Image Bank
Swansea
High Street, Swansea
This is High Street, Swansea, probably 22nd February, 1941. The men are a Royal Engineers bomb disposal squad who are having a break and a cuppa at a Y.M.C.A. mobile canteen.
A survivor from one of these units used to say that it was the best job during the war – if the bomb didn’t go off there was nothing to worry about, and if it did you didn’t need to worry either.
The building on the right was a cinema called the Picture House, which had been gutted by fire bombs that same week.
In Woolworths store, a little further off on the right, the big display windows were shattered when a high explosive bomb went off. In many parts of town people remember walking over broken glass. The Bush Hotel, to the left, was saved by pouring gallons of beer on to the fires!
Activity: Time Tourists
Look at the picture and read, listen to, or print the story.
Now think about how life must have been during World War 2 and write a review for a Time Tourists Magazine.
Download the Time Tourists Writesheet to help you write your notes.