Haverfordwest (St. Mary’s Church) War Memorial

Robert Frederick Bishop, Private, 17141, Coldstream Guards. Robert was the son of John Henry Bishop and Emma Bishop (nee Walker), of 74, Dew Street, Haverfordwest. He enlisted there into the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, which was stationed at Aldershot at the outbreak of war, attached to the 1st (Guards) Brigade, 1st Division. In August 1914 the Battalion moved to France and saw their first action at the Battle of Mons, and the retreat to the Marne, where the Germans were stopped. They then fought at the Aisne, and at Chivy, before being moved North to Ypres. Here they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, where they again stopped the German Offensive, before wintering in Flanders. The following year saw them in action again at the Battle of Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they joined the 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, on 25 August 1915. This Division has the distinction of being formed in France in August 1915, of the various Guards units that had been with other Divisions. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs Village. Robert was killed in action here on 29 September 1916. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Guard’s Cemetery, Lesboeufs, France.

Harry Hickman Bromfield, DSO, Major, Welsh Guards. Harry was the son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Bromfield, of Straford-on-Avon. He married Ethel Philippa Philipps in 1906, the eldest daughter of Sir Charles and Lady Philipps of Picton Castle. Harry had served in the South African War as Captain in the South Wales Borderers, and had gained the Distinguished Service Order in South Africa for his gallant leadership. He had become Chief Constable of Breconshire Constabulary prior to the war and volunteered to serve with the newly formed Welsh Guards in 1915, joining the battalion at Esher. The 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards was attached to 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, which had been formed in France in August 1915. The various Guards units that had been with other Divisions were withdrawn to be brought together to create this fine formation. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September, 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July, 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, and Harry joined it here, when he took command of Prince of Wales Company from Viscount Clive, who had been promoted. On 14 August the battalion was relieved by the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, and went into a variety of rest-huts, ruins, and trenches round Colincamps. The Guards then moved back into the line, taking over from 48 Brigade a line along the outskirts of the wood at the end of Ginchy. The situation at the time was a mess. The Welsh Guards were facing the wrong way, as they did not know what had happened during the previous attack, and in the ensuing fighting, Harry was killed while leading his men gallantly on 10 September 1916, aged 47. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Austin Pugh Cook, Lieutenant, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Austin was the son of Charles Pugh and Mary Ann Cook, of 21, Bridge Street, Haverfordwest. He entered St. David’s College from Haverfordwest Grammar School in October 1912, and graduated B.A. before being commissioned into the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1915. Austin served with the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division. The Naval Brigades were originally sent to Antwerp and Dunkirk in September and October 1914 to guard against invasion by the Germans. However, Antwerp fell to the Germans soon after, and so many of the RND units were withdrawn to England. After a lengthy period of refit and training the Division moved to Egypt preparatory to the Gallipoli campaign. Landing on 25 April 1915 the Division fought throughout the Campaign on Gallipoli. They were transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office on 29 April 1916 and was redesignated the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on 19 July 1916. The Division moved to France, arriving at Marseilles between 12 and 23 May 1916 and moved to positions on the Somme, where it took part in the Battle of the Ancre, and the resulting Operations on the Ancre. In April 1917 the Division was at Arras, and fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Gavrelle. They then fought at the Battle of Arleux. Austin was killed in action near Gavrelle on 26 July 1917. He was 23 years old, and is buried at Naval Trench Cemetery, Gavrelle, France.

