Pembroke Dock flew the flag for Wales as the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic Campaign was remembered at the weekend.

Typical flying boat weather - grey skies and rain - failed to dampen the response and support for the service of commemoration on Sunday which concluded three days of events organised by the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust.

An open air service at the Dockyard Chapel had to be curtailed just to the unveiling and dedication of a memorial, the remainder of the service later taking place at the Pater Hall. This proved to be most successful and was attended by nearly 150 people, with music for the hymns played by the Pembroke Borough Silver Band.

The Rev. Mike Brotherton, of Angle, a retired Royal Navy chaplain, conducted the impressive service, joined by the Rev. Nicky Skipworth, Vicar of Pembroke Dock. Lessons were read by Rear Admiral Terry Loughran, a former captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and Squadron Leader John Cairns, chairman of the Coastal Command and Maritime Air Association, which held its own reunion in the town's Cleddau Bridge Hotel over the weekend.

Special words of welcome were given by Commodore Jamie Miller, RN, the Naval Regional Officer for Wales and the West.

The Coastal Command Association's sister organisation, the Maritime Air Trust, sponsored the funding of the striking Welsh slate memorial, which was crafted by Malcolm Grey, of Glasfryn Engraving, St. Davids. It depicts a Sunderland flying boat and simple and telling words reflecting the major contributions of the flying boats and of the Royal Navy at Pembroke Dock to winning the Battle of the Atlantic. It was unveiled by Air Commodore Andrew Neal, AFC, of the Maritime Air Trust and dedicated by the Rev. Brotherton.

Despite the damp conditions, several former Coastal Command personnel joined the parade along Bush Street to the chapel, led by the band of No 948 (Haverfordwest and St Davids) Squadron, ATC. Standard bearers of several service organisations from as far away as Cardigan took part and among the marchers was Mr. Alan Lacy, who served with 228 Squadron at Pembroke Dock in 1943/44. Parade marshal was Mr. Dave Boswell, of Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Royal British Legion, and Sea Cadets of T/S Warrior also paraded.

Another wartime RAF veteran who attended the service was Mr. Ron Currell, of Pembroke, a pilot with two wartime Sunderland squadrons, and he was joined by Royal Navy veteran Mr. Gerry Price, whose wartime service included many convoys across the Atlantic and two to Russia, and former Royal Marine Mr. Ted Owens, both of Pembroke Dock.

Among the special guests was the chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. Arwyn Williams, and Mrs. Williams; the newly elected Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Clr. Jane Phillips; the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, the Hon. Robin Lewis, and Mrs. Lewis; Welsh Assembly Member Mrs. Angela Burns and Mr. Simon Hart, MP for West Carmarthen and South Pembrokeshire.

Special thanks were given to Pembrokeshire County Council, owners of the Dockyard Chapel, for permission to place the memorial stone in the grounds, and to ATR Construction for generously erecting the memorial on a granite plinth.

ATR Construction are currently building an extension to the Dockyard Chapel.

Honoured guests from Down Under

Special and honoured guests at the Battle of the Atlantic Weekend events were an Australian family who had travelled especially to Wales to take part.

Mrs. Patricia Swain, of Sydney, New South Wales, is the sister of Flight Lieutenant Colin Walker, DSO, the Australian pilot who captained a Sunderland which had an epic encounter with German fighters over the Bay of Biscay 70 years ago.

In the battle. the Sunderland crew shot down or damaged several of the fighters. Although heavily damaged itself. the flying boat managed to reach the Cornish coast and to force land on a beach.

The poignant story of this battle was detailed by the Rev. Mike Brotherton in his address at Sunday's service.

Mrs. Swain, who was accompanied by daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Kydric, will be visiting Cornwall next month as a memorial to her brother's crew and their aircraft will be unveiled on the actual 70th anniversary of the battle, Sunday, June 2, at Praa Sands.

A surprise connection with her brother was revealed to Mrs. Swain when she met Mrs. Patricia Singleton, of Welwyn Garden City, whose husband, Gordon, was also a pilot on the same squadron, No 461 Royal Australian Air Force. Gordon Singleton had himself made aviation history a few days before the battle by successfully landing a Sunderland on Angle Airfield.

Mrs. Singleton was attending with her friend, Mrs. Margaret Black, of Pembroke, one of the Sunderland Trust's many hardworking volunteers.