Blog

Gan Danielle Jenkinson

Swyddog Dogfennaeth

I ddathlu bod Cymru’n cystadlu yng Nghwpan y Byd FIFA 2022, rydym yn mynd i fwrw golwg yn ôl ar yr unig dro arall i Gymru wneud hynny, a siarad am rai o chwaraewyr Cymru o Abertawe a gynrychiolodd eu gwlad, neu a fu bron â gwneud hynny.

Ym 1958, roedd Cymru’n gyfranogwyr annisgwyl yng Nghwpan y Byd yn Sweden. Ar ôl methu ag ennill lle drwy adran Ewropeaidd y gemau, dyfarnwyd ail gyfle i Gymru gystadlu, y tro hwn fel cynrychiolwyr Asia-Affrica. Oherwydd tensiynau gwleidyddol yn ymwneud â Phalesteina a Llain Gaza, gwrthododd timau Arabaidd chwarae yn erbyn Israel am le yn y bencampwriaeth. Penderfynodd FIFA drefnu gêm ar gyfer yr ail oreuon o ranbarthau eraill er mwyn iddynt symud ymlaen drwy gemau rhagbrofol Asia-Affrica. Cymru oedd y tîm a dynnwyd o’r het; enillon nhw’r ddwy gêm yn erbyn Israel, ac felly aethant ymlaen i Sweden.

Ar 18 Ebrill, 1958, cyfarfu dewiswyr Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru yn yr Amwythig i benderfynu ar garfan Cwpan y Byd. Roedd saith o’r chwaraewyr yn ddewisiadau amlwg: Jack Kelsey yn y gôl, Mel Hopkins fel cefnwr chwith, y capten Dave Bowen fel hanerwr chwith, Ivor Allchurch fel mewnwr chwith, Cliff Jones fel asgellwr chwith, Terry Medwin, a allai chwarae fel asgellwr de, mewnwr chwith a chanolwr blaen pe byddai angen, a John Charles, y canolwr blaen a oedd yn chwarae dros Juventus.  Roedd Kesley, Allchurch, Jones, Medwin a Charles, o Abertawe.

Ganed Jack Kelsey yn Llansamlet a chwaraeodd dros Arsenal. Ef oedd un o gôl-geidwaid gorau Prydain, a hefyd y byd.

Ystyriwyd Ivor Allchurch, a lysenwyd ‘Y Bachgen Euraidd’ – yn rhannol oherwydd ei wallt melyn tonnog – yn un o chwaraewyr o safon fyd-eang, prin, Cymru. Ymunodd Allchurch â’r Elyrch ym 1947 ar ôl iddo gael ei weld yn chwarae pêl-droed ieuenctid pan oedd yn ddisgybl yn Ysgol Plas-marl. Gwnaeth ei ymddangosiad cyntaf yn y gynghrair ym 1949 a’r flwyddyn ganlynol roedd yn chwarae dros ei wlad. Oherwydd ei benderfyniad i aros yn Adran 2 gyda’r Elyrch, cafodd lysenw arall, ‘Y seren na lwyddodd yn llwyr’, gan fod llawer yn teimlo’i fod yn gwastraffu’i ddoniau yn y Vetch.

Ganed Cliff Jones i deulu pêl-droed enwog, gan fod ei Dad a’i ewythr wedi chwarae dros Gymru. Magwyd ‘Cliffie’ yn ardal Sandfields, a chwaraeodd yn y gynghrair am y tro cyntaf dros Dref Abertawe ym 1952 pan oedd yn 17 oed. Fodd bynnag, cyrhaeddodd Jones Sweden fel yr asgellwr drutaf ym Mhrydain, gan iddo ymuno â Tottenham y flwyddyn honno am £35,000, y swm mwyaf erioed.

Roedd Ted Medwin yn fab i swyddog carchar, ac fe’i ganwyd gyferbyn â’r Vetch. Pan ymunodd â’i glwb lleol, fe’i disgrifiwyd fel “y bachgen o’r carchar drws nesaf”. Roedd yn olygus, daeth yn boblogaidd gyda’r cefnogwyr a daeth yn fachgen ‘pinyp’ Tref Abertawe yn fuan. Pan ofynnwyd iddo pam ei fod yn meddwl bod cynifer o garfan Cymru yn dod o Abertawe, atebodd Medwin:

