kohima home guard, local defence and The Fire Warden South West Wales air warden service. I chose The Paratrooper Related BBC Sites the fire service at Abercrave The Russian Convoys Wales Training in Aberystwyth and became a member of the Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru Auxillary Fire Service. Wartime Romance Canolbarth At that time, there were no street lights and we were told to close all curtains at blackout time. In the event of an air raid, a warning would come from the colliery hooter. We could hear the German bombers over head. When the air raid was over, the colliery hooter would be heard again signalling the all clear.
When the war was over it was such a sight to see the lights on the street once again and everything coming back to normality."
Written by Tommy Esteban
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your comments
Abercrave I knew the whole family and what Tommy said was correct Sun Apr 11 17:12:41 2010
Rebecca, Speke i think this story is really good 4 kids in primary and secondary as it is full of information on identity cards and ration books thank you tommy eston for giving me some extra information on the second world war 14 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only
BBC Homepage Wales Home From Scapa Flow to Singapore Last updated: 28 January 2009
Daniel John Griffiths from Cwmgiedd in Ystradgynlais more from this section was working in the Mond BBC Local Refinery in Clydach when the World War Two war began. He volunteered for A Childhood Prank Mid Wales A London Lass the Navy and joined up in Things to do ATA in Action 1942, travelling on the Arctic Action in El Alamein People & Places Convoys from Scapa Flow Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors before embarking for the Far East. Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture From Kent to Cardigan Music Written by Daniel John Griffiths from Ystradgynlais From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army "I was working at the Mond in Clydach (the refinery) when Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites the war started and I volunteered for the Navy. I was 17 and Llwyndafydd Days News Mulberry Harbours a half when I joined in 1942. Sport No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather I was sent to Scapa Flow in Scotland and joined the Ansen. I Paraffin Cakes Travel was on the arctic convoy with HMS Anson taking supplies to Passage From India Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Russia. The Anson was a Battleship, 35,000 tonnes in weight Spoils of War North East Wales with 1200 men on board. We were escorting other ships. We Stars in Battledress North West Wales chased the Tirpitz (German Battleship) for a while. Student Days South East Wales The Battle of Kohima The Fire Warden South West Wales During the convoy, we had to chip the ice of the bulk head of The Paratrooper the ship to stop it listing over. We would have cocoa on the Related BBC Sites The Russian Convoys Wales bridge but it would be cold before we reached the top. We Training in Aberystwyth Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru wore duffle coats and of course overalls and suits and tops. It Wartime Romance Canolbarth took about six weeks altogether.
There were lots of other ships in the convoy including the Illustrious, the Formidable and aircraft carriers as well. Our Captain was called Pony Moore. I'd love to know if he was still alive.
Scapa Flow was a terrible place, only trees and nothing else. We went ashore in the day to get our beer which we bought with tickets. It was an experience.
I met a chap from Ystalyfera on the convoy and then I met him again in Australia. After getting back from the convoy the Anson was recommissioned and I was sent abroad to Singapore.
I went to Australia to join the MONABS which were mobile operational naval air bases. We were transferred from naval uniform to a khaki strip and were supposed to be advanced parties to go into the jungles of Singapore.
We were to prepare airbases for our forces (called MONABS) but the Japanese got wise to it. They used to pull back until we'd got everything ready then they'd re-advance and wipe us out. This happened to two MONABS and we were the third due to be sent in but after that the operation was abandoned."