William Davies, Private, 46421, Welsh Regiment. William was the son of Daniel and Dinah Davies, of Carnhedryn Isaf, Solva. Prior to the war he resided with his wife, Annie Davies, at 40, Dew Street, Haverfordwest. He enlisted at Haverfordwest into the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which moved to France in July 1915 as part of 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division fought during the opening attack of the Battle of Loos, and then moved to the Somme, where they took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle on 1 July, capturing the village at heavy cost, and fought through the Somme Battles of Pozières and the Ancre in 1916. They then moved north to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines, and it was here that William was wounded. He was evacuated to 53 Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul for treatment, but sadly died there of his wounds on 8 June 1917. William was 36 years old, and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Charles John Randle Dawkins, Second Lieutenant, Welsh Regiment. Charles was born on 16 June 1891, the only son of Thomas Dawkins and Clara Randle Dawkins (nee Bennett), of Redhill, Haverfordwest. He was educated at Haverfordwest Grammar School and at Clifton College, before gaining a place at Peterhouse, Cambridge, taking a First in Law and a second in the Historical Tripos. Charles then joined Mr. C.M.W. Price, of Lincoln’s Hill, but with the outbreak of war applied for a commission into the Welsh Regiment, being gazetted Second Lieutenant into the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment on 4 November 1914. On 8 May 1915 he married Enid Myfanwy Evans, of Haverfordwest, at Camberley, Surrey. The 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment was a service battalion, formed at Cardiff in September 1914, and moved to Salisbury Plain to join 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The battalion embarked for France with the division on 18 July 1915, and the division moved to positions north of Loos in the Givenchy area, to begin trench initiation and training. The division then took part in a very costly diversionary attack here on 25 September 1915, intending to draw German attention away from the main assault at Loos. Charles was killed in action, during the attack of 25 September 1915, which saw the 9th Welsh suffer terrible casualties. The 24-year-old is buried in Brown’s Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, France.

Archie Griffiths, Private, G/5868, Royal Sussex Regiment. Archie was the son of William and Maria Griffiths, of 44, Dew Street, Haverfordwest. He enlisted in September 1914 into the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, which was attached to 2 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division had been one of the first to arrive in France, fighting at the Battle of Mons, and taking part in the retreat to the Marne, where the Germans were stopped. They then fought at the Aisne, and at Chivy, before being moved north to Ypres. Here they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, where they again stopped the German Offensive, before wintering in Flanders. The following year saw them in action again at the Battle of Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they fought during the Battle of Loos, and the action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Archie was killed in action whilst the Division was near Arras, on 30 June 1916, just prior to their move to the Somme. He was just 20 years old, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. His brother Walter James Griffiths also fell.

Alfred Heywood Howard, Captain, Welsh Regiment. Alfred was born at Heaton, Lanashire in 1869, the son of Joseph and Fanny Howard. He was a Bank Manager prior to the war, and resided at Bank House, Haverfordwest with his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Vera. Alfred was commissioned into the Welsh Regiment, and was attached to the 4th Battalion at the outbreak of war. The Battalion was the Carmarthenshire Territorial Battalion, and was formed at Carmarthen on 4 August 1914, attached to South Wales Brigade, Army Troops. In November 1914 the Brigade moved to Tunbridge Wells, and then in February 1915 to Scotland on Forth and Tay Defences. On 17 April 1915 the Battalion was posted to 159 Brigade, 53rd Division at Bedford, and on 19 July 1915 sailed from Devonport for Mudros, arriving on 5 August. From here the Division moved to Gallipoli, and on 8 August 1915 landed at Suvla Bay. Here they immediately faced the chaotic leadership that was to lead to the ultimate failure of the campaign, and spent the next few days in isolated pockets, fighting against a Turkish counter-attack during the Battle of Sari Bair, which is where Alfred was killed on 10 August 1915, aged 45. Alfred has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

Charles Jenkins, Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps. Charles was born on 2 January 1897, the second son of John Lewis Jenkins and Bessie Jenkins (nee Mitchell), of Cleddau Lodge, Haverfordwest. Educated at Haverfordwest Grammar School, Charles then attended the London Wireless College, and from there he enlisted into the Signal Section of the Royal Engineers on 11 November 1914. Charles then served on the Western Front from January 1916 and returned to England in July 1917 to train at Winchester and Oxford. In November 1917 Charles was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps and gained his Wings in January 1918. Charles was sadly killed whilst training aboard a Sopwith Camel, B7370, from the Central Flying School at Upavon, Wiltshire, when the aircraft failed to pull out of a dive and crashed on 21 March 1918.  The remains of the 21-year-old were recovered from the wreckage, and he was conveyed back to Pembrokeshire for burial in St. Mary’s Church Cemetery, Haverfordwest. His Commanding Officer wrote in a letter to John and Bessie; ‘Your son was a fine and fearless Pilot, very popular, and we feel his loss keenly’. His brother, Harold Rhys Jenkins, served during WW2 with the Merchant Navy. He survived the sinking of his ship in 1942 but spent the rest of the war in captivity and died in 1948.

