© Pembrokeshire County Council
1
This leaflet should be used as an introduction to the topic only. It is not
a definitive guide to the records held in this office, nor does it presume
to list all categories of record that may be useful but that are not located
in this office.
Cover illustration: Air raid on Pembroke Dock 15 July 1940 [Ref. HDX/101/64]
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The Second World War in Pembrokeshire
So much of the action in World War II took place in the air or over the sea that
Pembrokeshire with its naturally sheltered waterway was bound to figure in the
war effort. It was important as a naval base, convoy assembly point and flying
boat station for the whole of the1939-1945 war. There were small airfields dotted
around the county and camouflaged look-out stations along the coast.
It was assumed that Pembrokeshire was sufficiently remote from the action to be
a safe haven for evacuees fleeing the blitz. This was not entirely true.
Pembroke Dock, in particular, paid a high price in terms of bomb damage. An
horrendous fire, which lasted three weeks when the oil tanks in Llanreath were
hit, caused the loss of 33 million gallons of oil, killed 5 firefighters and stripped
much of southern Pembrokeshire of crops and stock.
Many nationalities passed through the area during the course of the war and
contributed to the story of World War II in Pembrokeshire.
On searchroom shelves
“An Experience Shared”, by Vernon Scott
“In Harm’s Way” by Vernon Scott
“Inferno 1940” by Vernon Scott
“Pembrokeshire under fire” by Bill Richards
“Singleton’s War” by Gordon Singleton
“The Burma Star Association” (Pembrokeshire Branch) Memorial Book, with
brief history of the war in S.E. Asia
“Royal Marines in Wales” by Anthony J Perrett
“Coast defences of England and Wales 1856-1956” by Ian V Hogg
“Flying Boat haven” by John Evans
“The Sunderland Flying Boat Queen” by John Evans [2 vols.]
“Local Authorities in war-time” by W Ivor Jennings
“Brwydr Bro’r Preselau” by Moelwyn Daniel in “Abergwaun a’r Fro” pp. 154-164
Pembrokeshire County History, Volume IV, “Modern Pembrokeshire”, sections
XIV, XV and XVI, edited by David W. Howells
Air raid precautions and shelters
D/ETL/245
D/MOR/30
HSPC/45/44
MHU/SE/20/1
Illustrated booklet “Practical Guide for the
Householder and Air Raid Warden”
1939
Letters from Fishguard ARP warden re exercises,
equipment, gas masks, etc.
1941
Catalogue of ARP equipment and instructions
1938
ARP Register, Milford Haven
1940-1941
3
PCC/AR/3/320-381
PCC/AR/3/382
PCC/ED/10/11
PCC/FI/2/156
PCC/HT/1/17-36
PCC/SE/3/1
PCC/SE/3/2
PCC/SE/3/4 & 5
PCC/SE/79/1-33
PEM/SE/14/103
Q12/225
D/MUS/26
ARP Plans for rescue, first aid, de-contamination and
report centres, garages, shelters and wardens’ posts
for Fishguard, Goodwick, Haverfordwest, Milford
Haven, Neyland, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock,
Scoveston Fort, Templeton Brickworks and Tenby
1937-1944
ARP Standard Plans
1938-1944
Returns showing number of school hours lost because
of air raids; number of local pupils and evacuees, etc.
- Tegryn, Herbrandston, Llanfallteg, Ludchurch,
Milford RC, Nevern, Carnhedryn, Tenby NP, Tenby
Infants and Wiston
1940
Air Raid Alert message forms
1941
ARP plans and drawings
1939-1940
County ARP Committee minutes
1936-1942
ARP (CD) Committee minute book
1942-1951
County ARP Committee Emergency Committee
minutes
1939-1941
Papers of the ARP and Civil Defence Committees
1938-1968
File on Morrison and Dormitory shelters
1941-1949
Account of air raids on Llanreath oil tanks
1940
“Pembrokeshire attacked from air” in Telegraph
Almanack 1948
Armed Forces
Army
HDX/1201/39
HDX/1201/37-58
D/ETL/244
Short printed History of Royal Engineers
1940
Various memorabilia of WW II which once belonged
to I.D.G. Jones
1939-1945
War Office notes on map-reading
1940
Territorial Army
D/EE/8/37-40
PCC/SE/92/1
Reports, accounts, minutes and other papers relating
to the Pembrokeshire T.A.A.
