Hi Barry Its your lucky day!!!!!! I typed the whole of Swansea Census for my college work, and I have the information of 81 Watkin Street Dwelling Census Place Year Of Census Name Surname Relation Marriage Age Sex Occupation Birthplace Handicap 81 Watkin Street Swansea 1881 Henry Evans Head M 50 M Weaver Carmarthen Town Of 81 Watkin Street Swansea 1881 Ann Evans Wife M 61 F Weaver Wife Narberth, Pembroke Wales 81 Watkin Street Swansea 1881 William Evans Son U 19 M Grocer Swansea, Glamorgan Wales 81 Watkin Street Swansea 1881 Eliza Davies Head W 50 F Dressmaker Swansea, Glamorgan Wales 81 Watkin Street Swansea 1881 Sarah Davies Daughter U 17 F Domestic Servant Swansea, Glamorgan Wales I hope this what you wanted, if you want anymore please ask and I will find it out for you Charles _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com

I have the 1881 Census on CD-ROM, and I want to look up the occupants of no.81. Can anyone tell me how to find it on the CD-ROM - without having to search through the whole of Swansea! Barry Johnson Monmouthshire

I have the 1881 Census on CD-ROM, and I want to look up the occupants of no.81. Can anyone tell me how to find it on the CD-ROM - without having to search through the whole of Swansea! Barry Johnson Monmouthshire

The South Wales Evening Post had an article in tonights edition about a Frenchman trying to locate any family of the illegitimate daughter of his Uncle.(Pre WW1) THe article mentions names, dates and the an address in Morriston. The link to the article is below: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=76041&command =displayContent&sourceNode=75593&contentPK=2313947 It may be a bit too long to display as one line, if so paste it into a browser. -- Peter

The South Wales Evening Post had an article in tonights edition about a Frenchman trying to locate any family of the illegitimate daughter of his Uncle.(Pre WW1) THe article mentions names, dates and the an address in Morriston. The link to the article is below: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=76041&command =displayContent&sourceNode=75593&contentPK=2313947 It may be a bit too long to display as one line, if so paste it into a browser. -- Peter

This was in today's Rootsweb newsletter and need to be repeated because many of us are still getting these pesky infected emails. Some tend to blame the "from" person because they don't understand that the "from" person is phony and part of the Klez is to confuse the receiver about who sent the message. To find out, you can go into View and click on Page Source. The last "received" at the bottom, should give you a clue as to who really sent the message. If you are getting these emails and suspect they are coming from someone from the list, please email me about the problem. Do NOT sent it to the list. >From Rootsweb: KLEZ OFF! Viruses and worms are a constant and growing threat and they can destroy your valuable genealogical files. Assuming your computer is clean or that you will never get a virus is foolish. Viruses invade the computers of genealogists every day. The current and relentless attack of the Klez worm, which forges the "from address" continues to fool many RootsWeb users, but this worm is NOT coming from any of RootsWeb's mailing lists or from your editor. It is being sent to you privately by an infected computer (often without the owner's knowledge), using a stolen "From" e-mail address. Klez uses all sorts of subjects lines, many of them appearing to be genealogy-related, which Klez also filches. Before you accuse anyone of sending you the Klez worm, or bombard RootsWeb's Help Desk with accusations about this, learn how to read the full e-mail header codes. http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/listadmins/headersfull.html IS YOUR COMPUTER VIRUS-FREE? For a free online virus scan: http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/ Anti-virus (AV) software is invaluable, provided you keep it updated and use it regularly. Obtain AV in stores and shops, or download it online. http://www.grisoft.com/ http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/ http://www.mcafee.com/anti-virus/ http://www.europe.f-secure.com/v-descs/ http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/ Also see "Internet Stuff You Need to Know" on Cyndi's List: http://www.cyndislist.com/internet.htm#Viruses -- Pat Connors, visiting in Glen Mills PA, listowner http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free. Scanned by Norton 2002.