“Dwi’n meddwl yr oedd a wnelo hyn gryn dipyn â chael traeth … wrth dyfu i fyny yn Abertawe ar ôl y rhyfel doedd dim llawer i’w wneud os oeddech chi’n ifanc, felly roedd y rhan fwyaf ohonon ni’n chwarae pêl-droed drwy’r dydd ar y traethau. Mewn ffordd, roedd gennym ni ein Copacabana ein hunain.” (Risoli, 1998, t.27)

John Charles oedd y chwaraewr enwocaf ac uchaf ei barch yn y garfan, ac mae’n parhau i fod yn un o’r pêl-droedwyr gorau erioed i ddod o Gymru. Ar ôl gadael yr ysgol ym 1946, ymunodd â Thref Abertawe. Fodd bynnag, cyn iddo allu gwneud ei ymddangosiad hŷn cyntaf yn y Vetch, fe’i gwerthwyd i Leeds United ym 1949. Ym 1957, gan gredu mai ef oedd y canolwr a’r canolwr blaen gorau’r byd, fe’i prynwyd gan Juventus am £67,000, swm a dorrodd bob record. Yn ystod ei dymor cyntaf yn yr Eidal, profodd Charles i fod yn chwaraewr penigamp. Roedd y chwaraewr chwe throedfedd o daldra, a lysenwyd ‘il Buono Gigante’ (y Cawr Addfwyn), wedi gorffen y Serie A fel prif sgoriwr y gynghrair, gyda 28 gôl. Helpodd hyn Juventus i ennill y bencampwriaeth am y tro cyntaf ers chwe blynedd, a llofnododd yntau gytundeb arall â’r clwb am £150,000. Gosododd hyn ef yn y llyfrau hanes fel pêl-droediwr mwyaf gwerthfawr y byd.

Er ei bod hi’n ddewis amlwg i roi John Charles yn y garfan ar gyfer Sweden, roedd hefyd yn golygu cymryd siawns. Juventus oedd yn gyfrifol am ei gyfraniad yng Nghwpan y Byd, a phan ddewiswyd y tîm, nid oedd y clwb wedi rhoi ei ganiatâd eto. Arweiniodd hyn at lawer o drafodaethau gyda’r clwb o ran rhyddhau Charles i chwarae dros Gymru, rhywbeth yr oedd Juventus yn gyndyn o’i wneud. Roedd yn rhoi ei chwaraewr mwyaf gwerthfawr mewn perygl o gael ei anafu mewn gemau na fydden nhw fel clwb yn elwa ohonynt, a thros wlad nad oedd disgwyl iddi wneud yn dda yn y twrnamaint.

Ar y diwrnod hwnnw yn Amwythig, penderfynodd y dewiswyr ar 17 o’r 18 chwaraewr. Roedd gweddill y garfan yn erbyn Sweden yn cynnwys Mel Charles, Stuart Williams, Derrick Sullivan, Trevor Edwards, Colin Webster, Vic Crowe, Roy Vernon, Ken Jones, Ken Leek a Colin Baker. Yn anffodus, ni ddewiswyd brawd Ivor Allchurch, Len Allchurch. Er ei fod yng nghysgod ei frawd hŷn, roedd y chwaraewr Tref Abertawe yn bêl-droediwr da yn ei rinwedd ei hun. Chwaraeodd Mel gyda John yn Leeds ym 1952, ond nid oedd yn teimlo’n gyfforddus yn Swydd Efrog a dychwelodd i Dref Abertawe i chwarae yn eu tîm cyntaf.

Roedd y drafodaeth am y deunawfed dyn yn un torcalonnus. Roedd hi rhwng asgellwr Manchester United, Ken Morgans, a oroesodd drychineb awyr Munich, a Ron Hewitt o Ddinas Caerdydd; dewisodd y dewiswyr Hewitt yn y pen draw. Roeddent wedi bwriadu gwylio Morgans yn rownd derfynol Cwpan yr FA, ond pan gyhoeddwyd nad oedd y chwaraewr 18 oed yn ddigon iach, yn gorfforol nac yn feddyliol, i chwarae; collodd ei gyfle i gynrychioli Cymru.