1935-1936
Copies of schemes for establishment and constitution
of the Pembrokeshire Territorial and Auxiliary Forces
Association [among WW1 papers]
1911-1947
4
Navy and Maritime
Western Telegraph
11 & 25/7/84, 1 & 8/8/84
HDX/159/4
HDX/1171/12
HDX/1261/1
SSR/2/10/64
Series of articles by Wing Commander John Tipton
about the men and aircraft who fought from the
Pembrokeshire wartime airfields. [See press-cuttings
in searchroom box]
List of warships built at Pembroke Dockyard and
equipment in Dockyard at its closure in 1926
n.d.
List of Dutch mine-sweepers stationed at Milford
Haven
1940-1946
Service certificate of William Johns of Llangwm in the
Royal Navy
1903-1945
Statement of expenses re Milford Haven’s reception
for HMS Nubian
1944
Royal Airforce and Airfields
HDX/945/1
HDX/945/2
HDX/1101/26
HDX/1396/4
HDX/1396/56
HDX/1396/57
“Pembrokeshire Air Bases in the World Wars” by
Wg.Cdr. J.E. Tipton DFC
1983
Plans of Royal Air Force airfields and sites in
Pembrokeshire [photocopies]
1943-1946
Article from ‘Air Mail’ (RAF Assn. journal) on RAF
Coastal Command’s war against the U-Boats
1939-1945, including the role of Pembrokeshire-based
aircraft
Spring 1993
Notes on structures and construction of RAF radio
direction finding equipment/radar stations, mainly in
Pembrokeshire, with photographs, in WW II
1993
Photograph of a wartime Radar Operations Room at
RAF Folly, near Roch
1993
Photograph of aerial balance weights and diagram,
RAF Folly, near Roch
1993
Memoirs, diaries and memorabilia
HDX/1496/1
HDX/1201/42
HDX/1217/1
Military History – A Guide (compiled by former Area
Archivist for giving talks)
n.d.[1980’s]
Official War Diary of 282 Welsh Field Company, Royal
Engineers.
1944-1945
“With the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry in World War II” Memoirs of Baden Davies’ service as Signaller,
Pembrokeshire Yeomanry (Royal Artillery, 102nd
Battalion), 473 Field Battery, later 406 Battery, during
WW II (Copy also available on searchroom shelves,
section E)
1939-1945
5
HDX/1584/1
HDX/1285/1
Western Telegraph
4/9/02 & 11/9/02
HDX/1373/7
HDX/1170
‘What did you do in the War Grandpa?’ - personal
recollections of two World Wars by Mansel Evans
Memories of Mr Roy Campfield of Milford Haven about
the WW II.
1989
Memories in Vernon Scott’s articles of the German
bombing of the oil tanks in Pembroke Dock in 1940
“A Peaceful View” by Arthur Skone
The Hasting Day – memoirs of a Pembrokeshire
childhood by Docie Thompson
1920-1940
Home Defence
Miscellaneous items
DFC/M/8/156
HDX/1559/2
HDX/1554/40/61
HDX/160/9
D/RTM/12/44
Certificate of appreciation of the work of Mrs E
Thomas at Tenby Methodist Services Canteen
c.1945
Technical notes and drawings for land drainage,
produced by the Pembrokeshire War Agricultural
Executive Committee.
1946
Map showing wartime placements etc in Llanstadwell
parish
1939-1945
National Registration Identity Cards
1942-1948
Plan showing traffic restrictions in the
Haverfordwest–Dale area
June 1941
Civil Defence
PCC/SE/3/2
HDX/262/105
HDX/157/6
PCC/ED/2/879
PCC/EP/1/1-5
MHU/SE/20/1
Civil Defence Committee Minutes
1942-1951
Opposition to the proposed War Office Scheme to
make 16,000 acres of the Prescelly Mountains into a
Military Training Ground [The Preseli Defence
Scheme ]
1946
Arm bands and badges for Depot Superintendents,
Civil Defence and fire prevention duties
1939-1945
Minutes, plans and correspondence re Civil Defence
Committee, ARP, shelters in schools, fire-watching
duties, equipment and transport
1941-1942
Photographs of Civil Defence exhibitions and
Emergency Feeding Programme [illustrating war-time
work]
1950s
ARP register of men and vehicles (Tenby) and list of
warnings
1940-1941
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MHU/SE/20/2-7
D/ETL/58
Registers of Rescue Party/Decontamination Squad
Training Schedule (Milford Haven), lists and
correspondence re personnel and equipment,
Rescue Training instruction sheets, Certificates of
Appreciation for the Savings Committee’s effort in
providing 2 ‘Tanks for Attack’.