I may be imagining having seen these names on the list. I came across them when looking for others. No.1 Bryngoleu Terrace, Sketty William MUXWORTHY 64 Gardener Domestic b Devon Brallon[??] Elizabeth 56 b Devon Loxhore [??] Lionel 23 Mattress Maker b Glam, parish of Cockett. Sketty, New Road off Gower Road Lodge John A SAVAGE 43 Foreman Copper Works - Deposition of Copper by Electricity b Glam Swansea Emlyn J. wife 39 Lilian E M 19 Draper's Assistant ( Mantle Dept.) Isabel M 15 Gladys O 13 Frederick R 10 Lancelot R 7 Gerald H 5 all b Glam Swansea Iris M 3 b Glam Cockett Averil L 1 b Glam Cockett next door was Edward A STRICK and family I think 'Cockett' parish boundary may have run along Gower Road at this time, so this road may have run north of Gower Road - There were some posh houses in it with multiple servants. This census enumerator seems to have felt a need to put in enormous detail on occasion. The entry for the Vivian household - Odo Vivian, his mother Lady Swansea and two 'Hon.' sisters with many servants, I think at ' Glanrafon', included at the foot of the page a long list of products of the Vivian Copper works and associated enterprises. 6 Langdon Place, Swansea James John ELLERY 49 Ship Broker worker b Glam Swansea Margaret Ann 47 wife b Glam Cardiff Ellen Maude 21 Amy 19 Lily 16 Maggie Fielder ELLERY 14 Jessie 11 all born Swansea Jeff Glam FHS 1287

Hi Folks, Are there any SAVAGE hunters out there please? Please let there be some SAVAGE hunters out there! Les Gozo

Hello, According to 1891 Census, William Cyril BOWEN, aged 3, is listed as a lodger with my great-grandparents,David and Margaret DAVIES at Hands Row, Dyfatty (burry Port) Carmarthenshire. Why? Where are his parents David BOWEN, a furnace man and Alice (nee SELF) who were married c1886. David BOWEN was from SWANSEA and Alice was born Llanelli c. 1863. Would some kind person be able to look up the 1891 Census for SWANSEA to see if David BOWEN and Alice are somewhere there, please? Kind regards, Cynthia Collison

