A PERSONAL air raid log, which details the devastating World War II oil tank blaze at Pembroke Dock, is to be auctioned in Cardiff this Friday, July 29.

Written by Staff Sergeant Charles Roebuck, the eight-page record vividly recounts the shocking moment in 1940 when three Luftwaffe planes took aim at Admiralty oil tanks, holding millions of gallons of vital fuel, above the west Wales town.

The August 1940 bombings of the oil tanks at Llanreath caused the biggest fire seen in the UK since the Great Fire of London and continued to burn for weeks. Five Cardiff firemen lost their lives and many others were seriously injured.

On the afternoon of August 19, 1940, a group of three German Luftwaffe Junkers Ju88 bombers, accompanied by two Messerchmitt ME109 fighters flew over the Oil Tank Farm south of Llanreath.

Four of the bombs fell short, exploding in open country, but the resulting detonation from one direct hit on a tank of 12,000 tons started a blaze that would take more than 600 men from 22 brigades 18 days to put out.

Entitled AIR RAIDS, the log - typed on both sides of A5 lined paper - was found among Staff Sergeant Roebuck’s medals, military paperwork, and other effects by his step-family.

The detailed record will be sold by Rogers Jones & Co at the Antiques & Fine Art sale in Cardiff on Friday.

Auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones said: “This log is a fascinating catalogue of one man’s experience of the war, including a first-hand account of the shocking moment the oil tanks in Pembroke Dock were bombed.

“Standing as an important piece of World War II history, it reminds us what people in Wales endured during 1940 when Germany undertook a relentless bombing campaign.”

On Monday, August 19, 1940, Staff Sergeant Roebuck, of the Royal Engineers, wrote: “Having tea when heard sounds of bombs exploding – about 6-8 – whistling bombs.

“Then sound of planes – very loud – passing overhead. Prep. Take cover. Action over in about 12-15 secs, saw huge clouds of smoke S.W. Pembroke. Went to top of Defensible Barracks hill and saw oil tanks blazing. – flames 100-200 ft. high and enormous clouds of smoke.”

Mr Rogers Jones said: “Writing of brilliant searchlights, gunfire flashes, and shell bursts, of barrage bombs and Spitfires flying in bursts of bright August sunshine, the often matter-of-fact description belies the horrors of air-raid warnings, the sound of sirens and planes overhead.

“Staff Sergeant Roebuck noted the reflections of flames on the clouds lighting up the streets, house windows blown out into the road, and the air filled with dust and the acrid smell of powder.’

Roebuck’s log book largely covers the period from June to September 1940 and the air raid activity in an area stretching from Newport in the east to Pembroke Dock in the west, as well as a journey through London.

On August 24, 1940, Staff Sergeant Roebuck provided a follow-up on Pembroke Dock.

At 7pm, he wrote: “Fire at oil tanks still blazing furiously. Watched blaze for half-an-hour. Flames increased in intensity and fire renewed itself along frontage of moat.

“Flames roaring up to height of 100ft. Roaring and crackling of sides of tanks plainly heard, and occasionally heat from fire could be felt. Considerable number of A.F.S men pouring water into the moat surround and playing hoses on side of tanks.”

At Pembroke Dock on September 1, he observed a house being bombed in Treymeyrick Street.

“Went and examined damage,” he wrote. “House up this street on left blown completely to pieces – no walls left standing at all and 8ft deep crater where house was originally standing. 1 woman reported injured. All clear sounded 11.22pm.”

Staff Sergeant Roebuck’s military effects, to be sold as Lot 287, include the log, a 1939-1945 Defence Medal, 1939-1945 Star, The Burma Star, a Burma Star Association pin, a copy of the London Gazette sent On His Majesty’s Service, complete with envelope and letter.

Ted Owens, of Pembroke Dock’s Elizabeth Court was a 15-year-old messenger boy in the fire brigade at the time of the bombing.

Ted, a later Royal Marine Commando veteran of D-Day, has previously said: “I saw so many things in Pembroke Dock a boy of my age shouldn’t have seen.

“The oil was coming down out of the sky; everything was black.”