A forgotten wartime tragedy was finally remembered on Saturday - exactly 70 years on.

A service and plaque unveiling at the Defensible Barracks, Pembroke Dock, took place on the actual 70th anniversary of an explosion which claimed the lives of 19 servicemen.

Seven of the soldiers' families were represented - including the daughters and sons of four of the casualties.

The commemoration - led by the Rev. Roger Hart, of Pennar Community Church, and the Rev. Miles Maylor, of St .John's Church - was organised and funded by the Pembroke Dock Museum Trust.

Museum Trust chairman Martin Cavaney recalled the April 1942 day when a double explosion rocked the Defensible Barracks, the massive Victorian fort which overlooks the town. In that second 18 servicemen were killed and another died later from his injuries.

They were from the Pioneer Corps, The King's Own Scottish Borderers Regiment, and No 16 Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Engineers.

At the time, a mine disposal course was underway in one of the underground rooms of the Barracks.

"History records that this was one of the worst non-operational military disasters to occur in wartime Britain," said Martin. "It happened when wartime censorship was strictly upheld - local reports could only refer to a military exercise in west Wales; no reference to what had occurred, or where.

"So this became one of the forgotten stories and tragedies of World War II - that is until today."

Martin thanked the owners of the Defensible Barracks, Doug and Lynne Jones, for their help and co-operation. They had purchased the Barracks less than a year ago and were breathing new life into a magnificent and historic building, he said.

The Pembroke Borough Silver Band provided excellent music and the Last Post and Reveille were played by Cindy Hissey. The standards were led by Kevin Jones, chairman of the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Branch, Royal British Legion, and the parade marshal was David Boswell.

Among the family representatives were four direct descendants - Dorothy Bentham, of Pontefract (daughter of Sapper George Jackson); Barbara Nelson, of Paignton (daughter of Sergeant William George Marlow); Bill Plant, of High Peak, Derbyshire (son of Sapper William Plant); and Duncan Purgavie, of Derby (son of Captain James Stewart Purgavie).

They jointly unveiled the fine brass plaque which will be displayed at the Defensible Barracks.

Other families represented were those of Major Geoffrey Theodore Garratt MBE, Sapper John Brenig Jones and Lance Sergeant Richard Thompson.

Prior to the service, the families paid a private visit to Pembroke Dock's Military Cemetery at Llanion where 17 of the servicemen lie beneath a long row of white headstones.

Research continues into this wartime accident and Pembroke Dock's heritage organisations hope to make contact with relatives of other servicemen, as well as with local people who have information and memories of the wartime tragedy.

These efforts are being led by Ian Macrae, who has carried out considerable research at the National Archives and many other sources, and local historian John Evans, of the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust.

They can be contacted through John Evans on 01646 684220 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]