Charles William John, Private, 33248, Welsh Regiment. Charles was the son of Thomas and Annie John, of 21, Quay Street, Haverfordwest. He enlisted there into the Welsh Regiment and was posted with the 10th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December 1915 and had spent its first winter in the trenches near Armentieres. In June the division marched south to the Somme, where it was tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The first attack on the wood went in on 7 July 1916, by 115 Brigade, but the men were mown down by machine-gun fire. Blame was put on the Divisional Commander, who returned home, and a fresh assault was planned under a new commander for 10 July 1916. Charles was killed during the assault on the wood on 10 July 1916, aged 23. He is buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery, France.

George Frederick Jones, Private, 1140, Welsh Guards. George was the eldest son of Henry and Mary Jane Jones, of Haverfordwest. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. The Regiment was raised by Royal Warrant of 26 February 1915, at White City, before landing at Le Havre on 18 August 1915, becoming attached to 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The Division saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. After a brief rest period, the Division moved for Ypres for a short spell in what was, at that time, a quiet sector. George was killed in action at Ypres on 29 April 1916, aged 23. He is buried in Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery, Belgium.

Ivor Norman Jones-Parry, Lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery. Ivor was the son of Thomas and Selina Alfreda Jones-Parry, of 5, Hillcrest Rd., Acton, London. His parents were formerly of Bank House, Amlwch, Anglesey, and the National Provincial Bank, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Ivor was educated at Llandovery College from 1906 until 1909, and at the outbreak of war he was a Second Lieutenant in No. 2 Company, Pembrokeshire Territorial’s. He was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery on 12 August 1915, and moved to France late in 1916, serving with the 171st Siege Battery. Ivor was killed in action during the Battle of Arras, on 12 May 1917. He was 24 years old, and is buried in Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, France.

Stuart Leslie Keppel-Palmer, MC, Captain, Tank Corps. Stuart was born in 1894, the fourth son of Llewellin and Eveline Keppel-Palmer, of Haverfordwest and Geneva, and the brother of Mr. H.G. Keppel-Palmer and Mr. C.M. Keppel-Palmer, of Johnston Hall. He was educated at Bromsgrove and Winchester, and after unsuccessfully applying to join the Royal Navy, became a Pupil at the Lancaster and Yorkshire Locomotive Works at Horwich. He enlisted into the Royal Engineers in August, 1914 and was commissioned in October that year. Stuart was transferred into the Tank Corps at its formation in 1916, and joined the 3rd Light Battalion. After surviving the inaugural use of the tank on the Somme in 1916, and the abortive attempt to use tanks in the sodden battlefields of Passchendaele in 1917, Stuart was wounded at their next major offensive at the Battle of Cambrai, but gained the award of the Military Cross for his actions. The London Gazette of 8 January 1918 published his citation, which read; “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As Section Commander he led his section with the greatest gallantry, and when his flag tank was out of action he joined another one until it became ditched. Being unable to get it into action again in spite of most strenuous exertions, he joined a third tank, which he directed with complete success, having on all of these occasions to pass fully exposed over many hundred yards of bullet-swept ground.” Sadly, Stuart was killed within weeks of the end of the war, on 3 October 1918, when his tank was hit twice by German shells. He was 24 years old, and is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy, France.

Walter Selwyn Orpen, Second Lieutenant, Lancashire Fusiliers. Walter was born on 20 July 1893, the Youngest son of Reverend Thomas Herbert Orpen and Mrs. Amy Octavia Gwyther Orpen, the sister of Lady Philipps of Picton Castle, of 5, Herschel Road, Cambridge. He was educated at Malvern, and at Selwyn College, Cambridge where he had completed his second year when war was declared. He was then in the OTC and was gazetted to the North Staffordshire Regiment in September 1914, before being posted to the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. He was then posted to the 10th Battalion, which was attached to 52 Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. Walter landed with the battalion at Boulogne on 15 July 1915. They spent their initial period of trench familiarisation and then holding the front lines in the southern area of the Ypres salient. Here they took part in fighting at the Bluff during February, 1916 before moving south, where they fought at the Battle of Albert, where the Division captured Fricourt at heavy cost during the opening of the Somme Offensive. Walter was killed here by a sniper on 6 July 1916. He was 22 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. His Adjutant wrote; “During the time he has been with us I grew to like him more and more and to respect his many good qualities. He was always cheerful and brave.” Walter is also commemorated on the War Memorial at St. James Church, Abinger, the Cambridge (St. Giles) War Memorial, the Forest Green War Memorial, and the War Memorial in the Knoll School, Aspley Heath, Beds.