Hi Stella I'm interested also in what you have found because my ancestor was also a bootmaker/shoemaker from Swansea and his name was THOMAS. His daughter MARY was my g.g. grandmother who was on one of the first four ships leaving Gravesend in London for Canterbury, New Zealand. Can't remember his (the bootmaker) first name without checking it up although I have it somewhere. Wouldn't it be amazing if they were one in the same. I don't find much on here that directly links my ancestory but I think this might. I will contact you again next week when I have more time. Thankyou! Kaye Sutherland graphart@winshop.com.au ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stella Watkin" <stella.watkin@ntlworld.com> To: <WLS-SWANSEA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 4:20 AM Subject: [Swansea] Gazey/Mazey murder C May 16 1881 Trial Swansea Assizes > Hi folks > > I am trying to help someone in Canada find out more about her GAZEY > relatives and can't find a trace of these brothers, Benjamin, David, who > were on trial for murder in Swansea in the 1881 census (or mother Jane): > > THE TIMES, MONDAY, May 16, 1881 > > CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST TWO CHILDREN. > At Swansea Assizes, before Mr. Justice Cave, Benjamin Gazey aged 11 and > David Gazey, age nine, were on Saturday indicted for the wilful murder of > John Thomas, aged ten, and Jane Gazey, mother of the prisoners, was charged > as an accessory after the fact. The deceased, son of a shoemaker at > Kidwelly, had been sent with a pair of boots, for which he received 10s. He > was last seen alive entering the prisoners' house by the side of the high > road. Search being made, his body was found two days afterwards in a ditch > at the back of the house, the skull being entirely beaten in. The three > prisoners told a story to the effect that deceased had fallen from a swing > and had been killed and that they buried him, being terrified ; but medical > evidence showed that the injuries could not have been so caused. The > prisoners were found in possession of the change for the half-sovereign > which deceased has received. About 20 witnesses were examined. The Judge > summed up impartially, and the jury, after some consideration, returned a > verdict of acquittal. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Would anyone who lives in Swansea do her the great favour of looking at the > local Swansea/Kidwelly newspaper for the date circa May 16 1881, to see if > there are more details. > > > I've now found the Gazey family in 1881 census awaiting trial in Carmarthen prison, entered as Mazey in error?: > > Institution: "H. M. Prison" Spillman St > Census Place: Carmarthen St Peter, Carmarthen, Wales > Source: FHL Film 1342300 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5397 Folio 78 Page 11 > Marr Age Sex Birthplace > William HENDON U 19 M Bradford, York, England > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Shoemaker > Ann MORSE M 55 F Fishguard, Pembroke, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Needlewoman > Ellen JONES U 57 F Amlwch, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Hawker > John EDWARDS U 19 M Llandilo Fawr, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Labourer > David THOMAS M 45 M Blaenfoes, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Shopkeeper (Grocer) > William JONES M 21 M Llanstephan, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Labourer > James THOMAS M 34 M Carmarthen, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Hawker > William ROBINSON M 33 M Pembroke, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Mason > Thomas WILLIAMS M 22 M Aberystwith, Cardigan, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Stone Polisher (Mason) > William HARLEY U 30 M Southampton, Sussex, England > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Tailor ((Tatlor)) > Jane DAVIES U 31 F Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: General Serv > Aaron THOMAS U 22 M Llandilo Fawr, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Engine Driver > William DAVIES M 40 M Penally, Pembroke, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Labourer > William THOMAS M 35 M Fishguard, Pembroke, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Ship Carpenter > John THOMAS W 29 M Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Groom > William H. SUTTON M 53 M Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Clerk > John FRANCIS U 39 M Scotland > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Tailor > David MORRIES M 33 M Llandilo Fawr, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Blacksmith > Evan DAVIES W 25 M Penbryn, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Labourer > Jane MAZEY M 34 F Cardigan, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Dressmaker > David MAZEY 11 M Llanelly, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Sholar > Benjamin MAZEY 9 M Llanelly, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Scholar > David BOWEN M 44 M Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Shoemaker > William GRIFFITHS U 20 M Merthyr Tydvil, Wales > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Labourer > John PARNALL U 30 M Bath, Gloucester, England > Rel: Prisoner > Occ: Labourer > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > > I believe this is the family that lost John Thomas in Kedwelly: > Census Place: Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Source: FHL Film 1342296 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5377 Folio 71 Page > 32 > Marr Age Sex Birthplace > David THOMAS M 52 M Llandefeilog, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Head > Occ: Shoemaker > Sarah THOMAS M 50 F Llangendeirn, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Wife > Ann THOMAS 17 F Llandefeilog, Carmarthen, Wales > Catherine THOMAS 15 F Llandefeilog, Carmarthen, Wales > Sami THOMAS 8 M Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > or this one? > Dwelling: Old Chapel > Census Place: Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Source: FHL Film 1342296 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5377 Folio 79 Page > 4 > Marr Age Sex Birthplace > Evan THOMAS M 41 M St Ishmael, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Head > Occ: Boot & Shoa Maker > Lettice THOMAS M 39 F St Ishmael, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Wife > Occ: Boot & Shoe Maker Wife > Mary THOMAS U 20 F St Ishmael, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Daur > Occ: Employed at Tinworks > Jane THOMAS 12 F Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Daur > Occ: Scholar > Lettice THOMAS 7 F Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Daur > Occ: Scholar > Peter THOMAS 5 M Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Son > Occ: Scholar > William THOMAS 2 M Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales > Rel: Son > > (If anyone needs any 1881 census, Vital Records II, Pigot's London 1825, PO > London 1850, First Fleet 1788 to Aus lookups, Bedfordshire Wills, I would be > more than pleased to help you) > > -- > > Cheerio Stella in Deepest Beds > stella.watkin@ntlworld.com > > St Albans > http://www.stella.watkin.ukgateway.net/stalbans > Luton Comes Alive > http://www.stella.watkin.ukgateway.net/ > > > ==== WLS-SWANSEA Mailing List ==== > Swansea History Site http://www.swanseahistoryweb.org.uk/ > Genuki Swansea Site http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Swansea/ > Glamorgan Family History Society http://website.lineone.net/~glamfhsoc/ > City/County of Swansea http://www.swansea.gov.uk/default.htm > > >