1942-1944
Summons for displaying light during blackout
1942
Evacuees
See photocopies in ‘WW II Evacuees’ file in main searchroom.
FGU/SE/6/5
HAM/TR/14/155
HAR/SE/18/1-18
HDX/1111/3
HDX/4/13
PCC/ED/10/10
PCC/ED/10/12-15
PCC/TR/6/42
PEM/SE/14/104
PEM/SE/14/105
SSR/1/771-774
TEM/SE/4/70 & 71
TEM/SE/4/73
Survey of accommodation for Government Evacuation
- Scheme in Fishguard and Goodwick wards c.1941
File on evacuation: billeting expenses book (including
notes on squatters), payments to Haverfordwest Town
Council, confidential handbook on billeting and
welfare, etc.
1941-1950
Files re Series II Evacuation, including topics such as
individual children, problems, complaints, moves,
requisitioning de-requisitioning, compensation,
allowances, departure of evacuees, travel
arrangements, WVS, and Welsh Board of Health.
1939-1946
Certificate of appreciation awarded to Mrs Mayou of
Bath for taking in evacuees during World War II n.d.
Card of appreciation from Headmistress of Creek
Road, London County Council School, re reception
for pupils evacuated to Pembrokeshire.
c.1945
Papers re housing for evacuees
1940-1945
Evacuation return and other papers, listing schools
attended by named evacuees
1940-1941
Register of rents of premises for evacuated schools
1940-1942
Registers of removal and storage of household
furniture
1942-1946
Survey of accommodation under Government
Evacuation Scheme in Pater Ward, Pembroke Dock
n.d.
Camrose School – LCC evacuees records 1940-1945
Government Evacuation Scheme arrangements for
evacuees and refugees, requisitioning of property etc.
in the Tenby area
1940-1941
File on billeting, with inventories of furniture and
utensils
1944
7
TEM/SE/4/74
File on requisitioned premises
1945-1946
Fire Brigade
HAM/TR/14/157-160
HDX/26/4
MHU/SE/20/16
PCC/ED/10/16
PCC/FI/2/1-7
PCC/FI/2/51-53
PCC/FI/2/135-160
PCC/SE/79/34-42
Files re Fire Brigade, National Fire Service, Fire Guard
and Fire Prevention Order booklets, allowances,
accounts and correspondence
1930-1945
Training film about Pembroke Fire Brigade 1941
[8 mm - in photo store]
Fire-watching enforcement orders for listed business
premises in Charles Street, Milford Haven 1942-1943
Correspondence and returns re fire-watching in
schools etc
1942
Logs and correspondence.
1941-1944
Papers re Auxiliary Fire Service and part-time
personnel
1938-1945
Occurence and duty rosters, vehicle log books and
other papers re Auxiliary Fire Service
1939-1942
Fire-watching registers and payments registers for
premises in Haverfordwest.
1941-1944
Home Guards
D/MOR/15
D/ROC/428
DFC/M/7/115
HDX/58/57
HDX/443/4
HDX/1101/40
Ledger containing information on Home Guard
shelters built in the Fishguard area (p.66 ff) 1943-1944
File on Home Guard 1st Battalion (Pembroke area)
1940-1943
Letters re use of Jeffreyston Methodist Hall by
Home Guards
1943
Notes on the Home Guard in Pembrokeshire
[photocopy]
1943
Official programme of the final parade of 2nd Battalion
Pembrokeshire Home Guard, Haverfordwest
1944
Photograph of Carew Home Guards (not in uniform
but partly named) [photocopy]
n.d. [ c.1940’s]
Rationing
MHU/SE/20/8-15
D/MOR/15
DFC/M/8/155
Food Control registers of food retailers and ration
book holders in Milford Haven and Neyland, with
addresses.
n.d. [c.1941]
Notes on petrol used by a Fishguard builder, with
building materials used. (p.65)
1942
Food Control Registration Certificate for Tenby
Wesleyan Methodist Forces Club
1939
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HAM/TR/14/156
TEM/SE/4/72
HAM/TR/14/163
FGU/SE/6/6
Borough of Haverfordwest Fuel Overseer’s Accounts,
1939-1950
File on food distribution in Tenby
1943
Correspondence and accounts for the British
Restaurant, Holloway, Haverfordwest.
