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Fortifications & Barracks - The Defensible Barracks
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Peacekeeping
| Pater
Fort
| Defensible Barracks
| Gun towers
| Llanion
Barracks
| Pennar
Barracks & Bush Camp
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The 1987 Military Tattoo - The Pembroke Dock Volunteer Artillery make the
Defensible Barracks ring to the sound of gunfire once again.
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The entrance to this imposing structure bears the date "VR 1844". The
barracks' moat encloses outer walls. Inner barrack blocks are built
around a central parade ground. It first housed the Royal Marines, then
- until after World War II - numerous Army units.
The dry moat proved a hazard to Victorian servicemen returning after
dark from evenings in town, and had to be fenced in.
18 soldiers died here in a 1942 basement mine training accident. They
included three Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany - Corporal Heinz
Abraham, and Privates Ludwig Rosenthal and Heinz Schwartze.
Dominating the Dockyard and town, the Defensible was intended as an
artillery fort as well as barracks. Nearby buildings in Pennar were
demolished to give the weaponry a clear field of fire. In the days of
the Royal Dockyard the artillery served a ceremonial, as well as a
defensive, purpose: 21 gun salutes greeted important anniversaries and
Royal visitors. The discharge of a smaller gun, by the entrance, kept
time for the town. Gunfire time was at noon and 9.30 pm.
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(Sources:
CADW 37-39; Peters 72; Evans, disaster; Johnson, K. Boom of ... gun: )
Pictures of Artillery Volunteers by courtesy of Mr R. Watts.
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