Atgofion Katie Jones o fywyd Aberystwyth adeg yr Ail Ryfel Byd ~ Katie Jones' recollections of life in wartime Aberystwyth

Cyfweliad Katie Jones o Salem, Aberystwyth, wedi’i recordio ar 20fed o Orffennaf 2022 gan Bethan Siân Jones, yng nghartref Katie, yn y Gymraeg

(An English translation is at the end of the Welsh text)

 

Ganwyd Katie ym 1924 a magwyd ar dyddyn yn Salem, Penrhyncoch. Gweithiodd ei thad fel xxxxx. Nododd ei fod yn fywyd hapus iawn. Symudodd ei hen fodryb i’r tyddyn i leddfu mam Katie o’r gwaith ty. Ganwyd saith o blant i fam Katie ac felly, fel nododd Katie, roedd ganddi ddigon i’w wneud!

Brodyr a chwiorydd Katie

Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, roedd chwaer Katie yn dysgu gwnïo. Roedd gan Katie ddau frawd hynach a aeth ymlaen i fod yn yrwyr trenau. Dechreuodd ei chwaer hynaf brentisiaeth trin gwallt ond rhoddodd y gorau iddi er mwyn helpu gartref. Ar ôl blynyddoedd o fyw ar y tyddyn, roedd mam Katie yn ei chael hi’n anodd oherwydd diffyg dwr a thrydan, heb sôn am y ffaith bod rhaid iddi ofalu am y plant a’r anifeiliaid. Felly dyma’r teulu yn symud i dref Aberystwyth i redeg gwesty yn Stryd Portland.

Dechrau’r Ail Ryfel Byd

Nododd Katie nad oedd llawer o newid wedi bod ym mywyd trefol Aberystwyth gyda’r Ail Ryfel Byd, heblaw am bresenoldeb milwyr. Roedd y rhain yn cynnwys aelodau o’r llu awyr, ond neb o’r llynges. Cymerwyd pob gwesty ar y prom gan filwyr. Nododd hefyd y gwahaniaethau a ddaeth yn sgil dognau bwyd. Yn ôl Katie, cymerodd y bechgyn ddiddordeb mewn peiriannau a hanes militariaeth. Nododd nad oedd ganddynt deledu fel teulu ond prynodd y teulu radio oedd dim ond yn cael ei droi ymlaen i wrando ar y newyddion. Gan fod Katie yn gweithio yn ystod yr adeg hon, byddai fel arfer yn colli’r newyddion. Fel cantores frwd, nododd hefyd nad oedd yn medru mynd i ymarfer côr adeg y rhyfel. Serch hynny, bu’n canu yn y capel.

Y 'blackout’

Atgofiodd Katie gyfnod y blackouts, a phan symudodd i mewn i’w chartref presennol ym 1956, roedd y deunydd blackouts dal i fyny yn y ffenestri!

Lloches cyrch awyr

Er nad oedd gan y teulu unrhyw loches cyrch awyr yn Stryd Portland, credai Katie fod yna loches ym Mhlascrug ac yn hwyrach ymlaen efallai rhai wrth y castell. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd unrhyw gyrchoedd awyr yn Aberystwyth ac felly nid oedd ganddi atgof o orfod gadael ei thy mewn achos o argyfwng.

Swydd adeg rhyfel

Gweithiodd Katie mewn siop fferyllydd fel dosbarthwr lle bu hi a merch arall yn brentisiaid. Daeth sawl merch fel cynorthwywyr siop a buasai bachgen ‘errand’ yn eu plith hefyd. Atgofiodd iddi weld y rheolwr nawr ac yn y man. Roedd ganddynt optegydd yn y gweithle a alwyd i fyny i wasanaethu yn y rhyfel ac felly cymerodd y rheolwr yr adran opteg drosodd. Fel y gweithiwr hynaf, cymerodd hi gyfrifoldebau ymlaen.  