Written by Daniel John Griffiths from Ystradgynlais 14 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only
BBC Homepage Wales Home Leaving Liverpool more from this section Last updated: 15 February 2006 World War Two Dorothy Griffiths was A Childhood Prank evacuated to Ystragynlais from A London Lass ATA in Action Liverpool during the war. Action in El Alamein Here, she recalls those Air Raid Fear BBC Local traumatic yet sometimes Battle of Arakan, Burma Mid Wales exciting times, remembering David's Dunkirk Things to do Exchanging Eggs how she fell in love with Wales From Anfield to Capel Bangor People & Places and the Welsh language. She From Kent to Cardigan Nature & Outdoors liked the place so much, she decided to stay on after the war. From Scapa Flow to Singapore History Land Army Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Religion & Ethics Written by Dorothy Griffiths from Ystradgynlais Llwyndafydd Days Arts & Culture Mulberry Harbours Music "I remember the war in Liverpool very vividly. We were in the No Glory in War TV & Radio Nursing in the East shelter every night. Once the siren went, we were off. The Paraffin Cakes Local BBC Sites shelter was down the end of our road and it was a nursing Passage From India News home so the mothers and babies were in one part and we Rations and the Blackout Sport had to be in the other. We had to be quiet which was a bit Spoils of War Stars in Battledress Weather difficult with all the children! Student Days Travel The Battle of Kohima At my age, I didn't really realise how bad things were - you The Fire Warden Neighbouring Sites don't at that age really (11). You're old enough to remember The Paratrooper North East Wales The Russian Convoys North West Wales it but not old enough to realise exaclty what was going on. I Training in Aberystwyth South East Wales remember one night we were in the shelter and somebody Wartime Memories from Hay came and said that Chapel Street had been bombed, which Wartime Romance South West Wales was our street. The church and houses were gone. The Related BBC Sites following morning we were up early, hunting shrapnel like Wales souvenirs so it showed how much we really understood, we Cymru didn't understand at all. Canolbarth I was evacuated from Waterloo, Liverpool, in March 1941. It was a very traumatic time and a very exciting time. We all thought we were going abroad because we didn't know anything about Wales really. At the same time we didn't want to leave our parents. I was with a friend walking home from school one day and we looked in the window of an antique shop in Waterloo and my friend said I wonder if they've got foreign money in Wales. It showed how much we really knew about Wales at the time.
We came down by bus. We'd never seen a live sheep or cow before but we did that day! We came to Ystradgynlais, to the local Welfare Hall, and waited for the billeting officer to come. As it happened, my sister and I were about the last two to go from the hall. We were kept together which was a good thing. I was 11, old enough to remember and my sister was 8. The following day we walked up the hill and went to Caerbont, Abercrave. It was very, very strange to see all the fields.
We went to the local school, but we didn't stay long in the billet we were in because we weren't very happy there. I went then to what I called my aunt and uncle. I stayed with them for 11 years. I liked Ystradgynlais and the people so much, I was determined to learn the language. I asked if I could go to the Welsh class in school because they had one for the evacuees and one for the Welsh.
Welsh was spoken most of the time then and I went into the Welsh class. Where I was staying, they were chapel people, as most people were then. I used to go to chapel and ask my aunt what the minister was saying, and I would remember. I was very friendly with the local vicar and his wife and they taught me Welsh. I picked up the Welsh language very quick. I was happy, I really liked Ystradgynlais.
We had a youth club and because I was so interested in the Welsh language, I started to recite. The local minister's wife used to teach me and I used to go to the local Eisteddfods. I did win quite a bit! They didn't know that I was English. It was only after the adjudication that someone would say 'she's a little evacuee'. I was so pleased. That made me closer. Everybody was so nice to me.
I was in a local drama and we travelled all over Wales. We even went to London. Then the time came for the evacuees to go back. I did go back when I was 16, but I couldn't seem to settle back in Liverpool. My aunt had told me that if I wanted to come back to Ystradgynlais then I could, so my father said, well if you're happier, go so I came back and then the time came when all the evacuees had to go back. I didn't want to go back, because I was so happy.
I was working by then. I worked in the Anglo Celtic Watch Factory. I felt a bit guilty about it, but I didn't go back, I felt I couldn't live in Liverpool although I have lots of feelings for Liverpool. I met my husband and we've now been married 55 years and live in Ystradgynlais; but I still have hiraeth for Liverpool - I like to see the team winning and I like to hear things about Liverpool."
