Oral History collection: Mrs. Cecilia James interviewed by Miss P. M. James about Experience as a Nursing Auxiliary in St Thomas; first-aid station during WW2, 1939-1944.(Poor quality recording).

Track 1. [00:00:10] Second World War: Spent most of War working as an Auxilliary Nurse. [00:00:43] Second World War: Heard about the work from family friend - had no inclination to go Nursing prior to this. [00:01:37] Second World War: Did a few hours a day manning first aid posts on voluntary basis. [00:02:23] Second World War: Then became paid - 12 hour shifts then 8 hour shifts. [00:02:56] Second World War: Sebastapol Street was the first aid post. [00:03:01] Second World War: Then moved to Balaclava Street. [00:04:02] Second World War: Busy as we were near the docks. [00:04:20] Second World War: If patients were very ill, sent them in the ambulance to hospital. [00:05:02] Second World War: Desciption of injuries treated. [00:07:05] Second World War: Working with bombs going off around them. As soon as Siren went off they reported for duty. [00:09:11] Second World War: Putting mattresses on the floors for casualties. [00:10:02] Second World War: Describes uniform, called 'Nurse' after passing first aid exam. [00:11:10] Second World War: Doctor in the first aid post was a GP in St Thomas. [00:12:10] Second World War: Once a month had the off duty soldiers up to the first aid post for a tea party. [00:13:47] Second World War: Unexploded bombs - had to move out of first aid post. [00:15:30] Second World War: Only had stock they could carry when they had to move due to unexploded bomb. [00:16:12] Second World War: Went to ARP hut in Delhi Street. [00:17:27] Second World War: Decontamination centre. People used to go to first aid post for washing and ointment. [00:20:05] Second World War: Dr Hefferman would train staff on a Sunday afternoon. [00:21:01] Second World War: Had to work one week every six weeks on the wards at Swansea Hospital. [00:22:23] Second World War: Types of cases on the wards. [00:24:29] Second World War: St Thomas during the war - bed downstairs as it was dangerous to sleep upstairs. Three day Blitz - St Thomas near the docks so badly affected. [00:25:45] Second World War: Family experience during Blitz . [00:27:03] Second World War: Deaths during three day Blitz - cousins of father. [00:28:10] Second World War: Friends were trying to persuade family to move from St Thomas to Brynmill as they were near the docks. [00:32:44] Second World War: Food rationing and how people coped. [00:35:00] Second World War: Soldiers were very badly shocked after bombs fell. [00:37:37] Second World War: Husband was on a ship that was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland. Description of Torpedo attack. [00:39:47] Second World War: Had a letter saying husband was safe - first ship from Swansea to be torpedoed. [00:40:30] Second World War: Husband never talked of it - kept it all in, very traumatic experience. [00:42:17] Second World War: After that, a neighbour Mr Thomas also was lost at sea in a different incident. [00:44:12] Second World War: Stayed on first aid post untill married and had to give up when daughter was born. [00:44:44] Second World War: Wartime wedding - coupons, but we managed. [00:46:46] Second World War: Talking about the time they evcuated the first aid post again. [00:47:40] Second World War: Church bells ringing to warn of Invasion by Germans ( they were invading South Coast). [00:48:25] Second World War: Germans were repelled - by Home Guard and Canadians. [00:48:55] Second World War: Sound of church bells warning of invasion was worse than sound of bombs and sirens. [00:50:30] Second World War: When army had defused the unexploded bomb they were allowed to go back to own first aid post. [00:51:34] Second World War: Ben Evans store getting bombed. [00:52:49] Second World War: Demolition of buildings after war damage. [00:54:50] Second World War: Use of prefabricated buildings to carry on business after war damage. [00:57:03] Second World War: Could not carry on after child was born - despite being written to, asking her to return. [00:59:19] Second World War: Brothers return from war - devastated at what had happened to Swansea. [01:00:10] Second World War: Saving the Cross Keys from burning.