Gwirfoddoli yn yr ysbyty

Yn ogystal â’i gwaith fel dosbarthwr, gwirfoddolodd Katie yn yr ysbyty ar Ffordd y Gogledd hefyd. Roedd gan bob ward deg gwely yr un – pump bob ochr. Yn ei chyfweliad, atgofiodd edrych ar ôl menyw ifanc oedd eisoes wedi derbyn triniaeth. Helpodd Katie hi i’w pharatoi ar gyfer ymweliad ei chariad. Cofiodd Katie iddi helpu rhoi curlers yng ngwallt y fenyw ifanc.  

Rôl chwaer Katie yn yr ymdrech ryfel

Nododd Katie i’w chwaer gael ei galw fyny i wasanaethu yn y rhyfel. Bu’n symud o un gwersyll hyfforddi milwyr i’r llall. Nid oedd yn hollol sicr beth oedd rôl ei chwaer yn union, ond oherwydd i’w thueddiadau perffeithio, bu chwaer Katie yn gyfrifol am addasu gwisgoedd y milwyr i sicrhau eu bod yn ffitio’n iawn. Ni aeth chwaer Katie ym mhellach nag ardal Wolverhampton. Daeth chwaer Katie yn ôl gartref nawr ac yn y man a bu’r chwiorydd yn ysgrifennu llythyron at ei gilydd nes i chwaer Katie briodi. Nododd Katie efallai fod gwaith ei chwaer wedi gwneud peth lles iddi o ganlyniad iddi orfod mentro oherwydd na fyddai erioed wedi cael profiad o’r fath trwy weithio mewn siop. Nododd Katie, felly, fod rhai pethau da yn dod allan o ryfel.  

Faciwîs yn cyrraedd Aberystwyth

Oherwydd bod ei brawd mawr yn gweithio ar y trenau, bu’n gyfrifol am gludo’r faciwîs i Aberystwyth. Cofiodd Katie iddi orfod gofalu am y faciwîs un noson, yn enwedig gyda rhoi gofal arbennig i fachgen sâl. O Firmingham y daeth y faciwîs. Daethant i Aberystwyth er mwyn cael eu rhannu rhwng teuluoedd. Cymharodd Katie profiadau’r rheiny a anfonwyd i gefn gwlad i fyw â chael eu taflu i’r dwfn. Fel un a magwyd yng nghefn gwlad, dim ond y Gymraeg oedd yn cael ei glywed yn yr ysgol, ac felly dim ond y Gymraeg a fyddai’r faciwîs yn ei glywed. Nododd mai dyna sut mae plant yn dysgu. Roedd hi’n medru dychmygu’r gwahaniaethau mawr rhwng bywydau’r plant cyn iddynt symud i fyw i Gymru â byw yng nghefn gwlad Cymru.

Dognau bwyd

Nid oedd Katie yn cofio mynd yn brin ofnadwy. Nododd bod ei mam yn dda iawn wrth baratoi bwydydd pob dydd, dim byd ffansi. Roedd ganddi ddawn gyda throi pethau allan yn ôl Katie. Ychwanegodd hefyd oherwydd bod ei theulu wedi dod o’r cefn gwlad, pan ddaeth ei chyn-gymdogion i Aberystwyth i siopa am y diwrnod, byddent yn defnyddio’r gwesty fel “stasiwn Crewe” gan storio eu pryniannau gyda’r teulu. Arhosodd dau gigydd o’r fyddin gyda’r teulu yn Stryd Portland am ychydig o wythnosau. Buont yn gweithio yn y ganolfan bwydo milwyr ar Queen’s Road.

Mwgwd nwy

Atgofiodd Katie iddi orfod cario mwgwd nwy i’r gwaith. Nid oedd unrhyw ddigwyddiad brys lle bu’n rhaid iddi ei wisgo, dim ond ar gyfer hyfforddi. Pan ofynnodd y cyfwelydd iddi sut deimlad oedd ei wisgo, atebodd Katie mai dyna oedd cymeriad yr oes; doedd dim cwestiynnu pam roedd rhaid gwneud hynny, yn syml iawn roedd pobl yn ei wneud.

‘Cloddio am Fuddugoliaeth / Dig for Victory’

Gadawodd brawd Katie, Cledwyn, ei brentisiaeth adeiladu er mwyn gweithio ar y tir.

