Last month, John and Deric Brock came to talk to us about their work at the Carew Cheriton Control Tower and we were invited to pay them a visit. This proved popular as, last Saturday, 25 of us turned up to be given a warm welcome by John and fellow volunteers. First, we were given a talk by John Harries which sparked off many memories by those present and then we were shown some of the many displays and exhibits on show.

After coffee and cake, we were shown around the site and given an entertaining talk by John Brock which involved dressing up in wartime uniforms.

In the photograph: Bill Thomas (Home Guard), Liz Jenkins (Civil Defence), Don Hood (airman) and Nikki Hancock (Women's Land Army) with John Harries, John Brock and Les Nixon.

The visit was thoroughly enjoyed by all and we finished with a sing song in the air raid shelter concluding with "We'll meet again" - I'm sure we will!

An amazing achievement

This has been an amazing restoration project which began in an effort to save the old Control Tower from demolition. It had been used as a cowshed for many years and had considerably deteriorated but such was the interest in restoration that a group was formed which is now 35 strong. Grants were obtained from the Welsh Assembly and the land leased. This is a community project in the true sense of the word: people of all ages take part and the children from the local school are very much involved. And it is all voluntary. More can be found out by visiting their website http://www.carewcheritoncontroltower.co.uk">www.carewcheritoncontroltower.co.uk

Asked what motivated all this, John pointed out that over 100 people lost their lives in the bombing raids on this airfield. What has been achieved here is a tribute to those people.

Remembrance Sunday

The following day was Remembrance Sunday and time taken at the cenotaph to remember those who lost their lives in the wars. Time too to consider how war affected people living then and there are many who remember growing up in those troubled times. While Pembroke was lucky in escaping the ravages of war, the same could not be said for Pembroke Dock which suffered greatly from bombings in the years between 1940 and 1942 and many died.

Memories of wartime

Yesterday, I met with George Lewis, Frank Harries and Dennis Williams, Pembroke Dock lads who witnessed those dramatic and traumatic events at first hand. They certainly had many stories to tell - if only I had space to record them all! The first air raid on Pembroke Dock was on July 13, 1940, not a great deal of damage was inflicted and nobody could be prepared for the forthcoming catastrophic event: the bombing of the oil tanks. This sparked off many reminiscences when George asked Frank and Dennis if they could remember where they were when the tanks went on fire.

The day the tanks were bombed

It was 3.15 in the afternoon on August 19. Young Frank Harries was catching tadpoles. "Near the railway tunnel, there was a little reservoir where we, as boys, used to catch newts and tadpoles. All of a sudden we heard these planes coming over and we looked up not realising they were Germans. Then 'look they are dropping something!' and with that they hit the tanks and we ran like mad back to Lanion where we lived - straight down the railway line and we could see the smoke and the fire going up. Unbelievable, it was ... well at night you could sit up outside at 11 at night and practically read the paper with the light of the flames going up ..."

George was in Arthur Street. "I was playing with my cousin at number 17 and my Aunty Olive said 'you'd better go home now George' and it was about 3.15. I didn't get as far as my house at number 27 when I heard this racket - it was like a brass band that is all I can say. I looked around and I could see the plume of smoke. When I got to the house, it was empty - my mother and my sister had already gone and as I ran through the garden to the shelter all I could see was the flames and smoke. I could feel the heat in Arthur Street. I remember my father who was on the boom defence - they were the first to arrive at the fire - in oilskins, dripping with oil to see if we were alright and after that we didn't see him for days."

Dennis was not in Pembroke Dock at the time, but in Clynderwen.

"I was with Mr. Kenny Davies the Yeast in Clynderwen delivering Stork margarine and yeast to the bake houses in the area and south Pembrokeshire. My job as a schoolboy was helping him - on this occasion we saw a huge plume of black smoke and he said 'my God Dennis Pembroke Dock is on fire!' and we piled into the van and drove back to Pembroke Dock That was the day the tanks went on fire!

Unfortunately, the tanks had been filled just prior to the raid and the fires raged for three weeks and three days. Five firemen lost their lives fighting the blaze. There was another bank of 12 tanks at Waterloo, but these were not hit. Frank told me that the planes aimed at the Cosheston side, baskets and baskets of incendiary bombs showering phosphorous - "everything ablaze - a fantastic sight, unbelievable". But they missed the tanks.

They told me that there is a plaque in the golf club in memory of the five firemen who lost their lives and there is a ceremony every year in remembrance. Frank added that oil is still in evidence on the golf course and still comes up to the surface even now. "When I play golf I reminisce - as a boy watching the flames and here I am playing golf and the oil is still coming through."

The night raids on Pembroke Dock lasted from July 1940 to June 1942: Pembroke Dock as a garrison and dockyard town was a prime target and many bombs fell short of target causing civilian casualties and much damage to the town.There was a terrible raid on May 11/12, 1941, the worst against civilians. George handed me these photos of the Pier Hotel reduced to rubble, bombs aimed at the Ordnance Depot nearby. Dennis's house was badly damaged in that raid, but luckily his family were safe in the cellar emerging to see stars above instead of a roof! There is much to be written about this another time.

People today grumble so much about how hard things seem - it is good to look back and realise what the older generation went through all those years ago and think, we have got it so much easier today!

Contact

If you have any stories or photographs for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk

November events

Today (Friday, November 16): talk by popular local speaker David James on the subject of 'Pembrokeshire People' - concerning some of the great and famous who have visited here. Entry is free and open to all.

Friday, November 23: Christmas quiz night with questionmaster Pauline Waters. £3.50 includes a buffet - bring your own bottle if you wish.

Both events at Monkton Priory Church Hall at 7.30 pm.