The Richard Burton Diaries (19 page)

8 Saturday
Went to M. Ash. I came 6th in shot out of 23. 7th in long jump out of 30. Bridgend won senior sports again. J. Beynon and B. Phillips both won their heats in the hurdles. But lost in the finals. Did not run.

9 Sunday
Went to Chapel all day. After Chapel I went down the beach. Have been expecting our Will home. I had a dip.
¹⁵⁰
First I ever had on Sunday.

10 Monday
Italy declared war on us. Don Parr and I went down the beach. We had great fun I had a knock in cricket at the nets. Tadpole heard THM swearing and made a joke out of it.

11 Tuesday
Had Woodwork and finished my model but I'll spend next Tuesday polishing it up. [...] Had cricket practice but I didn't have a knock all through.

12 Wednesday
Went to School as usual. We had a P Study last lesson because Burton is not here.
¹⁵¹
We have the usual rotten singing now that he is gone. The newcomer can not do it half so good as he can.

13 Thursday
We will play County and Eastern tomorrow and Saturday morning. If we can't beat Eastern we ought to be shot. Army doing badly in France.

14 Friday
Played Eastern and after getting them all out for 46 we went in and beat them by 2 wickets. I. Williams and K. Williams being top scores with 17 and 15 respectively.
¹⁵²
I scored 1 bowled by the 4th ball I received.

15 Saturday
Played County lost by 2 runs. I played badly scored 0 bowled second ball. Went up the park and saw Jack Nicholas with his niece and a little baby. Also Swansea beat GKB in tennis.
¹⁵³
There was two blackmen playing.

16 Sunday
Went to chapel all day as usual. After chapel in the night I went up the park with ‘Jakeweed’ Williams. [...]

17 Monday
The French have asked Hitler for Peace Terms. We played cricket with Jack Nicholas. Had some fun too. I think there is to be practice tomorrow on the concrete pitch again.

18 Tuesday
We did not play cricket afterwards but we are going to play tomorrow. Finished my model and brought it home and am going to use it in my bed-room.

19 Wednesday
We had a T. Trial today and they gave me a bowl. I took 2 wickets for 7 runs. I scored 2 run out. My average is now .75 which is not very good but I haven't started yet. Todd said everything OK.
¹⁵⁴

20 Thursday
Jake Williams myself and Brin Phillips took a ball and bat and went for a knock up the nets. [...] I am in the running for captaincy of the Town Team. There was an air raid over here last night.

21 Friday
I went to the Cach to see
Frontier Marshal
.
¹⁵⁵
I am starting swotting this weekend for the exams week next Monday. [...] There are rumours of an air raid on Bridgend.

22 Saturday
I went to the pictures tonight and I saw a great picture a bit on the sob stuff side. I had a 1/- off Edie. Sis went to Pyle to an Eisteddfod.
¹⁵⁶
I saw a broken aeroplane being towed on a lorry. I think it was the Cwm crash.

23 Sunday
I swotted very hard today and learned Chem practically off by heart. I stayed home from chapel.

24 Monday
I bowled in games at the nets and I am improving tremendously now. I can keep a dead length for about 10 overs which is good. I swotted Geom tonight but not so much as Chemistry.

25 Tuesday
This morning at 2.30 I had experienced and survived my first air raid. Fortunately the plane did not come over P. Talbot at all. We all went into Mrs Jackson's cellar where space was a bit cramped. I did not hear anything.

26 Wednesday
Found out that I was captain of the Town Team to play against Neath schoolboys on Friday. We have never beaten Neath and it would be a great honour if we could pull it off this year.

27 Thursday
It is rumoured that German planes flew over Port Talbot but owing to a muddle the siren was not used. We had a practice (school team) tonight and members of the Town Team also turned up for a knock.

28 Friday
Sis's Birthday – After looking forward to playing against Neath I found that when I got down there it was too late for me to play. The Town lost by about 6 wickets. It was a time limit match. The sec did well.

29 Saturday
I went up the Ynys cricket ground to play Trefelin but rain stopped it.
¹⁵⁷
Last night saw the biggest air raid in South Wales and the 1st in Port Talbot. Franchis and a house on Tydraw Hill are in a mess.
¹⁵⁸
Others too.

