Pontardawe is a town in the Swansea Valley in South Wales, the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, originally West Glamorganshire.
Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
---|---|---|---|
Sergeant Thomas John Williams | Underground haulier |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Corporal Johnny E. Williams | Colliery haulier |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private David G. Jones | Pharmaceutical student |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Mervyn Wyatt Kingdon | Assistant in grocery shop |
08 Aug 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Roger Morgan | Colliery engineer |
24 Jul 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Egryn Morgan | Apprentice motor coach builder |
24 Jul 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Evan G. Rees | Sheet mill worker |
Unknown | Unknown |
Located at Cilybebyll, in woodland near The Plas, Cilybebyll Estate, it survives in good condition. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
On the surface, the OB is visible as a slightly-raised area. It has brick shafts at either end, with an alcove, possibly for an Elsan toilet, on the east side of the entrance. There is a winch arrangement on the entrance wall, indicating a vertical lift trap door would have originally been installed. The interior is flooded.
The structure consists of a concrete floor, brick built end walls and entrance shaft, together with a curved corrugated sheet steel roof and side walls resting on low sills. It is aligned north-east by south-west and the entrance is located at the north-east end. Internally the structure consists of a single room that measures 4.25m in length, 3.07m in width and 1.95m in height. The collapsed remains of an escape tunnel lead away from the entrance in the south-west wall.
Pontardawe Patrol
Assumed targets would have been the local roads and bridges over the Rivers Tawe and Upper Clydach.
The Cottage is now a holiday let. Those staying at the holiday cottages on the property can try and hunt out the site, though apparently not many are succssful at finding it, despite having a map.
TNA ref WO199/3389
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Defence of Britain Database 2001
Martin Locock & Joe Shearwood