Written by Dorothy Griffiths from Ystradgynlais
More WW2 stories from Ystrad... your comments
Albert Hawkesworth NSW Australia My brother and I were evacuated to Ystrad in The Rhondda Valley. Train from Paddington. Met a troop train when lots of soldiers tossed gum and chocolates to us. I thin k they were Americans. I was about four or five and my brother was nine. Billeted with a great family name of Davies I think. Had a Lassie Dog called Mick and we became very close. The Father and two sons were Coal Miners. The Village seemed to be one main street with the school at the end. Seemed to be on the side of a mountain. Very homesick at first but after a couple of weeks had a very nice time. Returned home to Lon! don I thinl at the end of the War. Our hose got bombed and moved into flats just down from Lord Cricket Ground. Collect Schrapnel and remember the V.E.Day parties in the flats. Tue Aug 25 15:10:11 2009 george holden,plymouth We were bombed out of our house in Anfield Liverpool in October 1940,and evacuated to Capel Bangor,6 miles from Aberystwyth.Luckily we were taken in together My sister and me. It was a very small village all Welsh speaking, which was a big culture shock for all as our English was at best hardly understood by anyone outside Liverpool! We soon learned enough to get by and can still speak a few phrases now.We had no school in the village ,we all used the Chapel annexe. It must have been quite difficult for the Teacher as the Evacuees ages ranged from 5 to 12. We seemed to play with plasticine mainly an! d got very adept at making farm animals.Most of the boys used to skip off when we heard a tractor coming as it meant a free ride to watch threshing or some other exciting activity, as no-one in the village owned a vehicle.Despite the fact that it was a very rural setting, no water,gas or electricity in the cottages it still had a great Community spirit.I have been back there a number of times since,but after the cottages started to be modernised it lost some of it`s old fashioned charm.I was there for 3 years, and could hardly speak english when I got back home! I have a lot more memories that I will share if anyone is interested. Tue Jan 6 16:26:48 2009
lauren from yorkshire wow amazing story!!! Mon Nov 20 12:10:36 2006
John Higginson, Perth Western Australia Hi Dorothy, I am Douglas's brother you have read his story I was at the mill at velin pontbren Cross Inn. I too was 5 when I came to Cross Inn. You are so right the Welsh people weere so good to us. I don't long for the pool I long for Cross Inn. Velin Pontbren mill is now rebuilt at the museum at cardiff. Been down under for 46 years now. Will keep in touch. Mon Aug 14 10:09:19 2006
Douglas Higginson, Australia Hello Dorothy. So nice to see a similar story as ours, and can understand the whole episode you went through. Did not have the chance you had to stay. Emigrated to Perth Western Australia 1963. Please read my story in this section under Llwyndafydd days.
Douglas' story...
Cheers Douglas. Tue Apr 18 09:42:33 2006
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BBC Homepage Wales Home Coelbren Evacuee more from this section Last updated: 13 February 2006 World War Two After being evacuated from A Childhood Prank London, Arthur Goodall lived A London Lass ATA in Action in the Ystradgynlais area for Action in El Alamein five years from 1940-1945. He Air Raid Fear BBC Local returned to his home town Battle of Arakan, Burma Mid Wales when the war ended but David's Dunkirk Things to do Exchanging Eggs retired to Powys in 1993. He From Anfield to Capel Bangor People & Places came on board the BBC Wales From Kent to Cardigan Nature & Outdoors Bus in Ystrad in February 2006 to share his story. From Scapa Flow to Singapore History Land Army Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Religion & Ethics "My first memory is of Sunday third September 1939, which Llwyndafydd Days Arts & Culture was my 8th birthday. I'd just come back from Sunday school Mulberry Harbours Music and was told I had a chocolate cake for my birthday and my No Glory in War TV & Radio Nursing in the East mother then telling us that something terrible had happened Paraffin Cakes Local BBC Sites - that we'd gone to war with Germany. Passage From India News Rations and the Blackout Sport Although I didn't understand much at that time, it had an Spoils of War Stars in Battledress Weather awful impact on me. The impact came when my little brother Student Days Travel who was only four years old and I were both evacuated to The Battle of Kohima Brighton on the south coast. We were there from September The Fire Warden Neighbouring Sites 1939 until July 1940. The Paratrooper North East Wales The Russian Convoys North West Wales Training in Aberystwyth South East Wales When nothing of consequence happened, my mother decided Wartime Memories from Hay that we ought to be in London with her. We went back but Wartime Romance South West Wales then on 7 Sep 1940, the siren sounded and as I lived in the Related BBC Sites docklands, we all had to get into shelters quickly. It was the Wales first bombing of London. Cymru Canolbarth I have very vivid memories of that day. We were sitting in the shelter when the bombs started to explode outside. Shrapnel was hitting the shelter and women were screaming.