Alfred Ernest Howard Palmer, Private, TF/3065, Middlesex Regiment. Alfred was born in Cardiff on 18 July 1883, the son of Charles Escott Palmer and Emily Eliza Palmer (nee Stannard). Following the death of his mother in 1885, Alfred went to live with an aunt, Elvira Stannard, at Picton Place, Prendergast and he was educated at Haverfordwest Grammar School. Upon leaving school he found work as an Insurance Clerk and by the time war erupted was residing at 66, Hampton Road, Forest Gate, Essex. Alfred enlisted at Stamford Brook, Middlesex on 13 November 1914 into the 2/10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. On 24 April 1915 the Battalion moved to 160 (Welsh Border) Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division, and on 18 July 1915 sailed from Devonport, and landed at Suvla Bay on 9 August 1915. The Division was almost immediately thrown into some desperate fighting over the ensuing weeks, in terrible conditions. Alfred contracted dysentery on Gallipoli, and was evacuated to Egypt for treatment, but died of jaundice in hospital at Port Said on 24 October 1915. The 31-year-old was buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He is also commemorated on his Aunt Elvira’s grave at Canford Cemetery, Bristol.

Harold Charles Phillips, Private, 4791, Australian Infantry. Harold was born in Haverfordwest in 1879, the son of Frederick and Mary Ann Phillips, and was the Brother of Reverend Arthur Gilbert Phillips, of Moravion Manse, Leominster. He had emigrated to Australia prior to the war, and lived at 75, Halifax Street, Adelaide, South Australia. Harold had originally enlisted into the 12th Battalion, AIF at Adelaide on 3 March 1916. He was discharged due to bad teeth, but as was the norm at the time, he must have had them all extracted, and he re-enlisted at Adelaide on 22 March 1916 and joined the 12th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion, AIF, which was on the Western Front attached to the 7th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division. This batch of reinforcements embarked at Adelaide aboard the H.M.A.T. Aenas on 11 April 1916. Harold worked his way up to Acting Sergeant during the voyage to England, but once there was charged with overstaying his leave, and for being in Salisbury without a pass. Still in England in 1917, Harold went absent without Leave and was caught by Military Police two months later. He was sentenced to 60 days detention, and was posted to the 7th Brigade Concert Party upon his release. Harold joined his unit on 30 October 1917 on the Western Front. They were in Flanders, after taking part in Third Ypres, where the Division fought at the Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcapelle and Passchendaele. The 2nd Australian Division played a major role in the defence in Flanders during the German Offensive there in April 1918, and then during the Advance to Victory on the Somme, including the Capture of Hamel on 4 July 1918. They were at Hamel when Harold was killed in action on 9 July 1918. He was 39 years old, and is buried in Adelaide Cemetery, Villers Brettoneux, France.

William Picton, Private, 34135, Welsh Regiment. William was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Picton, of 7, Cartlett, Haverfordwest. He enlisted at Briton Ferry into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division had been one of the first to arrive in France, fighting at the Battle of Mons, and taking part in the retreat to the Marne, where the Germans were stopped. They then fought at the Aisne, and at Chivy, before being moved north to Ypres. Here they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, where they again stopped the German Offensive, before wintering in Flanders. The following year saw them in action again at the Battle of Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they fought during the Battle of Loos, and the action at the Hohenzollern redoubt. William was killed during the initial assault, on 25 September 1915. He was only 17 years old, and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. William is also commemorated on the Great Western Railway Memorial at Crewe.

