大象传媒

This account was heard as part of a reminiscence project at Myrddin Day Centre, Carmarthen. It is contributed to the People's war website with the author's permission.

I was a farmer, near Llanarthne, 100 acres, quite a big farm for round here, dairy cows, milking about 35 or 40 cows twice a day. Just a family farm, me and my sister and parents..stepfather...

I'd just left school. I remember the time when we had the first tractor, an old Fordson, it was, a Standard Fordson (before the Major). My stepfather had served in the first World War, in the Battle of the Somme and was wounded, but he wouldn't mention much about what he'd seen. But in the summer, you know, when we were sweating about the hay, he stripped down to his waist and had like chain of skin, grafted, to hold him together. And he said ' now try and help me to forget those things'.

He was the first one to join the Home Guard. We had evacuees - and believe it or not, they still come to see us, now and again, from Tottenham. They'd come and live with us now, if it was possible. I remember the day when the 'all clear' came for the refugees to go back to London. We lost the boy, couldn't find him anywhere. Hiding in the field he was, didn't want to go back. They still write to us.

I can see now, the children on the farm with us and a cow was bulling and the sister said 'John what is she doing?' and before I had the chance to answer, he came into the conversation 'She's tired of walking. Her mother is taking her for a ride' he said. 'Aren't they kind to one another' she said. And Tommy said 'These bloody Englishmen, they believe the impossible!' Happy days, though.

One of these Ministry fellows - we had them now and again coming to see the premises to see everything was kept clean, you know, and this neighbour of mine had a visit while he was milking.

Miss Haines, she was, and she said 'Well, Mister Harris, I've come to see your working premises'. 'Right' he said, 'stop by there' and went into the cowshed and turned the machines off. 'What are you doing now?' she said. 'Well' he said, 'if I want to see you in the office, I've got to make an appointment. If you want to see me on the farm' he said, 'you've got to make an appointment with me.' 'Right then' she said, ' when shall we have an appointment?' 'Well, I'm a man of business as well as farming,' he said, 'and I'm only available Sunday mornings. 'He knew that she was off duty and wouldn't be able to come. Oh, he was a lad!

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