Hi - Is anybody reasearching Nellie Downs/Joseph Downs or Emily Dibney. I understand Nellie was born at 23 Waynefleet Terrace Fountain Road Hull in 1894/5 and came to live in Swansea. Thanks Den

Hi Buddug All very confusing!! I suppose these mysteries will be unravelled eventually?! Cheers Val

Hello, Graham, I hae had another look at your info. and I can say that my wife also has in her family history REES in LLANSAMLET & LLANELLI,DAVIES & GRIFFITHS in OYSTERMOUTH. Any chance of atie-up ? Regards, Tom

Hi folks I am trying to help someone in Canada find out more about her GAZEY relatives and can't find a trace of these brothers, Benjamin, David, who were on trial for murder in Swansea in the 1881 census (or mother Jane): THE TIMES, MONDAY, May 16, 1881 CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST TWO CHILDREN. At Swansea Assizes, before Mr. Justice Cave, Benjamin Gazey aged 11 and David Gazey, age nine, were on Saturday indicted for the wilful murder of John Thomas, aged ten, and Jane Gazey, mother of the prisoners, was charged as an accessory after the fact. The deceased, son of a shoemaker at Kidwelly, had been sent with a pair of boots, for which he received 10s. He was last seen alive entering the prisoners' house by the side of the high road. Search being made, his body was found two days afterwards in a ditch at the back of the house, the skull being entirely beaten in. The three prisoners told a story to the effect that deceased had fallen from a swing and had been killed and that they buried him, being terrified ; but medical evidence showed that the injuries could not have been so caused. The prisoners were found in possession of the change for the half-sovereign which deceased has received. About 20 witnesses were examined. The Judge summed up impartially, and the jury, after some consideration, returned a verdict of acquittal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Would anyone who lives in Swansea do her the great favour of looking at the local Swansea/Kidwelly newspaper for the date circa May 16 1881, to see if there are more details. I've now found the Gazey family in 1881 census awaiting trial in Carmarthen prison, entered as Mazey in error?: Institution: "H. M. Prison" Spillman St Census Place: Carmarthen St Peter, Carmarthen, Wales Source: FHL Film 1342300 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5397 Folio 78 Page 11 Marr Age Sex Birthplace William HENDON U 19 M Bradford, York, England Rel: Prisoner Occ: Shoemaker Ann MORSE M 55 F Fishguard, Pembroke, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Needlewoman Ellen JONES U 57 F Amlwch, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Hawker John EDWARDS U 19 M Llandilo Fawr, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Labourer David THOMAS M 45 M Blaenfoes, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Shopkeeper (Grocer) William JONES M 21 M Llanstephan, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Labourer James THOMAS M 34 M Carmarthen, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Hawker William ROBINSON M 33 M Pembroke, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Mason Thomas WILLIAMS M 22 M Aberystwith, Cardigan, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Stone Polisher (Mason) William HARLEY U 30 M Southampton, Sussex, England Rel: Prisoner Occ: Tailor ((Tatlor)) Jane DAVIES U 31 F Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: General Serv Aaron THOMAS U 22 M Llandilo Fawr, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Engine Driver William DAVIES M 40 M Penally, Pembroke, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Labourer William THOMAS M 35 M Fishguard, Pembroke, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Ship Carpenter John THOMAS W 29 M Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Groom William H. SUTTON M 53 M Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Clerk John FRANCIS U 39 M Scotland Rel: Prisoner Occ: Tailor David MORRIES M 33 M Llandilo Fawr, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Blacksmith Evan DAVIES W 25 M Penbryn, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Labourer Jane MAZEY M 34 F Cardigan, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Dressmaker David MAZEY 11 M Llanelly, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Sholar Benjamin MAZEY 9 M Llanelly, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Scholar David BOWEN M 44 M Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Shoemaker William GRIFFITHS U 20 M Merthyr Tydvil, Wales Rel: Prisoner Occ: Labourer John PARNALL U 30 M Bath, Gloucester, England Rel: Prisoner Occ: Labourer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I believe this is the family that lost John Thomas in Kedwelly: Census Place: Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales Source: FHL Film 1342296 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5377 Folio 71 Page 32 Marr Age Sex Birthplace David THOMAS M 52 M Llandefeilog, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Head Occ: Shoemaker Sarah THOMAS M 50 F Llangendeirn, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Wife Ann THOMAS 17 F Llandefeilog, Carmarthen, Wales Catherine THOMAS 15 F Llandefeilog, Carmarthen, Wales Sami THOMAS 8 M Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales or this one? Dwelling: Old Chapel Census Place: Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales Source: FHL Film 1342296 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5377 Folio 79 Page 4 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Evan THOMAS M 41 M St Ishmael, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Head Occ: Boot & Shoa Maker Lettice THOMAS M 39 F St Ishmael, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Wife Occ: Boot & Shoe Maker Wife Mary THOMAS U 20 F St Ishmael, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Daur Occ: Employed at Tinworks Jane THOMAS 12 F Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar Lettice THOMAS 7 F Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar Peter THOMAS 5 M Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Son Occ: Scholar William THOMAS 2 M Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Wales Rel: Son (If anyone needs any 1881 census, Vital Records II, Pigot's London 1825, PO London 1850, First Fleet 1788 to Aus lookups, Bedfordshire Wills, I would be more than pleased to help you) -- Cheerio Stella in Deepest Beds stella.watkin@ntlworld.com St Albans http://www.stella.watkin.ukgateway.net/stalbans Luton Comes Alive http://www.stella.watkin.ukgateway.net/

