The bombing of Swansea – The Swansea Blitz

Photograph courtesy of the West Glamorgan Archives

Part I

The `ESC’ at any time to stop the presentation.

What is the message of this cartoon?What do you think has happened?

Reproduced with the kind permission of The Echo - February 22nd, 1941

Click here for a larger view

Reproduced with the kind permission of The Echo - February 22nd, 1941

To study the events and experiences of the Swansea Three Day Blitz

To investigate the effects of the Swansea Blitz upon the town

The Bigger Picture - To come to a conclusion as to the overall significance of the Swansea Blitz

During the 1930’s many people believed that if war came it

would begin with an air attack on towns and cities. By 1937

Swansea police and firemen had had anti-gas training. By

1938, the town had an A.R.P. department, volunteer wardens,

ambulance drivers and firemen, and designated mortuaries,

first aid posts and public shelters. The blackout was in place

from the declaration of war in September, 1939.

Information taken from “All that was left was the coalshed…” – Swansea Museums Service, 1997

Discuss: How seriously were the authorities in Swansea taking the threat of war during the late 1930’s?

What is a mortuary?

Disposal of Civilian Dead due to War Operations

For deaths in the Streets or Houses

Wycliffe Schoolroom

St.Faiths Club

Cemetery Chapel, Morriston

Cemetery Chapel, Oystermouth

Cemetery Chapel, Danygraig

Christ Church Parish Hall, Rodney StreetFor deaths in Hospitals

Swansea General Hospital Mortuary

Princess Royal Hospital Mortuary

Tawe Lodge Hospital Mortuary

Accommodation

75

75

75

75

75

200

6

10

6Total Accommodation

Personnel

Mortuary Superintendent

Deputy Mortuary Supt.

Four Mortuary Assistants

Two Mortuary Assistants

£50 per annum plus £2. 2s. 2d. Per day of 12 hours when called upon to

undertake the work of dealing with deaths due to war operations.

£30 per annum plus £3. 3s. 0d. Per day of 12 hours when called upon to

undertake the work dealing with deaths due to war operations.

£30 per annum plus £3. 3s. 0d. Per day of 12 hours when called upon to

undertake the work dealing with deaths due to war operations.

£1. 1s. 0d. per day of 12 hours when called upon to undertake the work

dealing with deaths due to war operations.

Taken from Wales and the Second World War by Phillip Tapper and Susan Hawthorne, 1991

The Education and School Improvement

Service

Looking at the evidence presented what type of war do you believe the Swansea authorities were expecting in 1938?

Study this picture of Swansea (1941) carefully. Were the authorities right to take the precautions that they

did?

What can you see? What has happened?

Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of West Glamorgan Archives and Swansea Museum

END