As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of VE Day, Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism is arranging a '40s style Big Band Concert today (Friday), commencing at 7.30 pm in the Regency Hall. It would add to the atmosphere if the audience would 'dress up' in '40s style for the event and of course prizes will be presented to the most authentic outfits. This mood of nostalgia made the organisers wonder what went on during World War Two in this corner of Wales. A little research and a dip into Thomas G. Stickings' book, 'The Story of Saundersfoot', revealed some interesting facts. Saundersfoot did not, fortunately, suffer severe enemy action, although a number of bombs dropped on open marshes near Tenby and a number of incendiary bombs were dropped on Kingsmoor Common. In 1941, the Admiralty requisitioned the St. Brides Hotel and it became, for the duration of World War Two, the Royal Marines School of Signalling. Indeed, the current refurbishment of the hotel has uncovered papers relating to the activities and manoeuvres of the marines during that time. Most dramatically, in August 1943, a full scale rehearsal of the Allied Sea Assault on the coast of Europe took place on the beaches of Saundersfoot. The village was placed under curfew, mail was censored, summer visitors were required to leave the area and all available accommodation was commandeered. The harbour was full of petrol barges and ordnance depots were set up near St. Issell's Church and the surrounding area. On the beaches, landing ships unloaded troops, trucks and all manner of military equipment. Winston Churchill surveyed the rehearsal from outside the Wiseman's Bridge Inn, with Admiral Viscount Mountbatten in attendance. Over 100,000 troops took part in this exercise which must have provided valuable experience for the real invasion when the allied assault forces landed in Normandy almost a year later in June 1944.

Madge Wills (Saundersfoot Scene)