The real D-Day landings took place in June 1944
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Historians have created a trail after discovering beaches in Carmarthenshire were used for D-Day landing rehearsals. Pendine was home to a Ministry of Defence research base during World War II and the landings in 1944 were prepared for on Morfa Bychan beach. The remains of 'dragon's teeth' and other defences can still be seen there. The trail also takes other landmarks including Newton House in Dinefwr Park which was a British hospital and later a prisoner-of-war camp. Research for the trail was carried out on behalf of the Carmarthenshire Council's museum service by Paul Sambrook and Jenny Hall of Trysor. They found the county was host to thousands of British and American troops as they prepared for D-Day in June 1944. Sites of importance have now been marked by plaques and a leaflet and booklet put together with more information about Carmarthenshire's role during the war.
The trail takes in landmarks across Carmarthenshire
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Newton House was a hospital and later a prisoner of war camp. German and Italian prisoners of war were also brought to prisoner-of-war camps such as that at Llanddarog. Drefach Felindre produced material for army uniforms and there was also a US Army base there. Carmarthen town was an important administrative centre for the war effort, and British and American forces had a base at Ystrad, Johnstown. Many thousands of children were evacuated to Carmarthenshire from English cities and refugee children also arrived from Europe. Llanelli played its part as a troop centre and production at its many engineering and metal factories was largely turned over to the war effort. There was also an RAF air-sea rescue base at Ferryside and Pembrey housed a Royal Ordnance Factory and an RAF airbase. RAF Pembrey airfield became a Battle of Britain fighter base and the explosive factory was employing 3,000 people in 1942. West Wales General Hospital at Glangwili was originally built as a military hospital to treat American troops. The council's education executive board member Gwynne Wooldridge said: "Carmarthenshire played a vital role in the war effort and this trail celebrates and commemorates this. "It is a fascinating story, telling the tale of how the Second World War affected the county and all its people."
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