I subscribe to the NOTTSGEN list, where there have recently been several e-mails praising the Nottingham Register Office for their speed in sending out copies of certificates. My experience confirms this: recently I received a phone call from that office to tell me that the certificate I'd requested didn't tally with the other information I'd given, and suggesting that I contact a another Register Office in Nottinghamshire. Excellent service. I must say that I haven't had the same experience with the Swansea Register Office. I posted a request (with the usual cheque and SAE) on 15th July, and I've still had no reply. Is this usual? Barry Johnson Monmouthshire

I would like to thank you, Phil, for sharing such a wonderful letter about Swansea during WWII. It brought back many memories of the air raids and rationing that occurred here in the states also. Of course, other than Pearl Harbor, we didn't experience any of the bombing raids that occurred in Great Britian but it seemed every family that we knew had some over there or in the Pacific and many did not come home. -- Pat Connors, visiting in Glen Mills PA http://www.connorgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free. Scanned by Norton 2002.

Dear List members, >From information received from a relative of my husband, we believe that JOHN HORGAN born abt 1860, in Pembroke, served in the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer and on retirement from the navy went on to become Harbour Master at Swansea. Can someone tell me if there are Harbour Board records available that could confirm this? Kind Regards Liz Horgan in NZ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Hi All I thought some of you might be interested in a new genealogy site I've started. Though not on my main Genealogy Website because of hosting size restrictions it is linked to it. The site contains historic pictures, post cards and maps of India, Burma, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ireland, Wales, England though you may have to search around a bit to find each sector. Including Welsh Churches and some Graves with names. It has only just been put up there so please excuse non working links, duplicated pages and slow loading pictures, I will add to and/or correct things as I get feed back or have new stuff to put on the site. http://beam.to/mygenstuff Hope you enjoy John Jones

