DALE - an illustrated History
Editors Copley, M and Thomas, J
2000 Dale Women's Institiute, Dale, Pembrokeshire
A5 Board Book 96 pages
ISBN: 095386930X
Available at £5.00 + p & p £1.00 from -
Mil Reynolds, 'Fairfields', DALE, Haverfordwest,Pembs, SA62 3RF

Beautifully illustrated with evocative photographs, this book covers the colourful history of the Dale peninsula from medieval times to the present. Cream pages, carefully chosen, sepia-toned photographs and soft focus, with graphic touches here and there, all add to the pleasure of the book. The contents are presented in chapters from Early History, Seafaring, Farms and Farming, Properties, Military Presence, Faith and Education to Work and Leisure. The book was researched and produced by a group of Dale WI members, namely Margaret Copley and Jean Thomas [co-editors/researchers], Sharman Gainfort [graphics/researcher], Mil Reynolds [treasurer/researcher], Valerie Davies, Yvonne Evans and Anne Griffiths [researchers], in response to a national WI initiative to celebrate our communities in the Year of the Millennium.

Journalist and writer, Vernon Scott, wrote "comes thoroughly recommended and is an excellent read for the long winter evenings now looming. It has certainly left this admirer pining for his long lost boyhood."
[October 2000].

Over two and a half thousand books have sold. A limited number of copies are still available.

The West Blockhouse Fort, one of Palmerston's Forts, was built in the 1850s to defend Milford Haven. It is an extraordinary building in a spectular setting looking across The Haven to Angle and Milford Haven. Imagine the activities and actions of the soldiers as you browse through the images and documents of The Fort and its gun emplacements. This may inspire you to seek a holiday here, to explore and experience the atmosphere of this historic building and wonderful setting. "My time at Dale was a very happy period in my life; little did I realisethe hard times that lay ahead." Brigadier CTW Gough OBE [West Blockhouse Fort L/Bdr Artificer CTW Gough 1931-1935].

Four major areas SITES & ARMAMENTS, BATTERIES & REGIMENTS, PERSONNEL and ACTIONS are covered on the CD Rom in six time periods -

1500-1850 Early History - House of Commons Committee Report and Map 21st March 1758 etc

1850-1914 Fortification of The Haven - construction, armaments, when garrisoned, Census info, 1904 refurbishment with new battery, WW1 looming, etc

1914-1918 World War 1 - mobilization, Royal Garrison Artillery, King's Liverpools, Welsh Regt, COs, SECRET movement of ammunition,etc

1918-1939 Developments - War Office contracts, official history, Pembroke Heavy Brigade RA [TA], personal recollections of Brigadier CTW Gough, OBE [1931-35] and Major J Eaton-Evans [1938-40], the Munich Crisis, etc

1939-1945 World War 2 - 184 Coast Bty Pembroke Heavy Brigade RA [TA], Milford Haven Fire Command, Examination Service, gun datum, calibration, mine field, War Diary 532 Coast Regt RA, 620 Regiment RA, 14/72nd Engineering Maintenance Co [American], COs, etc

1945-to date Recent Developments - searchlight training, 424 and 425 Coast Regt RA [TA], No 8 Troop, 245 Armament Bty RA 1948, A Troop 262 Maintenance Bty RA, Magslip Installaton 1954, War Office Conveyance 1964, Landmark Trust 1968

A small number of this CD Rom remain for sale - see details above.

'Pembrokeshire Life' March 2003
Were you stationed at Dale in the War?

'Pembrokeshire Life' May 2003
Pot Luck in Dale

'

The Wren' No 348 October 2003
Miss Anne Griffiths, Snr Nursing Officer, QARNNS