DVD entitled “War time bombing of Swansea including the Three Nights’ Blitz” an interview with Hubert Thomas, Civil Defence Volunteer Messenger. Suitable for Secondary School pupils.

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 216 D/D Z 717/32/1
  • Dates of Creation
      2014
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      1 DVD

Scope and Content

[00:00:01] Personal Details: Hubert Thomas (HT), b 1927. [00:01:11] War: Luftwaffe raids on Swansea. [00:01:31] War: First bombs, deaths - Landore. [00:02:33] War: Reactions to bombing, shock. [00:03:30] Cubs: HT in Cubs, Scouts (24th Troop). [00:03:48] Cubs: Wesley Methodist Church, College St (Now Princess Way). [00:04:04] Scouts: Central Hall (current location of Dragon), semaphore demonstration to Chief Scout Lord Summers. [00:04:35] Civil Defence: Scouts selected as Civil Defence (CD) messengers. [00:04:38] Civil Defence: Equipment: own bike; steel helmet, respirator, arm band. [00:04:53] Civil Defence: Messenger duties. [00:05:19] Civil Defence: Centres - Central Police Station, Northampton Buildings, Unit Superheaters. [00:05:48] Civil Defence: War service = early maturity, responsibility. [00:06:09] War: Luftwaffe strafing. [00:06:07] Civil Defence: Dangers of CD work. [00:06:56] Civil Defence: CD workers insufficient medical skills. [00:07:22] Civil Defence: CD duties (telegraph wires down, messages). [00:07:35] Civil Defence: Precautions against air attack. [00:07:47] War: Food hoarding, rationing. [00:08:04] War: Public announcements, warnings. [00:08:38] Health: Public hygiene poor. [00:09:06] War: Shelters, practices in raids. [00:09:59] War: Interior shelters. [00:10:15] War: Home made shelters. [00:11:04] War: Bombing. [00:12:15] War: Blackout precautions, punishments. [00:13:06] War: Evacuees to rural areas. [00:14:06] War: Blitz on Swansea, seen from Pontardawe. [00:14:35] War: Air Training Corps (ATC). [00:14:39] ATC: Training, duties. [00:14:50] War: Decoy "town" between Neath and Pontardawe. [00:14:56] War: Disposal of incendiaries. [00:15:08] War: Bombing damage to Swansea, extent. [00:15:58] Retail: Ben Evans store, Castle Gardens location. [00:17:53] Retail: West Wales Tobacco Co. [00:19:38] Swansea: History - Cross Keys, St Mary's Church. [00:20:47] War: Fire services, water shortages, EWS tanks. [00:22:14] War: Municipal Baths closed in war. [00:22:30] War: Wartime spirit of people. [00:23:05] Retail: Swansea Market, butchers sales late Saturday. [00:24:38] Retail: Faggots & peas, 4d in Market. [00:25:21] Retail: Temporary market and shops- Wassail Square, Walters Road. [00:25:55] War: Bombing - Townhill, Landore. [00:27:07] Home Guard: Pontardawe LDV, equipment. [00:27:41] Farming: Farm work, food. [00:28:20] War: Galvanisation of collective spirit. [00:28:43] War: Visits by King, Queen, meets HT's future mother-in-law. [00:30:36] War: Churchill visits Bush Hotel, Sgt Trollope