Morgans, a anwyd yn Abertawe, oedd yr ieuengaf o’r ‘Busby Babes’, grŵp o bêl-droedwyr ifanc a oedd wedi symud ymlaen gyda’i gilydd o dîm ieuenctid Manchester United i’r tîm cyntaf dan reolaeth Matt Busby. Bu farw nifer o’r chwaraewyr ifanc yn nhrychineb awyr Munich ym 1958; Morgans oedd y person olaf i gael ei ddarganfod yn fyw ymysg y malurion. Awgrymodd meddygon y dylai gymryd blwyddyn o seibiant o bêl-droed, ond oherwydd prinder chwaraewyr yn y tîm cyntaf, roedd yn ôl yn chwarae dros United saith wythnos yn ddiweddarach. Mewn cyfweliad, rhannodd ei brofiad o’r cyfnod hwnnw:

“Roeddwn i’n teimlo’n ofnadwy. Roeddwn wedi colli lawer o bwysau. Es i o 11 stôn i 9 stôn. Doeddwn i ddim yn ffit, ond gan nad oedd digon o chwaraewyr roedd yn rhaid i fi chwarae … roeddwn i wedi colli’r cyflymder hwnnw o gwpl o lathenni. O’n i wedi’i golli. Ro’wn i’n gyflym iawn. Gallai cefnwr fod bum llathen o ‘mlaen a byddwn i’n dal i’w faeddu. Ond ar ôl Munich, doeddwn i ddim yn gallu gwneud hynny mwyach. Mewn ffordd, doeddwn i ddim yn synnu fy mod wedi fy ngadael mas o garfan Cwpan y Byd … dwi’n siŵr bod y ddamwain wedi effeithio arna i. Roeddwn i’n cael pennau tost am gwpwl o flynyddoedd. Roeddwn i’n arfer cael hunllefau am y ddamwain a’r chwaraewyr a laddwyd.” (Risoli, 1998, t.32)

Dylid crybwyll hefyd y chwaraewyr a anwyd yn Abertawe, Ray Daniel a Trevor Ford, a ystyriwyd yn ddau o bêl-droedwyr gorau Cymru ar ôl y rhyfel. Fodd bynnag, am resymau gwahanol iawn, diystyriodd Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru y ddau rhag cynrychioli’u gwlad.

Roedd Daniel yn amddiffynnwr uchel ei barch, ond cafodd ei wahardd rhag chwarae yng Nghwpan y Byd oherwydd iddo gael ei glywed yn diddanu’r tîm gyda chaneuon o’r sioe gerdd Guys and Dolls. Canodd o’r rhestr draciau wrth deithio ar goets y tîm ar ôl iddynt chwarae un o’u gemau rhagbrofol ar gyfer y twrnamaint. Gwylltiodd hyn Herbert Powell, ysgrifennydd crefyddol Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru, a gredai mai emynau’n unig ddylai gael eu canu gan aelodau’r tîm.

Ym 1956, cyhoeddodd Trevor Ford ei hunangofiant, I Lead The Attack. Roedd yn ddatgeliad ar y taliadau anghyfreithlon gan ei hen glwb, Sunderland, i’w chwaraewyr, gan gynnwys Ford ei hun. Cyfaddefodd y saethwr iddo dderbyn £100 ‘o dan y cownter’ i ymuno â Sunderland o Aston Villla. Gwaharddodd yr FA Ford o bêl-droed y gynghrair am dri thymor. Aeth yn alltud yn yr Iseldiroedd, lle chwaraeodd i PSV Eindhoven.

Yn dechnegol, gallai Ford fod wedi chwarae i Gymru o hyd, ond ni fyddai’r dewiswyr yn goddef rhywun a oedd wedi cyfaddef ei fod wedi derbyn taliadau anghyfreithlon. Ac eto, drwy ei anwybyddu, gwnaeth y detholwyr gamgymeriad. Hebddo, roedd carfan Cymru yn brin o ganolwyr blaen, a byddai’n costio’n ddrud i Gymru. Synnodd Cymru’r byd wrth symud ymlaen o Grŵp 3 ar ôl cael gêm gyfartal gyda Hwngari 1-1, Mecsico 1-1, a Sweden 0-0, ac yna curo Hwngari 2-1 yn rownd derfynol y gemau ail gyfle. Wrth wneud hynny, fe gyrhaeddon nhw’r rownd gogynderfynol, gan wynebu Brasil a phêl-droediwr 17 oed o’r enw Pelé.

