Evacuee 1943 To 1957

A Memory of Meidrim.

Yes, me and my brother were evacuees. We came from London by steam train to Carmarthen cattle market in 1943. We were met by a crowd of local people offering to let us stay with them, it was very frighenting, we did not know any body. We had a label on our coat to say who we were, there were four of us, two boys and two girls aged 5 to 10 years old. . Mrs Morris took John and me but she did not have the room for my sisters - my sisters were taken by Mrs Morgan. We found out a couple of days later our sisters were at a farm not far from from us, so we were able to go and see them. We settled in well, the location we stayed in was an old water mill, used to grind corn. It was not a working mill, so we had plenty of room to play around the mill Her son came home on leave to find us there. His name was Gerald Morgan, he did some fly fishing, I never saw him catch any trout. We got on very well with all the village people we met. Some gypsies had camped on the common at the end of the garden. Mr Morris used to give them vegetables from his garden and I sat and talked to them, they showed me how the cut willow sticks and I learnt how to make dolly pegs. While they were there I learnt how to catch fish from the local river and how to catch rabbits with gin traps, and what mushrooms to pick and eat. Mrs Morris would cook the rabbits and the fish I caught, not with fly - the gypsy way. way. She would bake her own bread, we lived like Lords. We would walk to the farm were our sisters were. Mr and Mrs Morgan worked the farm, some egg grading was done there, some corn thrashing and milking cows. While we were watching her milk the cows she would call us closer to show us what she was doing, then squirt some milk into our mouths I will never for get the taste of warm milk. They had two shire horses and we helped when he ploughed a field to grow potatoes, he would let me guide the horses whiled he ploughed the farrows. farrows. Back at the common I would visit the Blacksmith's shop, he would let me pull the bellows to keep the fire going, yes it was the time of my life - I can never forget. I went to the village in 1957, I saw Mr and Mrs Morris at the mill. I was told that her son was a senior policeman in Carmarthen, we called in to see him. We then called in to see Mr and Mrs Morgan. Mrs Morgan, her daughter and granddaughter were going to Tenby for the day, she asked us to join them for the day, we did. That was the last I saw of them but I am very interested to know what happened to them. I seem to have lost the farm my sisters stayed at, the nearest I have got to it is Pant Farm.
I would love to visit the village again or should I keep the memories. I am looking for the farm run by Mr and Mrs Morgan. Mr A Mortom would like to thank the people of Meidrim for their kindness to us all during the war years, they had so little but gave so much. God bless them all where ever they may be .

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