Charles Allen Rogers, Private, 57225, Welsh Regiment. Charles was born in 1887, the son of Henry James Rogers and Sarah Ann Rogers (nee Davies), of Mariner’s Square, Haverfordwest. He married Rose Harries in 1910, and the couple resided at 18, Bush Row, Haverfordwest. Charles enlisted at Swansea into the 7th (Cyclist) Battalion, Welsh Regiment on 18 March 1915, and on 26 July 1916 landed in France, where he was posted to the 13th Battalion, Welsh Regiment which was attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December 1915 and had spent their first winter in the trenches near Armentieres. In June they marched south to the Somme, and famously captured Mametz Wood. Charles was part of a draft of reinforcements which helped rebuild the strength of the decimated battalion after it had been pulled from the Somme, and moved to Ypres to rebuild. Here they fought at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, and the Battle of Langemarck, which is where Charles was killed in action on 21 August 1917, aged 30. He has no known grave, and so is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Arthur Llewellyn Thomas, Sapper, 43178, Royal Engineers. Arthur was born in 1894, the only son of William Thomas and Martha Thomas (nee Charles), of 26, Dew Street, Haverfordwest. After leaving Haverfordwest Grammar School he enlisted in the town into the Royal Engineers, and was posted to the 75th Field Company, Royal Engineers, which was attached to the Guards Division. The Division was formed in France in August 1915, from the various Guards units that had been with other Divisions. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs Village. They remained here for the winter, and in March 1917 took part in the advance caused by the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Later that year they moved north to Ypres, taking up positions north of Boesinghe, on the Yser Canal. Arthur was killed during a trench raid on 3 July 1917, aged 23. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

James Douglas Tombs, Second Lieutenant, Border Regiment. James was born on 9 May 1890, the second son of James Tombs, M.A., and Mary Sanderson Tombs (nee Patterson), of Greenwood House, Fishguard. He was the grandson of Prebendary Joseph Tombs, Rector of Burton, Pembs, and of the late Thomas Patterson of Rock Ferry, Cheshire. James’ father was Headmaster of Haverfordwest Grammar School. James was educated at Haverfordwest, before entering Keble College, Oxford. He played for the 1st Rugby Football XV for three seasons and was also a member of the University Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps. Graduating B.A. in 1914, James became Assistant Master at Greenfield Preparatory School, Seaford. On 28 December 1914 he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant into the 7th Battalion, Border Regiment. The Battalion was part of 51 Brigade, 17th Division, and landed in France in July 1915. The Division spent the first few months in France holding the line South of Ypres, near Sanctuary Wood, and it was here that it had to withstand several German diversionary attacks, which were aimed at preventing the British reinforcing the besieged French Army at Verdun. James was wounded here on 13 January 1916 and treated at the 51st Field Ambulance before being evacuated to No. 2 General Hospital at St. Omer, where he sadly died of his wounds on 18 February 1916. The 25-year-old was buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery. His elder brother Joseph Tombs also fell.

Joseph Simpson McKenzie Tombs, Second Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery. Joseph was born on 18 November 1888, the eldest son of James Tombs, M.A., and Mary Sanderson Tombs (nee Patterson), of Greenwood House, Fishguard. He was the grandson of Prebendary Joseph Tombs, Rector of Burton, Pembs, and of the late Thomas Patterson of Rock Ferry, Cheshire. His father was Headmaster of Haverfordwest Grammar School. Joseph was educated at Haverfordwest and at Loretto, where he became a well-regarded athlete, playing for the cricket XI and the rugby XV. He then worked at Hale and Patterson, Liverpool, where he began a career as a journalist, being a regular contributor to Punch. At the outbreak of war Joseph enlisted into the ranks of the Liverpool Scottish but was quickly commissioned as Second Lieutenant into the 148th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, which was attached to the 30th Division. The Division moved to Larkhill in September 1915, then to Belgium, with Joseph being seriously wounded almost as soon as he got to the Front. He Died of Wounds on 11 September 1915, aged 26, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. His Commanding Officer wrote: ‘Universally popular with all ranks, very keen and very efficient, a man to be trusted at all times and in all places’. His younger brother James also fell.

Douglas Jonathan Rogers Wilson, Second Lieutenant, Welsh Regiment. Douglas was born in 1893, the son of James Wilson and Constance Ann Wilson (nee Powell), of 36, High Street, Haverfordwest. He was educated at Haverfordwest Grammar School before being commissioned as Second Lieutenant into the Welsh Regiment soon after the outbreak of war, and was posted to the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion had formed at Cardiff in September 1914, moving to Salisbury Plain to join 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The battalion embarked for France with the division on 18 July 1915, and the division moved to positions north of Loos in the Givenchy area, to begin trench initiation and training. The division then took part in a very costly diversionary attack here on 25 September 1915, intending to draw German attention away from the main assault at Loos. Douglas was killed in action during this disastrous assault on 25 September 1915. The 22-year-old has no known grave, and so is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.

