Keiron Self chats with Dutch writer Bas Steman about the extraordinary paranormal bond with Wales explored in his new documentary The Incredible Story Of Private Morgan, where the experiences of a WWII pilot from Pontardawe enter his present-day memory banks…
Dutch writer Bas Steman has always had an interest in the supernatural – “the possibility that a body and a soul are two separate entities” – and since 2004 has investigated this phenomenon to write a book on the subject, even undergoing regression therapy for research. “Just for the book. Just for the art of writing.” What happened as a result, though, defies explanation.
“During this regression, I had ‘memories’ of World War II. I was hanging on a parachute, surrounded by hundreds of men like me. I ‘knew’ immediately where it was, when it was… my body reacted, I felt the fear.
“It was September 1944, Ginkel Heath by Arnhem. I experienced the last two days of a paratrooper named Morgan. I could describe details from his life, the town he lived in, his house, his hobbies… everything I experienced was historically correct and corresponded just with one guy that jumped in 1944. His name was Morgan and he lived in Pontardawe.”
Oscillating between scepticism and belief in his experience, when Steman visited Wales in 2006 he confirmed that Morgan had indeed existed. His sister Glenys was still alive, too: Steman met her and related his story, causing yet more moments to click into place. Investigating the history of Morgan’s battalion, the numbers of the Dakota plane Morgan flew in – 670 and 676 – correlated with a drawing of a plane, sporting those very numbers, which Steman had done aged six.
Steman went on to write a novel: Morgan, My Love, published in 2018, was a Dutch bestseller and is now on its 12th reprint, though yet to be published in the UK. A love story between Morgan and Betrys, the girl he left behind, it became far more than just a romance novel based on his experiences. He and film director partner Ariane Greep documented his writing process, including trips to Pontardawe and the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek, accompanied by Glenys.
Steman has stayed in contact with the family – who welcomed him, despite his nerves over his strange link with them – and is looking forward to the Q&A in Pontardawe. Having fallen in love with Wales and its rugged coastline, the Dutchman hopes his story will soon be more widely available.
Since writing Morgan, My Love, similar tales to Steman’s have come to light. Santa Montefiore’s Wait For Me, published this month, is a novel based on the accounts of someone who had regressed into the body of another paratrooper from the same battalion. “It’s spooky, hey? Two men, two books, one story…”
Bas Steman’s film should not only prove interesting fare, it will hopefully lead to his book being published in the UK, and spark further investigation into such a fascinating story. There are more things in Heaven and Earth, it seems…
The Incredible Story Of Private Morgan is screened in Pontardawe Arts Centre on Wed 12 July; also features a Q&A with Bas Steman and Ariane Greep.
Info: here
words KEIRON SELF
