Gwilym Thomas Morgan

This story and photos are shared by the Trust courtesy of Mair Morgan, daughter of Gwilym Morgan

My father, Gwilym Thomas Morgan, born in Barry, South Wales in 1914 and died in Bridgend, South Wales, in 1995, was one of the 75 survivors rescued from the stricken Hospital Ship Amsterdam.

Before the war, my father had been a police officer but he also been a reservist for the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards and was called up when World War Two broke out. They took part in the Normandy D-Day landings. I have this photo of him with men of his unit but I don’t know where or when it was taken. Perhaps there might be someone out there who recognises the photograph.

My father’s unit, photo taken at an unknown location. He is sitting on the ground, front left

He was wounded when the battalion was trying to liberate Caen from Nazi occupation. He was taken to the Normandy coast and put on to the Amsterdam, which sadly struck a mine and subsequently sank. Fortunately, due to the bravery of the nurses, he was stretchered off the ship and was one of the lucky 75 survivors. He remembered seeing the nurses running along the decks trying to save lives and losing theirs as the ship sank.

After this tragic event, he was transported on another ship, to sent to a hospital in Liverpool to recover. There, he was re-united with his young wife and 2 year old daughter. He had two more children, myself b.1946 and my brother b. 1954. He continued his life as a Police Officer in the Glamorganshire Constabulary until the mid-60’s.

My father was a very quiet man, who rarely spoke about the war. He fought bravely and was mentioned in dispatches of which I’m very proud.

I should like to express my profound gratitude to those nurses who saved my father’s life, by sacrificing their own, and giving him the chance to return to his family and have a happy life. Also, I offer my sincere condolences to those families who lost their loved ones on the Hospital Ship Amsterdam.

British Normandy – Additional Information

If anyone does recognise the photo of Gwilym Morgan’s unit do get in touch with us so we can pass on the information to Mair.