The raid ended and we came out. The whole place was on fire. Even the roads were on fire because they were made from wooden blocks to make sure that horses wouldn't slip with their carts. The only way out from where we lived was an alleyway through the docks. The men had torn the dock fence down for us to get through.
There was so much smoke and fire, we were going from one shelter to another. In the final shelter, they gave us strips of sheets dipped in water to wrap round our faces and our heads.
We had an aunt living a few miles from our house so we went there. That night, Gerry came back again and bombed but this time we went to a shelter again under a church.
I distinctly remember coming out in the morning and seeing a distant fire with a bell hanging and fire burning from the tower. We were told that was the school that we would have gone to with the rest of the people who were evacuated. Several of our friends were killed in that school.
We never went home after. I never saw my home again until 1945.
The day of the raid, we were sent underneath the railway arches which run from London Bridge on the south coast railway. We stayed under there for about a week and then we were told we were going to be sent hop-picking in Kent.
We were put on lorries and taken to a place near Tunbridge in Kent. The bombing started again and we had to hide under trees until the raid was over.
We then went down to the hop field and we were given a little hut which were going to live in. The Battle of Britain was taking place above our heads and we could see the dog fights going on.
Another distinct memory I have is of a German plane coming down in flames. It wasn't actually diving but gliding to the ground. We saw people jumping out of the plane and men running to capture them.
We were in Kent for about 3 weeks and around October time, my mum said that we were going to go away again on a train - we were going to a country where there were big mountains. We were imagining big mountains like the ones in Switzerland!
We were on the train for many hours, I don't know exactly how many, but I do remember that the train stopped alongside a load of trucks which were full of apples (probably going to go for cider or something like that). We hadn't eaten at all so the bigger boys, my 16-year-old brother included, got through the windows of our train and on to one of these trucks to get apples for us to eat.
It was dark, it was October and it was very late but the WVS were waiting for us in Cardiff when we arrived. They'd made sandwiches, cakes and drinks for us. Then we were put on buses and taken to Hensoll Castle, which I believe was a mental hospital.The patients had been moved out and we were given the beds in the wards.
There was my mum and my little brother in one hospital bed and my sister and her cousins in another one. We were all crowded into this ward for a few days before being put on buses again and we arrived here in Ystradgynlais where they had a big party in the local hall.
After this party and a welcoming speech (from the mayor probably), we were put on buses again and taken to the Welfare Hall in Coelbren. We were then taken home by the families who had volunteered to look after us so we were all separated again.
My mother and my little brother went to live on a farm. My brother and I went to live with Mr and Mrs Jones, and my sister went to live with a Mrs Davies.
My billet couldn't be faulted at all. My mother always said that I had been ruined because Mrs Jones was an excellent cook! I became picky about my food, she said, but in those days any food was good because it was rationed. We only had limited amounts of it.
I had jobs to do. I always had to wash up after meals. I couldn't leave the table after having a meal until I had been given permission to do so.
We always listened to the BBC Home Service at 9 o'clock. Nine o'clock was a ritual. We sat and listened to the news to hear what was going on (incidentally that was the first time I'd even saw a radio). My other job was walking on the mountain collecting buckets of manure for the rhubarb and potatoes.
When we'd been in Brighton, we only did half days school. We had to share a school with the local children so I had only done half-days in school for almost for a year and when I went back to London in July for a few months, there was no school at all. There weren't any teachers. They were all away with the other children so the vicar's daughter used to give us lessons in the church hall. Because I wasn't able to tell them what I was capable of, I had to have a test and they decided which class I went into.
School was very hard. I never had so many canes in my life as I had in Wales. I used to dread drawing. I couldn't draw. If teachers caned children today like they did in my days, there would be problems.
Having said that, I didn't lack in education, I actually did quite well, although I had to return to London before I was 14 but the education I got here helped me very well because I ended up with a very good job.