Hi All I was passed this letter by a friend of mine in the States he was on the ship during the Vietnam war on one of his three tours of duty there. His bit of background says. A little history about this ship: After 1944, it went to be apart of the Atomic Bomb testing, then on to the States. In the 1960's, it was refitted and called the Corpus Christi Bay, Which I was on for 12 months in Viet Nam on one of my tours over there. Now for the letter -- Letter from Quartermaster ---------- to his wife relating the voyage of the USS Albemarle to Swansea, Wales - 1943 "6 October 1943: Well we left Argentia in a fog and never seen our escorts for two days yet they were only one mile away all the time. We started out enroute to Avonmouth, England and on the way across our orders were changed and we went to Swansea, Wales instead. About four days out on our trip across the pond on the 8 to 12 of which I had picked up 8 subs on R.D.F. at a distance of about 15 miles. You know one of those Wolf Packs you read about in the N. Atlantic. Well we slipped by them nice & quiet like you know and all was well. We were now within easy range of Jerry's and so all personnel were on the double alert. We had fog with us continually all the way across which was to our advantage. Well we hit North Channel early in the morning of which is the entrance to the Irish Sea. The Channel is about twenty miles wide and there was Ireland on our right where Johnny Doughboy found his rose and dear old Scotland on our left. As we go cruising along lo and behold we pass some floating mines. My what they would have done to our bow if we had hit one. Well we steam all day in the Sea and as the sun goes down we turn on our running lights and secure all battery. Mind you we're only about four hundred miles from a Jerry airfield. You're probably wondering what a Jerry is well if you don't know the limey's call the German planes Jerries. Well the Irish Sea gets pretty rough with a 40 knot wind and so we had a pretty tough night of it and the next morning we pulled into Swansea Bay and anchored to wait on high tide at 1800 so that we would have enough water to go into the Docks. Well we got tied up about seven oclock and we were all surprised and stunned to know that two thirds of the crew would rate liberty and no battery would be manned and mind you we were only 200 miles from a Jerry airfield. Well we all took off on liberty to see what a war torn country looked like and we found out. The town was completely blacked out and you couldn't see where in the hell anything was. But it wasn't too black to see the streets were full of women and all very anxious to get acquainted with the American Navy. There were very few bars open and, of course, we found those that were open as any sailor would. The beer was terrific. It tasted to me as a mixture of wine & beer and no whiskey. Well we seen where the German blitz of 1941 had been. They bombed the town for three straight nights and mopped out all the civic center of the town. Other words the center of the town where all the theaters and fur shops, etc. were. They said those three nights were hell and I believe them. I saw the town the next day in daylight and it was quite interesting. You see Swansea is right in the center of the Welsh coal mining district and the docks were the main target and they missed them by about five miles. When I think of what people there have gone through with and I hear some one in the States growling about not having enough to eat or some air raid warden telling him to get his window blinds down, I could knock him down. For here was 165,000 people who had been walking the little streets of the town for four years in total blackness and a ration of 10 ounces of meat a week and 12 ounces of candy a month and yet they are going about their work as if nothing happened. When the average American gets the guts of those people, we will have some country. The people were all very friendly towards us and as you went down the street it was not uncommon to hear some one say good evening to you and very amusing to hear them say 'Top of the morning' to you when you met an Englishman of a morning." [The next part of the letter goes on to describe a trip Milburn Smith made with fellow Albemarle Quartermaster Everett Green to London. Perhaps that can be part of a future message. Let me continue with the ending:] "Well we got back in Swansea at 1900 and found everything closed so were starved to death and finally found a little hole in the wall of a tea room and gently crowded in and ordered twenty five sandwiches and four cups of tea without sugar and, believe it or not, me & Green ate them all. In fact, we dam near starved to death for all this week I have been eating like a hog. We got underway the next morning of which everyone was disappointed and started out on what was one of the most boresome cruises I've had. Well the old Irish Sea was plenty rough and then it got even more rougher when we got out to sea the next day. For two days we pitched and swayed in a 40 knot wind in the North Atlantic and had to slow to 12 knots for the escorts. It was nothing to see the escorts disappear in a swell and we were taking a few over the bow and also two thirds of the crew were sea sick and your old salty husband stood it all with out withering. Well it took us from a week ago yesterday (Mon.) till today (Tues.) to get back across and we were never in any calm weather at any time. We went through several storms on the way back. And so today (12 October) finds us in Argentia, Newfoundland." Regards Phil T.C.M.

Bette Take your time, I will help when you have got all your information Charles _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com