Byddai’n rhaid iddynt wynebu’r Brasiliad heb eu swynogl, John Charles. Roedd wedi dioddef heriau cryf iawn gan dîm corfforol Hwngaraidd yn rownd gyntaf y gemau ail gyfle, ac roedd bellach wedi’i anafu. Prin oedd y dewisiadau i gymryd lle Charles, a bu’n rhaid i Colin Webster gymryd y safle ond nid achosodd lawer o drafferth i amddiffyn Brasil yn y gêm dyngedfennol honno. Fodd bynnag, cymerodd bron dri chwarter y gêm i Brasil dorri drwy amddiffyn Cymru, wrth i fflic Pelé fynd ag ef heibio i Mel Charles, a sgoriodd unig gôl y gêm, gan roi terfyn ar freuddwyd Cymru o fynd ymhellach yn y gystadleuaeth.

Os hoffech chi ddarllen rhagor am brofiadau tîm Cymru yn ystod Cwpan y Byd 1958, darllenwch When Pelé Broke Our Hearts Wales & the 1958 World Cup (1998 gan Mario Risoli. Caerdydd: Ashley Drake Publishing), y cyfeiriwyd at rywfaint ohono yma. Mae llawer mwy o ffeithiau diddorol nad oedd modd eu cynnwys yn y blog hwn, ac mae’n llyfr gwych.

Swansea YMCA newsletters early 20th Century

One of the drawbacks with visiting archives is you find a lot more information than you expected.  It can result in extra research or a new line of enquiry or both.

The YMCA archive has no newsletters from the 1^st WW period but West Glamorgan Archive Service do. There are one hundred names on the YMCA Swansea Roll of Honour (those members who served) and I was hoping I may find some extra bits of information and hopefully identify some of the many Evans, Jones and Thomas etc. Instead I ended up with another seventy individuals to research. Former members that were mentioned but not listed on the Roll of Honour and a whole load of names on the list of junior section members and scouts serving. This no doubt will result in another week or two of research.  Further information in future blogs when I look at the WW1 period in more detail.

The bundle of newsletters in archives also had some which overlap with YMCA archives for 1911/12 period. Looking through them again, I made a note of the name Arnt J Morland, who wrote a few letters back to his friends at YMCA Swansea and who was now back residing in Arundel, Norway.  The letters themselves were of no significant interest, a little update on how he was getting on, at this point undertaking his national service. The fact that he was involved in a much smaller YMCA association in Arundel and words of encouragement to keep up the good Christian work in Swansea. However, a quick google of his name and the town and this resulted in yet another story of interest to record.

Arnt Jacobson Morland was born on the 23^rd June 1888, son of a merchant.

In 1907 he secured some form of Norwegian state sponsored trade placement in Britain and obviously ended up in Swansea. The placement was shipping related but as yet I have been unable to identify with whom exactly.

Judging by the date of the letters he would have been in Swansea for maybe two or three years and being very religious I would guess a member of the Norwegian Church. By 1911 he was definitely back in Norway.  The last mention of him is news of his engagement to Miss Thomsen of Arundel.

In 1916 he started his own shipping company, named Agdesidens Rederi, followed by two more companies, Morland Rederi in 1927 and Morland Tankederi in 1930. 

Morland became a very prominent citizen of Norway, he chaired the Regional Ship Owners Association and for a number of years was a member of the Executive Committee for Arundel City Council. In 1953 he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament but died in 1957 before the end of his term.  Morland was also prominent in the church becoming Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council for Agder.

In 1940 Norway was occupied by the Nazis. A puppet government was installed led by the collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name would become a byword for collaborator or traitor. Following the war Quisling was found guilty of murder and high treason and was executed by firing squad on the 24^th October 1945.

The resistance in Norway like most countries included both passive and aggressive resistance.  One of the passive resistance measures was led by the church. Local church leaders in Norway were employed and paid for by the state.  Church leaders therefore refused to take the salaries in protest at the occupation and the collaboration of the Quisling government.

Morland in partnership with Hans Sande, the General Secretary of the Joint YMCA and YWCA in Norway organised the network for raising money for what was effectively a strike fund.  Money would be raised and collected to support the local church leaders to enable them to continue to work but refuse their salaries from the Norwegian state.

Morland was arrested on the 24^th February 1944 for resistance activities and initially held at the Arkivet building in Kristianstand.  Arkivet is Norwegian for archive.  Built in 1935 for the local archive service, the building was taken over as Gestapo Headquarters for Southern Norway.  It is now a museum to the Norwegian occupation and the names of those killed in concentration camps in Norway are listed on a memorial outside the building.