Lewis Wilson, Captain, Essex Regiment. Lewis was born on 4 March 1884, the son of William Phillips Wilson, and of Margaret Elizabeth Wilson (nee Lewis), of Langdon Farm, Begelly. He was educated at Haverfordwest Grammar School prior to enlisting into the Royal Navy, but had emigrated to Canada prior to the war, after marrying Jessie Winifred Forrester on 7 June 1911. Lewis enlisted at Valcartier, Canada on 23 September 1914 into the 7th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. His next of kin was given as being his wife, who was living at Bank House, Milford Haven. Lewis was immediately promoted to Corporal, as he had six years prior service with the Kashar Light Horse and Royal Navy. Upon arriving in France in 1915, Lewis was commissioned Second Lieutenant into the Essex Regiment, and was posted to 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment, which was attached to 35 Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division. The Division had landed at Boulogne on 31 May 1915, and took over the line at Ploegsteert Wood. They then moved south and fought in the Battle of Loos, and the subsequent actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and remained there until March 1916. Lewis served as Adjutant from 15 July 1916. Sadly, Lewis was wounded, and was evacuated to the 2nd London General Hospital, where he died on 27 November 1916. Lewis was buried in Kensal Green (All Souls) Cemetery, London. His brother, William Clement Wilson, also fell during the war.

William Clement Wilson, Lieutenant, Worcestershire Regiment. William was born on 16 February 1887, the son of William Phillips Wilson and of Margaret Elizabeth Wilson (nee Lewis), of Langdon Farm, Begelly. He was educated at Haverfordwest Grammar School, before becoming an Insurance Clerk in London and resided at 50 Samos Road, Anerley, London prior to the war. William enlisted into the 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles), soon after the outbreak of war. The battalion was a Territorial Army battalion, which became a renowned Officer Training unit and upon mobilisation in August 1914 moved to the St. Albans area, attached to the 2nd London Division. On 28 October 1914 the Artists Rifles left the Division and moved to France, becoming established as an Officers Training Corps at Bailleul. William was then commissioned Second Lieutenant into the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 3 March 1915. The battalion was attached to 24 Brigade, 8th Division and had landed at Le Havre on 6 November 1914, seeing its first major action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and then at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in the spring of 1915. The battalion then saw further fighting at the Action of Bois Grenier. William was in command of a Platoon of Grenadiers, which were sent in to support the assault on the German trenches on 25 September 1915. The Germans counter-attacked, and the last that was known of William is that he was caught up in a bomb blast. He is officially recorded as missing presumed killed here on 25 September 1915, aged 26. However, a newspaper clipping of the time recorded that a German nurse had written to William’s parents, informing them that their son had been badly wounded and taken prisoner, and that he died in Hospital in Switzerland sometime after. If true, then the official details of his death were never corrected, and so today, William is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. His brother Lewis also fell.

Charles Rupert Woolcock, Private, 200131, Welsh Regiment. Charles was the son of James and Elizabeth Woolcock, of 2, Dark Street, Haverfordwest. He served with the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which had formed at Carmarthen during August, 1914 and had become attached to 159 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division moved to the Mediterranean, sailing from Devonport in July 1915 arriving at Mudros by 5 August 1915. From here they moved to Gallipoli, landing on 9 August, where it was caught up in a desperate assault against the Turkish positions, and spent the next few days in isolated pockets, fighting against a Turkish counter-attack. The Division remained here throughout the coming months, and suffered severe losses in manpower strength during the great November 1915 blizzard on Gallipoli, when its total strength was reduced to less than that of a full-strength Brigade. On 11 December 1915 the Division was evacuated to Mudros, and by 23 December 1915 were moved to Egypt. They remained on the Suez Canal Defences for the next twelve months, and in early 1917 moved into Palestine, where they remained for the duration of the war, fighting at the Battles of Gaza, and successfully capturing Jerusalem. Charles was killed in action during the Third Battle of Gaza, on 4 November 1917. He was 21 years old, and is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.