1944-1950
Provisions stock book for the British Restaurant in
Fishguard
1942-1950
Prisoners of War and Refugees
PCC/SS/1/54
HDX/1096/33
TEM/SE/4/71
D/RIND/339
Papers re refugees landing at Milford Haven (mainly
Belgians) and instructions regarding their reception
[documents containing medical information are closed
for 100 years]
1940-1941
Prisoners of War invoice issued to Mr Young of
Letterston
1946
Arrangements for assisting evacuees and refugees
(mostly people made homeless through enemy
action), some going to Ireland, directions re billeting
etc
1940-1941
Postcard sent from Liebenau Camp, Denmark 1943
War Casualties
D/RTM/1/806
D/RTM/1/809 & 810
D/RTM/1/811
D/RTM/2/70
D/RTM/10/4
FGU/SE/6/1-3
HAR/SE/18/17
HDX/972/1
File re Will of William Setterfield, chief skipper of a
ship sunk by enemy action. Includes reference to
presumed death of temporary skipper Fred James
Sturdee Tucker
1941
Files re Will of Captain Jabes G. King who died at sea
as a result of trawling up a mine
1941
File re George Richard Gale, chief skipper, RNR, who
died at sea as result of collision
1941
File re Edgar Pincombe Locke of 3, Picton Road,
Hakin, of SS ‘ Ocean Courage,’ who was presumed
drowned when vessel was torpedoed
1943
Notary Public protest register - re sinking of ships by
enemy action. [pp. 286-7, 291 & 298]
1941
Register of civilian deaths due to war operations, daily
return of identified bodies and authority to remove
bodies after death due to war operations 1941-1945
Correspondence, pamphlets, circulars and forms re
deaths resulting from war operations
1938-1945
Welsh Book of Remembrance: all those known, of
Welsh birth and parentage, who, with others, gave
their lives in WWII
1939-1945
9
[NOTE: This is not the Pembrokeshire Book of Remembrance, which is in
St. Davids Cathedral.]
HDX/1087/1, 2 & 7
Register of civilians killed by enemy action or who died
of injuries, and copies of register of war graves in
Pembrokeshire. [printed]
n.d.
TEM/SE/4/76
Roll of Honour for Tenby men and women 1939-1949
D/MUS/26
“The Names of Pembrokeshire” – alphabetical list of
men and women who died 1939-1945 [includes the
dead, the missing, air raid victims and the forces]
War Damage
See photocopies in “WWII Bombing” file in main searchroom.
HAM/TR/14/161
D/RKL/1039
FGU/SE/6/4
HAM/TR/14/162
D/MOR/16
PEM/SE/14/102
HAR/SE/25/1
D/ROC/361
D/ROC/419
HDX/101/64
D/ROC/421
ARP Claims and Regulations booklets and forms
1940-1948
Completed war damage accounts – farms on Dale
Castle Estate
1942-1944
Record of war damaged buildings in Fishguard
1941
Haverfordwest Corporation War Damage contributions
1940-1949
Accounts for repairing war damaged properties in
Fishguard
1941-1942
War Damage claims, following air raids on Pembroke
Dock
1940-1941
Register of war-damaged properties, mostly south
and west Pembrokeshire
1941-1942
Government Scheme for Compensation for damage
by aircraft or bombardment
1940-1955
War Damage Act 1941 - correspondence and claims
for compensation for damage to crops and stock
following the bombing of oil tanks at Llanreath
1940-1942
Photograph of burning oil tanks in Pembroke Dock,
taken from the Rath in Milford Haven
1940
War damage on Bush Farm, Begelly, with plans.
1941-1942
War Memorials
D/RTM/1/42
HDX/876/7
Original contract for erecting the War Memorial in
Milford Haven [to which the names of those from
Milford who fell in WWII were later added]
1923
Order of Service at the unveiling of Lampeter Velfrey
War Memorial for WWII
1948
10
PCC/SE/45/1
County War Memorial Committee minutes
October 1946
War Office
D/RKL/1022
HDX/1201/40
PCC/PL/2/32
Dale Estate papers including letters re purchase of
land at West Blockhouse by War Office, compensation
claims etc,
1938-1939
War Office Authority Card for drivers of mechanical
transport
1940
File of requisitions of land by the War Department and
Admiralty for wartime purposes at Scoveston, Tyrch,
Saundersfoot, Nevern, Tiers Cross, Rosebush,
Llanstadwell, Sandy Haven, Puncheston and other
places.
