Llandrindod residents recall World War II in special video

The video was filmed in June of this year, coinciding with the D Day milestone. D Day relates to June 6, 1944, when the largest seaborne invasion in history was launched, marking the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe from the Nazis.

The video, released on November 11, annually remembered as the anniversary of when World War I ended, features stories from many Llandrindod residents, who gathered with Llandrindod mayor Marcia Morgan in June to recall their memories of D Day and the war.

“In June 2024 the town council was privileged to invite members of our community to join us for a morning where they shared their memories of World War II and D Day, in commemoration of D Day 80,” the town council said in a post on its Facebook page on Monday.

“It was wonderful to be part of this special day to record their precious memories of that important time in history.

“Thanks to all participants and those who assisted on the day. We are so grateful for the time you gave to be part of this lasting memory.

“We will hope to follow this video (part 1) with a second video in the near future of their individual interviews.”

Among those to feature in the video are Eric West, Dorothy (Dot) Richards, Derek Law, Michael King, Dennis King, Doug Kerley, Mike Bayliss and Reverand Geraint Hughes.

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“My memories of the war are leaving London, or being taken from London, on the day that war was declared, and being put on the train by my mother to go back to west Wales,” said Rev Hughes, who was a vicar in Llandrindod for 20 years.

“It took us two days because the troop trains were rushing everywhere, there were blackouts and air raid sirens. It was chaos and probably traumatised my life.”

Rev Hughes, who has lived in Radnorshire for 50 years, was around 5-years-old when war broke out, and would have been 9 or 10 on D Day itself.

He is a keen local historian and also speaks in the video of what life in the spa town was like during war time.

“Llandrindod was incredibly militarised during the war,” he said.

Allied troops land ashore in Normandy 80 years ago. (Image: Richard Smith collection) “Multiple buildings were commandeered as accommodation for soldiers and there were huge amounts of soldiers who came here for training.

“One of my treasures I’ve discovered is an old diary from Eva Coates who lived in town. It’s a diary from 1912-40.

“In the early part of the war she talks of huge numbers of soldiers coming to town and transforming it overnight. All the hotels were occupied by them.

“She mentions the evacuees coming and watching them come off the station.

“All these little girls and boys carrying their respirators and gas masks. For me it’s a window into Llandrindod during this war period.”

To watch the full video, head to the Llandrindod Town Council Facebook page.