Role of Wales in World War II ‘severely neglected’ according to new book
A new book about the Second World War suggests that the role that Wales played in the war effort has been ‘severely neglected.’
In Wales in World War 2, author Quentin Deakin argues that Wales’ role in the war and its impact on the people and landscape of the nation has been disregarded.
Anglo-centric history
Taking a fresh look at the subject, Dr Deakin argues that neither Welsh nor English historians have shown the extent to which Wales was vital to the British war effort.
He said: “Previous books have tended to concentrate on south Wales or have rolled together England and Wales into an Anglo-centric national history.
“As in England, the whole of Wales was caught up in the demands of war in multiple ways. Once you start to look, wherever you live in Wales, an impressive war heritage can be found, leading some archaeologists to conclude that the world wars, occurring in quick succession, made a greater impact on the physical landscape of Wales than any other event of modern times.
“It’s impact on the people of Wales was equally dramatic.”
Wales in World War 2 looks at the impact of the conflict from every angle. The author has drew on local studies, archival resources and oral histories, including fresh interviews with those who were children during the war.
Wales pioneering
Sources from across the country and beyond have been collected and assembled to demonstrate that far from being peripheral, Wales was central to the war effort in several ways, including hosting secret weapons establishments of global significance.
Dr Deakin said: “The war provided employment for millions of civilians, in war factories, foundries and mines, the civil service, engineering, technical instruction, and the creative industries.
“It will be seen that in some of its weapons research, Wales was ahead of the rest of the world. It was also vital to the war economy, had a key role in the training of forces, and hosted evacuations of vital importance for the survival of the country.
“A disproportionately high number of secret military sites were located west of Offa’s Dyke. However, all assumptions that it was a safe haven were proved wrong when it too became a potential target for invasion in 1940.”
Dr Deakin added: “Social changes were also bound up with the war, as the movement of allied armies and evacuees caused the greatest international migration it had ever seen, challenging social and cultural norms and changing the demography of Wales.”
Chapters cover every region of Wales and every aspect of life, for both military personnel and civilians.
In her Foreword for the book, Sian Nicholas, Professor of Modern British History at Aberystwyth University says this is “…not the generalised wartime ‘Britain’ still typical of so many narratives, but an account focused on the people, the communities and the geography of Wales… Wales is presented here not just as a constituent element of the British war effort in World War 2, but as a distinct entity for which the war represented unique linguistic, social, political, and cultural challenges.”
Wales in World War 2 by Quentin Deakin (£14.99, Y Lolfa) is available here now.
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It absolutely is, but is this a new thing? Wales are ignored in every area of history. Why? Because we are a part of an illegal union. “For Wales, Se England”
As a niave 16 year old i joined the Army and when i left i went to work down the pit in 1977 in the coal face i worked there some men who fought in W W 2 and will always here the phrase they said how England won the War which we know they are wrong it was from all four U K countries it was actually the Soviet Union and the Yanks with their military And industrial might. As for Wales Part in was the steam coal from Wales that powered British Navel Ships then you come to… Read more »
Let’s. look at the rapid construction of so many major airfields in Pembrokeshire in the early stages of the war Could the answer have something to do with transatlantic military flights.by two engined and then four.engined bombers
Then there is the Sunderland’s at Pembroke Dock.
Then there is
Ni ddylen ni anghofio Penyberth na Mynydd Epynt ychwaith yn eu cyfraniad at y ‘war effort’.
Na chyfranogiad pobl fel fy Mam a oedd yn nyrs yn Alderhey, Lerpwl ac yn trin anafiadau aelodau’r Lluoedd Arfog ar ôl D-Day ym mis Mehefin 1944. Neu fy Nhad yn lywiwr mewn Avro Ansons ar ôl cyfnod yn yr ‘Hôm Gard’.
Taffy played his part as much as anyone else – and don’t let anyone tell you differently.
… ac mae Lloegr yn dal i honni taw nw ennilloedd y rhyfel ar eu pennau eu hunain. Fel ma’r gân yn mynd? : “Cause who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler,
If you think old England’s done?