1943-1946
Miscellaneous
D/MOR/150
D/RTM/1/653
HDX/220/1
HDX/220/2
HDX/220/3
HDX/443/5
HDX/1001/55
HDX/1277/3
HDX/1396/38 & 58
HDX/1333/58
HPR/57/37
PCC/ER/1945
PCC/PL/2/31
Programme for Fishguard Victory Celebrations 1946
Opinion re position concerning property in Great
Britain belonging to foreign aliens in the event of war
1935-1937
Booklet on Hamburg showing pre-war and post-war
pictures of the town
n.d. [post-1945]
“The Standard” newspaper special victory edition
1945
Copy of a testimonial written to honour the Panama
Pilots by Merchant Navy Captains
1943
VE Day Thanksgiving Service Leaflet - Shire Hall,
Haverfordwest
1945
Certificate of mention in dispatches awarded to Miss
B. S. Edwards, British Red Cross
1946
Photograph of volunteer stretcher-bearers at
Woodbine Hospital, Pembroke [copy]
1943
Photographs of Nolton Haven showing wartime
concrete anti-tank concrete blocks on the beach and
of the remains of same
1950’s, 1993
Correspondence with Pembrokeshire NALGO
members in Armed Forces
1940-1945
Castlemartin and Warren “Welcome Home Fund”
minutes
1944-1946
Services Electoral Rolls
May/October 1945
List of developments carried out subject to removal
after the war
1940-1945
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PCC/PL/2/44
PCC/SE/2/16
PEM/SE/14/106
PEM/SE/14/107
PCC/SE/99/4-8
PCC/TR/4/132
HDX/101/54
TEM/SE/4/72
TEM/SE/4/73
TEM/SE/4/74
TEM/SE/4/75
TEM/SE/4/76
File re schedule of unclassified roads, with map
1937-1940
Agriculture Committee Emergency Sub-Committee
minutes re Agricultural Scholarships as part of the Dig
for Victory Campaign
1940-1945
File re post-war reconstruction
1942-1943
File re celebrations of VE and VJ days.
1945
Papers relating to the War Charities Act of 1940,
including certificates of registration, exemption or
refusal; original applications for registration or
exemption; accounts, balance sheets of various
charities and related correspondence; winding up of
local “Welcome Home”, Comfort, Prisoner of War and
other funds and disposal of any balance, and minutes
of the Pembrokeshire Comforts Association
1940-1970
Register of superannuation contributions due from
members of admitted local authority staff on War
Service and related correspondence
1939-1949
Photograph of Anthony Thomas (Superintendent and
Deputy Chief Constable 1899-1941) awarded the MBE
for war services.
n.d. [c.1941]
File re food distribution schemes
1943
File re billeting, with inventories of furniture and
utensils
1944-1945
File re requisitioned premises
1945-1946
File re removal of temporary defence works
1947-1948
Roll of Honour of Tenby men and women 1939-1949
Please also look through the record office’s indices for related subject
matter, e.g. under the headings “Army:post-1660” and “War”.
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USEFUL ADDRESSES AND WEBSITES
Army Personnel Centre, HQ Secretariat, Historical Disclosures, Mail Point 400,
Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX
Web site: www.army.mod.uk
MOD Air Historical Branch (RAF), Building 266, RAF Bentley Priory, Stanmore,
Middlesex, HA7 3HH
PMA(Sec)1b(RAF), Room 5, Building 248A, RAF Personnel Management
Agency, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EZ
Websites www.rafmuseum.org.uk & www.raf.mod.uk
MOD Naval Historical Branch, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London, SW1A 2HW
The Navy Records Centre, Ministry of Defence, CS(RM)2 Navy Search, Bourne
Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 1RF. [For commissioned officers 1924-1939]
Tel. 0208 573 3831
The Naval Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Victory Building, HM Naval Base,
Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3LS.
Tel. 02392 727433
Web sites www.fleetairarmarchive.net & www.royal-navy.mod.uk
The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, TW9 4DU
Tel: 020 8876 3444
Web site: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Imperial War Museum, Dept. of Documents, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
Website www.iwm.org.uk
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead,
Berkshire, SL6 7DX
Tel. 01628 634221
Website www.cwgc.org
Revised 2004
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