Dunkirk a D-Day

Roedd Katie yn cofio’r digwyddiadau hyn, ond ni chawsant effaith bersonol arni. Atgofiodd mynd i Lundain tuag at ddiwedd y rhyfel. Roedd modryb ganddi a ddaeth i ymweld â’r teulu yn y Borth. Roedd eisiau cwmni ar y fodryb yn ystod ei thaith yn ôl i Lundain ac felly dyma hi’n perswadio Katie i fynd yn ôl gyda hi. Nododd Katie y gwahaniaethau enfawr rhwng y fath o ryddid a oedd gan rywun yn byw yng Ngheredigion yn ystod y rhyfel o’i gymharu â bywyd yn Llundain. Dywedodd fod ofn gan ei modryb i gamu dros garreg y drws. Bu perthnasau Katie yn byw y tu allan i Lundain, ond mi atgofiodd clywed y cyrchoedd awyr. Roedd gan Katie hefyd berthnasau yn byw y tu allan i Firmingham ac aeth i aros gyda nhw am ychydig o ddiwrnodau yn ystod y rhyfel.  

Diwedd yr Ail Ryfel Byd

I nodi ddiwedd y rhyfel, cofiodd Katie mynd i’r prom yn Aberystwyth. Bu digwyddiad ger y bandstand. Nododd sut roedd pawb yn edrych fel morgrug. Atgofiodd awyrgylch o ryw ryddhad. Dywedodd Katie ei bod hi’n anodd disgrifio rhyddhad yn ei gyfanrwydd: “Chi’n gwybod fod pethau yn mynd i fod yn wahanol. Wel, doedden nhw ddim yn wahanol o ran byw achos aeth y rasiwns ymlaen am flynyddoedd.” Gwnaeth Katie cymhariaeth i’r cyfaint a'r amrywiaeth y mae pobl yn ei fwyta heddiw. Os oedd rhaid iddi fyw ar ddognau bwyd adeg rhyfel heddiw, byddai hi’n sicr yn gweld gwahaniaeth.

Bywyd wedi’r Ail Ryfel Byd

Mi barhaodd Katie yn yr un swydd, ond newidodd lleoliad ei gwaith. Yna fe briododd.

Neges i’r genhedlaeth nesaf?

Er fod Katie yn cydnabod bod iechyd wedi gwella’n aruthrol dros y blynyddoedd, nododd y gwahaniaethau rhwng cenedlaethau ddoe a heddiw yn sgil hunangynhaliaeth wrth dyfu bwyd yn ogystal â rhyddid plant i chwarae y tu allan a chymdeithasu. 

Hoffwn ni ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Katie am rannu efo'r prosiect ei atgofion o fywyd yn Aberystwyth yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd.  

 

Translation

Interview with Katie Jones from Salem, Aberystwyth, recorded on 20th July 2022 by Bethan Siân Jones at Katie's home, conducted through the medium of Welsh.

Katie was born in 1924 and grew up on a small farm in Salem, Penrhyncoch. Her father worked as a xxxxx. He noted that it was a very happy life. Her great aunt moved into the house to relieve Katie's mother of the housework. Seven children were born to Katie's mother and so, as Katie pointed out, she had plenty to do!

Katie's siblings

During this time, Katie's sister was learning to sew. Katie had two older brothers who went on to become train drivers. Her older sister started a hairdressing apprenticeship but gave it up to help out at home. After years of living on the small-holding, Katie's mother was finding it difficult due to lack of water and electricity, not to mention the fact that she had to look after the children and the animals. So, the family moved to the town of Aberystwyth to run a hotel in Portland Street.

The start of the Second World War

Katie said that there had not been much change in the urban life of Aberystwyth with the coming of the Second World War, apart from the presence of soldiers. These included members of the Air Force, but no one from the Navy. Every hotel on the prom was taken by soldiers. She also noted the differences brought about by food rationing. According to Katie, the boys took an interest in machines and the history of militarism. She said they didn't have a television as a family, but bought a radio which was only turned on to listen to the news. As Katie was working during this time, she would usually miss the news. As a keen singer, she also said that she was unable to go to choir practice during the war. Nevertheless, she sang in the chapel.

The blackout

Katie recalled the time of the blackouts, and when she moved into her current house in 1956, the blackouts material was still up in the windows!