The teacher had a good reputation of turning out scholars who went on to go to Maes-y-Dderwen Grammar. It was traditional in those days.
I had lots of friends in the area. Of course I had a cockney accent which turned to Welsh accent (and that got me in to trouble when I went back to London). I made lots of friends and we did lots of country things that I hadn't done before like going fishing, collecting conkers at Craig-y-Nos and catching rabbits.
Going rabbiting with the men was quite exciting. I'd have to get up 6 o'clock in the morning and catch the train from Coelbren to Crai. We'd get off at Crai and have our sandwiches and a bottle of water.
We would go rabbiting all day long and work from Crai to Sennybridge before catching the train back. I used to have one of the rabbits which supplemented meat rations and the men would take the rest to the pub and sell them for 12 and a half pence.
My job was to carry the nets and the rabbits. On the odd occasion, we'd pinch a salmon out of the river although you weren't allowed to do that really.
Another clear memory I have is of collecting winberries (blueberries) which grew on the mountain. Mrs Jones used to give me a tin and I'd have to go up on the mountain behind Banwyn and pick berries. I couldn't go back home until the tin was full. When I came home, she used to make tarts and jam and things like that.
Saturday was another ritual. We used to catch the 5 o'clock train down to Seven Sisters to the pictures and a 9 o'clock train back. If you were lucky, sometimes the chip shop was open.
I can also remember the mines. I found a blacksmith in Onllwyn colliery and used to go down there when I could and watch them shoeing the horses that worked underground. I got so friendly with one of the blacksmiths that he made me a hoop and bachyn and I used to run from Coelbren to Onllwyn and back with my hoop and bachyn (hoop and hook).
So the memories of Wales are good and the reason I came back here was that I was so happy as an evacuee whereas I wasn't happy in London. It was very traumatic when I went back to London. I'd lost all my friends. I was quite shy and hadn't been to a very big school since I was eight years old.
It was all very strange to me going back. There was no room for me to go to school when I went back so I had to go to an assistant teacher in the infant class where we lived. I was almost 14 so I went back to school for just over a week and then left.
There are still lots of people in Coelbren who I know from when I was a kid. They all knew me because I used to come back for holidays etc. My sister married and stayed in Ystradgynlais - she's got 5 children.
It was nice coming back to see all those people I knew. Now I am a bee keeper and I keep 20 hives of bees, which is a left over from my evacuation to Brighton. The lady I stayed with there kept bees and they must have impressed me in some way because I always wanted to keep bees when I was older."
By Arthur Goodall from Coelbren
Arthur on bee-keeping... More WW2 stories from Ystrad... your comments
Mary Skevington S Wales Loved your article, wondering if you can remember the name of the blacksmith? My grandfather was one, his name David (Davey or Dai) Price, unfortunately I never met him as he died before I was born. I'm researching and would love to have any information. Tue May 5 14:23:05 2009
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BBC Homepage Wales Home Rations and the Blackout Last updated: 17 February 2006 Rose Evans from Coelbren was a child when the Second more from this section World War broke out. She remembers rationing and BBC Local World War Two watching Swansea burning A Childhood Prank Mid Wales during the blitz. In February A London Lass Things to do ATA in Action 2006, she came on board the Action in El Alamein People & Places BBC Wales Bus in Ystrad to Air Raid Fear Nature & Outdoors share her story. Battle of Arakan, Burma History David's Dunkirk Religion & Ethics Exchanging Eggs "I was born in Llwyncelyn and I grew up there till I was From Anfield to Capel Bangor Arts & Culture about 18 months old then we moved to Coelbren. My father From Kent to Cardigan Music was in the army therefore he was in the war and I can From Scapa Flow to Singapore TV & Radio Land Army remember as small children we had to do everything that our Llandod's Loudspeaker Van Local BBC Sites parents told us. We weren't allowed past the doors after 6 in Llwyndafydd Days News the night because we'd show light going in and out of the Mulberry Harbours Sport door. From Coelbren, we moved to Banwen. I lived there No Glory in War Nursing in the East Weather with my grandparents. Paraffin Cakes Travel Passage From India We were sitting out the front one night and there was a big Rations and the Blackout Neighbouring Sites Spoils of War North East Wales fire in Banwen colliery. Apparently they reckoned it was from the bomb that came down just above the colliery where the Stars in Battledress North West Wales Student Days South East Wales Crosses home had been bombed. The Battle of Kohima The Fire Warden South West Wales I can remember the big fires there. We'd often go up the The Paratrooper Related BBC Sites mountain to the winberry patch. We were coming back one The Russian Convoys Wales Training in Aberystwyth night and you could see Swansea being lit up like a ball of Wartime Memories from Hay Cymru fire. I didn't know it was Swansea until I told my grandfather Wartime Romance Canolbarth and he said "That's Swansea burning in the blitz."