Moreland was later transferred to Grini Concentration Camp, his prisoner number was 11696. Numbers killed at Grini are unknown but we do know they included British Airborne troops who survived Operation Freshman, the attempt to destroy the Norsk Hydro Heavy Water Plant, vital for any potential development of a hydrogen bomb by the Nazis. The surviving British Airborne troops from the operation were held at Grini before being taken to nearby woods and executed by the Gestapo.

Finally Moreland was transferred to Berg Concentration Camp in February 1945.  Berg was a transit camp where many Jews and political prisoners were kept before transfer to one of the death camps in Germany or Eastern Europe. It is possible that he was due for transit but the war at this point was nearing the end and he survived. 

West Glamorgan Archive Service reference SL WL 5/9/1

The poster is advertising a week long campaign to raise £20,000 to build a new support centre in Swansea for those veterans who served in WW1.  The end of the Great War coincided with the 50^th anniversary of YMCA Swansea. 

On the right of the YMCA Red Triangle logo is a notice which seems rather odd.  It states;

“The balance sheet of the National YMCA is published every six months, properly audited and is a document representing a marvel of enterprising work for God and humanity”.

The reason for the rather odd notice was that the appeal had already been effectively sabotaged and from a most unexpected quarter.

As well as providing YMCA huts at the front line, a considerable amount of work was being undertaken to support troops in Swansea.

50,000 meals had been served at St Andrews Hall (now Swansea Mosque), and where YMCA operated from May 1917 to March 1919. 80,000 sheets of writing paper given out to troops, sleeping accommodation provided to over 250 soldiers and sailors and

7,000 to 8000 free suppers provided. Food and accommodation provided also to 129 survivors of the Rewa, a hospital ship torpedoed in the Channel.

At an Executive Committee of YMCA Swansea on 1st October 1917 Mr. G. P. Cook-Davies stated that the number of Bit Badge Men in the town was about 900 (Bit Badge Men was a term for men who had done their bit but whom now were invalided out through illness or injury).  After discussion it was decided to appoint a delegation to meet with Sir John Llewelyn (YMCA Swansea President) to consider what could be done.  One idea considered was a hostel for soldiers and sailors and the need to investigate potential need.

In early 1919, the Red Cross notified the YMCA was that the building which had been turned into a hospital was expected to be handed back over on the 30^th March

It was agreed to hold an open meeting and in the meantime that the ground floor be used as a club for past and present members of H.M Forces.

A Jubilee planning meeting was held on the 15^th March.  The minutes are difficult to read but discussion involves a possible extension to the hostel as well as a new build erected to the men who have fallen in the war, on the model of the Red Triangle huts.

At a special meeting in March 1919 the appeal was launched with a target of £20,000

Ward lists were produced to target 20,000 houses via 260 canvassers and the Rev. James would target markets and businesses.

Newspaper adverts were also to be placed.  The appeal weeks would be the 28^th April to 10^th May. 300 posters and 500 window bills printed.

The appeal started well with the following promises:

Mr. Napier £200

Mr Cook £200

Richard Lewis £200

J. P Giles £100

S Palmer £52

W J Watkins £50

Total £802

The first indication of the appeal running into trouble comes in a minute dated 1^st April, under a heading the Bishop of Swansea.  The minute states:

“Mr Napier gave a brief report on the meeting of the National Council in London and stated that the Bishop of Swansea would be given an opportunity of substantiating or withdrawing his charge against the YMCA before a Commission appointed by the Council”.

A special meeting of the Executive Committee 16^th April minute states

“The Chairman referred to the Bishop of Swansea attack on the YMCA in the Times Newspaper.  In reference to the Bishops letter, Mr Highman gave exact information with regard to the Association building at Brecon and the success of that enterprise”.

The Cambrian newspaper reported on the allegations and subsequent inquiry by Lord Askwith on the 23^rd May 1919.  The central allegation by the Bishop was that the YMCA national body was competing with existing social organisations and that money subscribed for war purposes was now being used for peace schemes. It would appear that the criticism was triggered by something to do with Brecon YMCA but it is unclear what.  The report by lord Askwith rejected the Bishops criticisms. 

Although the Bishops letter to the Times had nothing to do with YMCA Swansea, the publicity effectively sabotaged the campaign.  The appeal was pretty ambitious anyway, particularly when it was only eight years since a similar appeal had raised the £20,000 for the cost of the building on the Kingsway.

In June the Rev Newton Jones reported that Len Palmer had succeeded in collecting £131, the highest amount secured by a member. The campaign figure now standing at £4548 with another £100 promised from Messrs Baldwin’s.  Another £250 was promised by the Butchers Association.