30 Sunday
Iona Gwen and Thomas Henry and Graham were down here. We are playing Trevelin tomorrow. Elfed is not going to work because he disagrees with pay for it.
¹⁵⁹

JULY

1 Monday
We had our first exams today and 1 this afternoon because there was an air raid in here and 9 bombs were dropped. One just missed the gasometer and another some munitions trucks.
¹⁶⁰

2 Tuesday
We won our match with Trefelin yesterday and we are now in the semi-final for the shield. It is rumoured that we are playing Neath on Saturday in Neath and Cardiff the following Friday.

3 Wednesday
I am sleeping in Mrs Jackson's tonight with Bill.
¹⁶¹
I have slept all the week up the Side. Marian and Rhian are staying in Ponty and Sis is staying in Cwm while Elfed is working nights.

4 Thursday
We played Central and lost by about 10 runs. We could have won easily if we had only played carefully but we all went in to have a knock and so failed. I scored 2 caught very well.

5 Friday
Played Neath in the Ferry today and as usual we lost but we did not do wholly bad.
¹⁶²
I scored my usual but I can [be] sure that I could have done better if I had only taken my time.

6 Saturday
Did all my errands and went up Cwm in the morn where I met Ivor and T. Henry. A very serious thing has happened. Money has been stolen by someone from T. Henry to the extent of £5–0–0.

7 Sunday
Went to chapel as usual and had 6d off Edie who came down with Graham to tea.

8 Monday
Everything has been very quiet lately but another air raid is not far off. We had our last exam this morning. It was trigonom and it was alright. I went up Cwmafan to see TH after going up Pont.

9 Tuesday
We had an air raid warning last night and we could distinctly hear the plane. It was for this reason that I did not go to school, as I slept late. I went to see
I am the law
with E. G. Robinson.
¹⁶³
[...]

10 Wednesday
Put up cardboard all morn in school to stop blast. There was an aerial battle over here today which was very one sided. 3 Spitfires and 1 German.
¹⁶⁴
I don't know the result of the battle yet.

11 Thursday
No exams or anything in school today and we just muck about. We have had a quiet time lately regarding air raids but not for long I suppose – I must remember to take Dai's clothes to Llantwit Major.

12 Friday
Had an air raid today or should I say tonight and we were in the shelters for
³
/
₄
of hour. When we went to bed it was quarter to one. Don Parr and I helped to nail up blast stoppers in Form II.

13 Saturday
I am writing this during an air raid warning. Sis is down the cellar with Mrs Jackson and Olive Rees. Did all my errands etc. and went down the road to fetch papers during the raid. Longest raid yet.

14 Sunday
Gerwyn is down again this weekend and can he talk. Went to chapel morn noon and night as usual.

15 Monday
We had 3 air raid warnings today. Two of them during school hours. Played cricket tonight with Wherle. I had a scrap with Dai Lodwig. I thought I was going up Cwm. I had 73 in arith.

16 Tuesday
Today after clamouring for History marks Mr Davies unbent so far as to tell me I was top which is good enough.
¹⁶⁵
I think I have done well in Trig also as Tom Lane saw 22 marks on the 1st two pages.
¹⁶⁶

17 Wednesday
I found out that though I was top in History I only had 53 marks. Playing football and cricket anagrams with Parkhouse. Played with the boys and scored 19. Central are playing County tomorrow.

18 Thursday
Have not had any more marks. We are only having 3 weeks hols. County beat Central by 100 odd runs. Helped ‘Happy’ and Bobby to erect blast stoppers.
¹⁶⁷
Had air raid last night.

19 Friday
Have had Trig marks. I had 56 which makes my average for five exams 55.6. With luck I might have a final average of about 50. The reason for drop in average is 39 in Phys. But even that was more than expected.

20 Saturday
Did my errands quickly this morning as the Town played Aberdare this afternoon. When we reached Aberdare I had the shock of my life when I found I was not picked but it learned me not to be too cocksure.
¹⁶⁸

21 Sunday
Went to chapel all day. Today there are three balloons up in Taibach and one down Margam.
¹⁶⁹
[...]

22 Monday
Went to school as usual I had 67 in Chemistry and I must truly say that I was disappointed. I expected more. My average is now about 57.5. I played tennis with John Beynon tonight. [...]