Air raid shelters

Although the family had no air raid shelter in the house in Portland Street, Katie believed there was a shelter in Plascrug and later perhaps at the castle. However, there were no air raids in Aberystwyth and therefore she had no recollection of having to leave her house in the event of an emergency.

Wartime jobs

Katie worked in a chemist shop as a distributor where she and another girl were apprentices. Several girls came as shop assistants and there would have been an 'errand' boy among them as well. She saw the manager now and then. They had an optician in the workplace who was called up to serve in the war and so the manager took over the optics department. As the senior employee, she took on responsibilities.

Volunteering at the Hospital

In addition to her work as a delivery girl, Katie also volunteered at the hospital on North Road. Each ward had ten beds each - five on each side. She recalled looking after a young woman who had already received treatment. Katie helped her prepare for her boyfriend's visit and helped put curlers in the young woman's hair.

Katie's sister's role in the war effort

Katie said that her sister was called up to serve in the war. She moved from one soldier training camp to another. She wasn't entirely sure what her sister's role was exactly, but because of her perfectionist tendencies, Katie's sister was responsible for adjusting the soldiers' uniforms to ensure they fit properly. Katie's sister went no further than the Wolverhampton area. Katie's sister came back home now and then, and the sisters wrote letters to each other until Katie's sister got married. Katie noted that her sister's work may have done her some good as a result of her having to take risks because she would never have had such an experience by working in a shop. Katie commented, therefore, that some good things come out of war.

Evacuees arrive in Aberystwyth

Because her older brother worked on the trains, he was responsible for transporting the evacuees to Aberystwyth. Katie remembered that he had to look after the evacuees one night, especially with giving special care to a sick boy. The evacuees came from Birmingham. They came to Aberystwyth to be divided between families. Katie compared the experiences of those sent to the countryside to live to being thrown into the deep end. As someone who grew up in the countryside, only Welsh was heard at school, and therefore only Welsh would be heard by the evacuees. She said that that is how children learn. She could imagine the great differences between the children's lives before they moved to live in Wales and living in the Welsh countryside.

Food rationing

Katie didn't remember going terribly short of food. She said that her mother was very good at preparing everyday foods, nothing fancy. She had a knack for turning things out according to Katie. She also added that because her family came from the countryside, when her former neighbours came to Aberystwyth to shop for the day, they would use the hotel like ‘Crewe railway station’ and store their purchases with the family. Two army butchers stayed with the family in Portland Street for a few weeks. They worked at the troop feeding centre on Queen's Road.

Gas masks

Katie had to carry a gas mask to work. There was no emergency where she had to wear it, but just for training. When asked her how it felt to wear it, Katie replied that it was the character of the times; there was no questioning why it had to be done, people simply did it.

'Dig for Victory'

Katie's brother, Cledwyn, left his construction apprenticeship to work on the land.

Dunkirk and D-Day

Katie remembered these events, but they did not have a personal effect on her. She remembered going to London towards the end of the war. She had an aunt who came to visit the family in Borth, who wanted company during her trip back to London and so she persuaded Katie to go back with her. Katie noted the huge differences between the kind of freedom someone had living in Ceredigion during the war compared to life in London. She said her aunt was afraid to step over the threshold. Katie's relatives lived outside London but she remembers hearing the air raids. Katie also had relatives living outside Birmingham and she went to stay with them for a few days during the war.

The end of the Second World War

To mark the end of the war, Katie remembered going to the prom in Aberystwyth. There was an event near the bandstand. She noted how everyone looked like ants. It evoked an atmosphere of some relief. Katie said it was hard to describe relief as a whole: “You know things are going to be different. Well, they were no different in terms of living because the rations went on for years." Katie made a comparison to the volume and variety that people eat today. If she had to live on wartime food rations today, she would certainly see a difference.

Life after the Second World War

Katie continued in the same job, but her work location changed. Then she got married.

A message to the next generation?

Although Katie recognized that health had improved enormously over the years, she pointed out the differences between past and present generations as a result of self-sufficiency in growing food as well as children's freedom to play outside and socialise.

 

We would like to thank Katie Jones for sharing her memories of life in Aberystwyth during WWII with the project.