I remember my grandmother taking my sister and I down to Swansea, and Swansea was all down, there was nothing there really. But the amazing part of it was that the religious chapels and the very old buildings were still standing as if something had protected them from the bombing. For years after, I thought of that: the feeling that something was protecting us from this war.
Our grandmother told us you mustn't go out in the night. You could hear the German planes - it was a different sound to the British so you knew it was a German plane. We had nowhere to hide; there was no shelter for us.
The only thing my grandmother used to do was tell us to hide under the big table which had a big blanket. We'd all be under the blanket and table with a little candle and everywhere was in darkness. Then you'd hear the siren giving the all-clear and then we'd come out. We'd think we'd been under the blanket for hours. It was the most terrifying experience you could get in the war.
The day it was declared the war was over, I couldn't get over the joy. What is this all about I thought? Then I realised that my uncles were in the war. I remember my grandfather used to say we can be thankful for the little ships - those are the ships which brought our boys home. There were a number of 17-year-old boys from Banwen who went to war, and were never to return. There was fun for us during the war as well because we didn't always understand what was going on. We didn't realise it was a World War. My sister and I used to go down to Onllwyn to get sandwiches from the canteen because everything used to be on the black market then. A lady from Coelbren would be there waiting for us.
The canteen was in blackout and she'd say 'stand by there now girls and I'll get things for you now'. For two shillings, we'd have a pile of bread and butter, a pile of corned beef sandwiches and a big tray of cake with jam and coconut on top.
We used to walk back to Banwen in the dark thinking how lucky we were: we were getting food even though there were rations. I remember if we didn't have much, I used to eat condensed milk in the sandwich. Another time, when we didn't have much, we'd have sugar and currants in bread.
It was hard in many ways for the older people. My grandmother died aged 63 and she was an old lady. My grandmother looked years and years older then me. It's because of the hard times they had.
The war did take its toll on the people of the time. We never realised until now what really went on. We didn't realise the danger.
When the war finished, we had a huge bonfire and burnt an effigy of Hitler - we thought it was like Guy Fawkes! They were good times, knowing that the war was over.
The war was an experience not to forget. You couldn't get food unless you had your ration books and once your ration book had run out, you couldn't have any till next month - you could be waiting two weeks. We used to have 6 ounces of butter but they cut that down to four ounces. You'd only have an ounce of cheese per person and children weren't included in that.
We'd never seen bananas. I must have been 12 or 13 before I saw a banana. I had seen oranges but no other fruit, and I didn't know what our veg was because as soon as the men would do the allotment something would happen and they'd be running for cover.
One woman she helped a German and he lived with her for about 16 weeks and her husband didn't know he was living there!
We can just be thankful to God that we aren't living in it now."
By Rose Evans from Coelbren.
More WW2 stories from Ystrad... your comments
Barbra I love your story a bit similar to mine. I' 86 now and I still remember everything about the war and when we were evacuated it was a very hard but fun time being evacuated cause I missed my parents a lot but I still live my life to the full I go clubbing partying bring it on. Sat Jun 9 17:29:31 2007
Connie Hello, I was just reading up on the wars and ran across this site. I am 39 years old, an american and I'm just overwhelmed of how it was then. It breaks my heart of how life was for alot of people. How life is in general. We all think we have it not so good, then you read a real true life story of a hard life and how you took the good times as a child out of them and made them wonderful. I love your story, it made me think alot and I would love to read more. Thu Dec 14 09:20:05 2006
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