23 Tuesday
We had yet another air raid yesterday or should I say last night. This was the longest on record and the 4th air raid in successive nights.
¹⁷⁰
Went to the Cach to see
I lost a Million
.
¹⁷¹

24 Wednesday
Went to school per usual. Another air raid last night. Breaking up tomorrow for 3 weeks. Played cricket for Wherle's team against Bonehead's team. We are going to play the 2nd inns tomorrow.

25 Thursday
Had my report this morning and it was very good compared with last term's report. I realized an average of 56.5. We have broken up for 3 weeks. No air raid Went to play down shelter with Jake.

26 Friday
When Jake and I went walking over the Brombil valley we found a delightful little tributary valley which was very beautiful.
¹⁷²
It was made of all hidden waterfalls [...]

27 Saturday
We had a two hour air raid last night. 11–1 o'clock. Only 5 people were down there. Three Jacksons and Sis and Elfed. I stayed in bed. Went [to] the Regent to see
Naughty Marrietta
.
¹⁷³

28 Sunday
Did not go to Chapel this morning – the 1st time for ages. During my walk down Margam I ripped my leg and my trousers.

29 Monday
Ivor's Birthday. Played another of those Colin v Arthur matches. We won easily. I took 5 wickets for 9 runs and I scored 22. I was top in both cases. It is a job to find something to do in these days.

30 Tuesday
Went up mountain to help Jake carry and cut grass clotches for the top of his air raid shelter.
¹⁷⁴
I was offered 6d but I refused it. Went to Cach to see D. Wakefield and J. Benny.
¹⁷⁵

31 Wednesday
This morning Dillwyn came up and told that there was a job down the Coop for me. When I went down I was detailed for a boy to shout ‘Baker’ in the Streets.
¹⁷⁶

AUGUST

1 Thursday
Dug up the spare patch in the garden and stoned it. Went down Margam park to see Eastern play Central. Found that I and Phillip and Wherle had game.
¹⁷⁷
I scored 1 not out.

2 Friday
Went up the Colliery to fetch Elfed's pay. He gave me 6d and Verdun gave me a 1/-.
¹⁷⁸
As soon as I came home I had a haircut in Sandies. Later on I had 6d off Dad James. Went to Cach to see
Arsenal St
.
¹⁷⁹

3 Saturday
Had a lot more money again today. 6d off Charles and 6d off Mam James. Went to Regent to see
The Flying Deuces
.
¹⁸⁰
I spent 2/7 in the night's entertainment. Air raids every night.

4 Sunday
We had a new preacher in Chapel today. His name was A. E. Lewis. I have his autograph. He was good.

5 Monday
I had 1/5 off Sis today and I spent it all. Went to Regent to see

Q Planes
.
¹⁸¹
Roy Palmer came with me and afterwards we went up the park to muck around.

6 Tuesday
Holiday – Went to baths with Brin Phillips and Chas Hockin.
¹⁸²
There weren't many there [...] Had much fun. Went up the park to play cricket scored 6 and 11 not out.

7 Wednesday
Went to the bath with Brin Phillips and his cousin. We had a fine time there. I had an argument with Mr Bragg the manager.
¹⁸³
Went to fetch blackberries with Elfed. We filled his work box.

8 Thursday
Went down the Coop for Sis and met Susie Preece down there.
¹⁸⁴
Went down Glen Parkhouse's this afternoon to play billiards. I won 2d then lost a 1d again Went to Cach. Davey came down.
¹⁸⁵

9 Friday
Went down Glen Parkhouse's all day today and I had a deficiency of 2d at the end of the pool play. Sis went up Cwm. When I got home there was a terrible smell of tar all over Taibach.

10 Saturday
Did all my errands etc. and I went to the baths this afternoon with Charlie Hockin. In the evening I went to the Regent. I contemplated giving up my job with Auntie Ede because I cannot get enough papers.