For over 150 turbulent years Pembroke Dock had a direct connection with the armed forces of the United Kingdom - but it has taken until now for this military legacy to be charted in a new book, appropriately entitled ‘Garrison Town’, by Ron Garner-Watts (pictured).

From the early 1800s - when detachments of the Royal Marine Light Infantry arrived from Portsmouth and Woolwich to take up guard duties at the newly created naval dockyard - to 1967 when the last regiment departed, military uniforms were an everyday sight around the town.

The sheer scale of the army’s involvement is staggering, yet only now has it been documented - something which Pembroke Dock has been lacking for so many years.

It has taken dedicated research over many years by a former Royal Artilleryman to finally bring together a history of the Pembroke Dock Garrison.

Ron first came to the town as a new recruit to the Royal Artillery’s 22 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1957 and, like many other servicemen in past years, this became home town for him and his family.

After a total of 21 years in the Artillery, which included four tours in Northern Ireland and in West Germany and the Far East, Ron became much involved in his home community, joining the Town Council and was Mayor on two occasions, in 2005-2006 and 2008-2009.

He also contributed greatly to local heritage initiatives which led to the Gun Tower Museum, of which he was the Honorary Curator, and organisations like the Royal Artillery Association and the Royal British Legion.

‘Garrison Town’ has been published by his family in tribute to Ron, who today is a resident in a home at Saundersfoot.

Ron records that Pembroke Dock was, at its height, the seventh largest garrison in the UK, hosting 60 infantry battalions, some of which returned time and again, 43 artillery batteries, 20 of which formed in the town, and many militias, some with strong Pembrokeshire connections.

Running to 138 pages and with many fascinating illustrations, ‘Garrison Town’ costs £10 and is available from the family via daughter Tracy Davies on [email protected], also from the Pembroke Dock Town Council office in Dimond Street, the town’s Heritage Centre in the Dockyard Chapel and Pennar Post Office.

All proceeds will support Brooklands Residential Home, in Saundersfoot, where Ron has been a resident in recent years.

• Ron’s family would like to thank John Evans, of the Heritage Centre, Andy Evans, of Mondii Printers, Mandy Hart and Sarah Scourfield, of Pembroke Dock Town Council, for all their help.