Firemen's wartime bravery remembered (From Western Telegraph)

Firemen's wartime bravery remembered

Four veteran firemen who fought the Pembroke Dock oil tanks fire in August 1940 attended the remembrance service held on the 61st anniversary of the devastating air raid.

Ted Owens, of Pembroke Dock; Wyndham Scourfield, of Narberth, and two Cardiff veterans, Hubert Reynolds and John Walsh, joined local dignitaries, clergy and representatives of the South Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire Brigades in the annual service of remembrance.

It was held on the site of the Admiralty oil tank farm, which was bombed by the Luftwaffe on August 19th, 1940, resulting in Britains worst wartime oil fire.

The site is now part of the South Pembrokeshire Golf Club and a memorial stone by the clubhouse commemorates the five Cardiff firemen who lost their lives while fighting the blaze.

Local arrangements for the service were made by members of the Golf Club.

During the service a moving poem, entitled I Was There, written by former Cardiff fireman Bill Kirby, was read.

Mr Kirby, who regularly attended the annual commemorations, died earlier this year.

Caption: Included in the picture are: The High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire, Mr Harold James; the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Councillor John Allen-Mirehouse; the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor Don Esmond; the Mayor of Pembroke, Councillor Aden Brinn; veteran firemen John Walsh, Ted Owens, Hubert Reynolds and Wyndham Scourfield, and Nicola Phillips, who played the Last Post. Also included are Fire Brigade chaplains, Canon Randolph Thomas and Father Jordan, and representatives of the two brigades. PICTURE: John Evans.