1. Swansea at War Part I The bombing of Swansea – The Swansea Blitz
The `ESC’ at any time to stop the presentation.
Swansea at War
The bombing of Swansea – The Swansea Blitz
Part I
Photograph courtesy of the West Glamorgan Archives

2. Click here for a larger view
What is the message of this cartoon? What do you think has happened?
Click here for a larger view
Reproduced with the kind permission of The Echo - February 22nd, 1941

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

4. Aims of the Lesson
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

5. The build-up to war
Discuss: How seriously were the authorities in Swansea taking the threat of war during the late 1930’s?
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.
What is a mortuary?
Information taken from “All that was left was the coalshed…” – Swansea Museums Service, 1997

6. Swansea County Borough - Air Raid Precautions
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 Street
Accommodation 75
200
Is there scope for a adding an on-screen calculator that can be enlarged and used when clicked on? It could also be used on the next page then.
For deaths in Hospitals
Swansea General Hospital Mortuary
Princess Royal Hospital Mortuary
Tawe Lodge Hospital Mortuary 6 10
Total Accommodation

7. 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.
£1. 1s. 0d. per day of 12 hours when called upon to undertake the work dealing with deaths due to war operations.
Calculator here too? Teachers could set numeracy questions here then.
Looking at the evidence presented what type of war do you believe the Swansea authorities were expecting in 1938?
The Education and School Improvement Service
Taken from Wales and the Second World War by Phillip Tapper and Susan Hawthorne, 1991

8. What can you see? What has happened?
Study this picture of Swansea (1941) carefully. Were the authorities right to take the precautions that they did?
Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of West Glamorgan Archives and Swansea Museum
What can you see? What has happened?
END