The minute’s state:

“Mr Napier moved thanks to Rev Newton Jones for his service as the campaign manager.  The campaign had not reached its target.  The attack upon the YMCA by the Bishop of Swansea and prevailing industrial unrest had doubtless influenced events.”

Mr Cook endorsed Mr Napier

“Campaign efforts had been largely controlled by unfortunate circumstances”

The appeal was finally closed with a total figure raised of £5692, well short of the £20,000 target.

Swansea YMCA newsletters early 20^th Century

One of the drawbacks with visiting archives is you find a lot more information than you expected.  It can result in extra research or a new line of enquiry or both.

The YMCA archive has no newsletters from the 1^st WW period but West Glamorgan Archive Service do. There are one hundred names on the YMCA Swansea Roll of Honour (those members who served) and I was hoping I may find some extra bits of information and hopefully identify some of the many Evans, Jones and Thomas etc. Instead I ended up with another seventy individuals to research. Former members that were mentioned but not listed on the Roll of Honour and a whole load of names on the list of junior section members and scouts serving. This no doubt will result in another week or two of research.  Further information in future blogs when I look at the WW1 period in more detail.

The bundle of newsletters in archives also had some which overlap with YMCA archives for 1911/12 period. Looking through them again, I made a note of the name Arnt J Morland, who wrote a few letters back to his friends at YMCA Swansea and who was now back residing in Arundel, Norway.  The letters themselves were of no significant interest, a little update on how he was getting on, at this point undertaking his national service. The fact that he was involved in a much smaller YMCA association in Arundel and words of encouragement to keep up the good Christian work in Swansea. However, a quick google of his name and the town and this resulted in yet another story of interest to record.

Arnt Jacobson Morland was born on the 23^rd June 1888, son of a merchant.

In 1907 he secured some form of Norwegian state sponsored trade placement in Britain and obviously ended up in Swansea. The placement was shipping related but as yet I have been unable to identify with whom exactly.

Judging by the date of the letters he would have been in Swansea for maybe two or three years and being very religious I would guess a member of the Norwegian Church. By 1911 he was definitely back in Norway.  The last mention of him is news of his engagement to Miss Thomsen of Arundel.

In 1916 he started his own shipping company, named Agdesidens Rederi, followed by two more companies, Morland Rederi in 1927 and Morland Tankederi in 1930. 

Morland became a very prominent citizen of Norway, he chaired the Regional Ship Owners Association and for a number of years was a member of the Executive Committee for Arundel City Council. In 1953 he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament but died in 1957 before the end of his term.  Morland was also prominent in the church becoming Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council for Agder.

In 1940 Norway was occupied by the Nazis. A puppet government was installed led by the collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name would become a byword for collaborator or traitor. Following the war Quisling was found guilty of murder and high treason and was executed by firing squad on the 24^th October 1945.

The resistance in Norway like most countries included both passive and aggressive resistance.  One of the passive resistance measures was led by the church. Local church leaders in Norway were employed and paid for by the state.  Church leaders therefore refused to take the salaries in protest at the occupation and the collaboration of the Quisling government.

Morland in partnership with Hans Sande, the General Secretary of the Joint YMCA and YWCA in Norway organised the network for raising money for what was effectively a strike fund.  Money would be raised and collected to support the local church leaders to enable them to continue to work but refuse their salaries from the Norwegian state.

Morland was arrested on the 24^th February 1944 for resistance activities and initially held at the Arkivet building in Kristianstand.  Arkivet is Norwegian for archive.  Built in 1935 for the local archive service, the building was taken over as Gestapo Headquarters for Southern Norway.  It is now a museum to the Norwegian occupation and the names of those killed in concentration camps in Norway are listed on a memorial outside the building.

Moreland was later transferred to Grini Concentration Camp, his prisoner number was 11696. Numbers killed at Grini are unknown but we do know they included British Airborne troops who survived Operation Freshman, the attempt to destroy the Norsk Hydro Heavy Water Plant, vital for any potential development of a hydrogen bomb by the Nazis. The surviving British Airborne troops from the operation were held at Grini before being taken to nearby woods and executed by the Gestapo.

Finally Moreland was transferred to Berg Concentration Camp in February 1945.  Berg was a transit camp where many Jews and political prisoners were kept before transfer to one of the death camps in Germany or Eastern Europe. It is possible that he was due for transit but the war at this point was nearing the end and he survived.