Oral History collection: Peter Williams interviewed by Pauline James about Second World War and Three Nights' Blitz of Swansea.

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 216 TH 79
  • Dates of Creation
      21 May 1979
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      1 audio recording

Scope and Content

Track 1. [00:00:01] Second World War: Mr Peter William talks of his involvement in the Scout Movement during the war. [00:00:50] Second World War: Gas Masks issued and Scouts and Guides were asked to assist in the assembly of gas masks. [00:01:47] Second World War: Courses run by Red Cross and St John Ambulance - Scouts were asked to be pretend casualties. [00:03:06] Second World War: Scouts were asked along to lessons in Air raid precautions training - was in Newport at the time and this took place in Tredegar Park. [00:04:18] Second World War: Instruction in Poison Gas - KFK and Mustard Gas - had a certificate after 6 weeks training. [00:05:03] Second World War: Dynevor school had a delayed start to term in 1940 due to the Summer of Dunkirk. [00:05:43] Second World War: Start of the 3 night Blitz - doing homework in air raid shelter. [00:06:00] Second World War: Scout messengers - St Barabbas Troop. Scouts were put onto a rota to run messages. Given a steel helmet. Reported to Orchard Street. [00:07:06] Second World War: Describes 2nd night of the Blitz on duty as a scout messenger. Many bombs so was told to get home safely. [00:07:36] Second World War: Bombs dropping around him - air raid shelters were very crowded. [00:08:06] Second World War: Found a place in a shelter in the basement of the Ragged School (just behind Orchard Street). [00:08:43] Second World War: Parachute flares landing. [00:09:30] Second World War: The driver of the 23 bus was in the shelter and when there was a lull in the bombs he drove his bus and dropped passengers off. [00:10:24] Second World War: Dynevor School was burnt and they relocated to Deaf and Blind Institute (Cambrian Buildings). [00:11:46] Second World War: Scouts helped in ARP work as well. [00:12:08] Second World War: As a scout messenger he was sent on his bike to collect battening for black out blinds. But more usual it was sealed envelopes for doctors etc. [00:14:38] Second World War: Air Training Corps was attached to the school. Some parents objected to their sons joining up. [00:16:11] Second World War: Used to finish scout messenger duty around 1am. [00:16:20] Second World War: George Munday was a scout and he won a medal for bravery ? The George medal. [00:17:57] Second World War: Scouts would teach their parents how to react in an emergency. [00:19:00] Second World War: No special training as a Scout - 'Be Prepared' was their motto, they used their initiative. [00:19:38] Second World War: Always wore their uniforms when on messenger duties - shorts were cold in the winter. [00:20:00] Second World War: Describes relatives that went to sea and the ships they were on. [00:23:02] Second World War: Father made his way into town from work at the docks, walking up Wind Street and found an unexploded bomb. [00:24:36] Second World War: Father was a harbour pilot and he worked hard in the run up to D day. [00:25:17] Second World War: Father went around houses to get crews for ships for D day - not a press gang but nearly so!.