THE LITTLE PORT OF NEWQUAY

These days (in the alternative timeline, i.e. reality), the sleepy Welsh fishing port of Newquay in Cardiganshire is famous for many things, but principally for not being Newquay, Cornwall. No longer an active fishing port, Newquay now provides the middle classes of Hereford (and Liverpool, Manchester and elsewhere) with convenient beach-side holiday homes in which to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of Broad Street or Church Street, or the crazy pace of life in High Town. But back in 1938.....

Newquay in West Wales. A map for any RN Admiral suffering from sight loss,
or fearful of navigational error.

A modern day map putting Newquay in the Welsh context. Although  Hereford is not
shown, the River Wye is, and its therefore easy to trace the road route from Hereford
to Newquay - over the Black Mountains until you hit Aberystwyth, then left turn
and follow the coast road. Or, if you're a VBCW arms smuggler, the reverse...

A VBCW Map of Newquay and NewQuay Bay.  The red markings are alleged to be a contemporary
"barrage plan" prepared in advance of "The Assault on Newquay", and therefore a rare document.
(c. National Museum of Wales Civil War Collection)

Back in 1938, Newquay was famous for being (in no particular order):

(1). the home of the momentous 1904 Welsh religious revival, courtesy of a "volcanic" local Methodist preacher, Joseph Jenkins. So powerful was the revival, Lloyd George himself described it as "rocking Welsh life like a Great Earthquake" (and, it is said, fearful of potential voter reaction, then took care to amend his own private behaviour - for a little while). Jenkins' historic chapel stands (drably and somewhat anonymously) in Newquay to this day;

(2). a notorious haunt of smugglers in the 17th and 18th centuries, trading in illicit wine and spirits, allegedly through a network of secret tunnels running from the town of Newquay itself down to the beach; 

(3). the model for the fictional Welsh town of "Llareggub" in Dylan Thomas' famous play, "Under Milk Wood". In a curious quirk of fate reminiscent of the VBCW, "Under Milk Wood" was subsequently famously narrated by Richard Burton, who himself "learned to drink" as a young man in the pubs of Newquay (principally "The Blue Bell", now converted from a spit and sawdust boozer into a chi-chi wine bar) - some of whom, it is said, were still owed money by Thomas himself [note1]. Thomas famously drank his way around Newquay during his period of residence, modelling the characters of his play - Captain Cat, Mog Edwards, Myfanwy Price, the Rev. Jenkins, Dai Bread etc. - on local residents [note2];

(4). a centre of arms smuggling during the VBCW, apparently much favoured by Sir Gilbert Hill for his criminal wholly legitimate trading enterprises, including the import of significant armaments from that shady well known Canadian conglomerate, Gisby Enterprises.

It is thought that Newquay's involvement in Sir Gilbert Hill's "supply line", together with Sir Gilbert's various splendid military successes against HMG within the Herefordshire VBCW, was the principal reason that HMG selected this sleepy Welsh port for "a raid in force" by the "Bristol Fleet".....

Newquay at nightfall. Today's tourists would find it difficult to imagine the carnage visited on this precise spot during the VBCW "raid in force" by the "Bristol Fleet" - and, fearful of inhibiting the profitable tourist trade,  today's guidebooks are careful not to mention the event.

[Note 1]. Those following the various links on Thomas may have worked out that - in the alternative timeline - he did not actually live in the Newquay area until 1944/1945. But, hey, this is the VBCW - and the models for Thomas' characters in "Llareggub" were certainly Newquay residents back in 1937/1938. Plus, we really needed to paint up a 28mm town drunk (and famous poet).....who could easily "lose a decade" after a bender...

[Note 2]. Some say that Dylan Thomas' last words - in New York in 1953 - were: "I have seen the gates of hell" (others claim them to have been: "I've had eighteen straight whiskies - I think that's a record"). Various biographers argue over the origin of the "gates of hell reference", some claiming a late revelation, others no more than drunken poetry. Those who have studied his time in Newquay, however, including its contemporary "visitation" by "the Bristol Fleet", have no doubt that it relates to his personal experience of naval bombardment (while under the influence, obviously).