Hello everyone, A rather long but true story about the Home Guard in Rhos around about 1941/2.
I grew up in the flat over Barclays Bank in Rhos, my father was the manager. So I had the run of the place outside opening hours. An interesting discovery one evening. There, stashed away in a corner, was what was obviously a sort of machine gun. Looked old, was on a tripod, lots of heavy bits attached to it. Out of sight of customers, I'm glad to say.
My dad was in the Home Guard. I found out that he had been entrusted with looking after this bit of equipment. In those far
gone days people trusted bank managers!!!
Anyway, this gun needed three people to operate it. One aimed it
and pulled the trigger. A second person stood alongside and fed a belt which had the bullets in pouches into the barrel of the gun. A third person stood alongside with a large supply of water which he fed into a jacket which surrounded the barrel to prevent the barrel overheating. The water splashed out into a bucket on the floor. I know. One practice evening someone didnt turn up, so my dad got me from upstairs in the flat to come down and pour in the water.
STOP LAUGHING YOU LOT. This was a first world war machine gun and was being put into action again after 25 years rest.
Now, I expect some of you will be wondering, why should Everard Road in Rhos need a machine gun. Well I'll tell you where it was meant for.
Drive out of Mochdre towards Llandudno Junction. Around 400 yards before the road dips down towards the Black Cat roundabout, on the left there is a lodge or gatehouse at the entrance to a privately owned unmade track which leads to a private property. The track actually goes over a bridge which goes over a lane from the Black Cat roundabout and heads towards Bryn Maen. On the right hand sign of this unmade track there are bushes and a row of trees. Thats where this machinegun was destined for.
So, what on earth would anyone want a machine gun up there for? I hear you all saying.
Well, those of you old enough, think back. No roundabout, little or no black cat, definately no A55 as it is now, no flyover. But--an absolutely perfect view of the existing bridge over the railway.
The thinking was, the Germans invaded around Holyhead from Ireland, made their way safely along the coast heading towards England, that is, safely before they came up against my dad and his machine gun as they crossed the bridge.
And, maybe, even me with my one gallon can of water Mike