The Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, as the name suggests, was the Militia Regiment of the County of Pembrokeshire. It's origins began way back in 1794, when five independent troops were raised in West Wales; the Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry, Carmarthen Yeomanry Cavalry, Pembroke Yeomanry Cavalry, Narberth Yeomanry Cavalry and Haverfordwest Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1797, The Pembroke Yeomanry was to gain the distinction of having the only Battle Honour in the British Army to be won on home soil. The Honour, 'Fishguard', was gained when they famously repelled a small French landing force near the Town. They also went on to gain further distinction in the South African War, when they formed part of the Imperial Yeomanry, against the Boer's. This page is primarily intended to remember the part the Pembroke Yeomanry played in the Great War, of 1914-1918, and all information below is relevant to this part of their distinguished History.

The Great War

PEMBROKE YEOMANRY (Castlemartin)

‘Egypt, 1916-17’

‘Palestine, 1917-18’

‘France and Flanders, 1918’

In the years leading up the outbreak of War, the Pembroke Yeomanry had been transferred to the Territorial Force, with its H.Q. at Tenby, constituting the Yeomanry for Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire & Cardiganshire. The Regiment was distributed as below-

A Squadron at Tenby (Detachments at Pembroke, St. Florence, Manorbier, Kilgetty and Templeton)

B Squadron at Haverfordwest (Detachments at Clarbeston Road, Newgale and Fishguard)

C Squadron at Carmarthen (Detachments at Whitland, Llanelli, Llandeilo, Llangadock, Pantglas and Llandovery)

D Squadron at Lampeter (Detachments at Aberystwyth, Tregaron, Llandyssul and Llanybydder)

The early part of August 1914 saw the Pembroke Yeomanry form at ‘home', at Penally Camp, near Tenby. Men from all over West Wales had been called to the colours in view of the outbreak of War, and the Camp was a hive of activity. Three Battalions were formed throughout the war.

1/1st Pembroke Yeomanry.

On the 4th August, 1914 were stationed at Tenby, attached to the South Wales Mounted Brigade. On the 12th August the Brigade concentrated at Hereford, and moved at the end of August to the Thetford area, joining the 1st Mounted Division. Their next move was to the Aylsham area, with the Regiment billeted at Haveringham and Heydon. During October 1915 they were at the Cromer area. During November 1915 the Battalion was dismounted, and in March 1916 sailed for Egypt, where the South Wales Mounted Brigade became absorbed in the 4th Dismounted Brigade. On the 2nd February, 1917 the Battalion merged with the 1/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry, and formed the 24th (Pembroke and Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion, Welsh Regiment in 231st Brigade, 74th Division. The Division fought throughout the Palestinian Campaign, where they were part of the force under General Allenby that liberated Jerusalem during December, 1917. During May 1918 the Battalion moved to France and remained here until the end of the war in 74th Division.

2/1st Pembroke Yeomanry.

Formed during 1914, and early in 1915 were at Carmarthen in 2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade, then moving to Llandeilo and Dorchester. In September 1915 the Brigade moved to the Yoxford area, joining 1st Mounted Division. In 1916 the brigade became the 4th Mounted Brigade. During July 1916 they became a cyclist unit in 2nd Cyclist Brigade, 1st Cyclist Division. In November 1916 the Division was broken up, and with the 2/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry formed the 2nd (Pembroke and Glamorgan) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment, in 1st Cyclist Brigade. In March 1917 the Battalion resumed identity, now at Aldeburgh, and by July 1917 was at Benacre. By the end of the year the Battalion was at Lowestoft where it remained in 1st Cyclist Brigade.

3/1st Pembroke Yeomanry.

Formed in 1915 at Carmarthen, and then moved to Brecon. In the Summer of 1915 the Battalion was affiliated to a reserve Cavalry Regiment in Ireland. During the Summer of 1916 the Battalion was dismounted and attached to the 3rd Line Groups of the Welsh Division at Oswestry. Early in 1917 it was disbanded, and the personnel moved to the 2nd Line unit and 4th (Reserve) Battalion Welsh Regiment at Milford Haven.

Below is a photo showing a group of Troopers, mainly from around the Llanddowror area. Thanks to Ashley Burland for the photograph, which shows his Grandfather on the extreme right of the photograph. In the right of centre, with a dark waistcoat, is my Great Uncle, John James John of Laugharne. John was later killed in action during the Battle of Epehy whilst serving with the 24th Welsh, and is buried at Unicorn Cemetery. His elder brother David was my Great Grandfather, and was killed in action at Pozieres, whilst serving with the 4th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.


Below is a roll of the men of the Pembroke Yeomanry who were killed during the course of the Great War. Some of these men were killed with other units, who they had transferred to after the disbanding of the Regiment in Egypt. The greater part of these men remained with the Battalion as part the 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment.

Rank Name Battalion
Sapper Bennett, Thomas Lewis Royal Engineers- 174th Tunneling Coy
Private Bevan, H L Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Branfield, Sydney Ernest Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Corporal Brown, Hubert Reginald Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Byron, William Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Casey, William Hampshire Regiment- 1st Battalion
Lieutenant Clemetson, David Louis Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Cole, Thomas George Cheshire Regiment- 11th Battalion
Lance Corporal Cole, Victor James, MSM. Royal Engineers- Railways
Private Cook, Thomas Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Corbett, William George Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private Cosgrove, J Pembroke Yeomanry
Lance Corporal Cox, Harry Percival Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Davies, John Cynfyn Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
CQMS Davies, John Jenkin Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Corporal Davies, Robert Thomas Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Davies, Samuel Pembroke Yeomanry
Lance Corporal Davies, Thomas Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Serjeant Davies, Watkin Jones Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Davies, William Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Dawson, David John Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Lieutenant De Rutzen, Baron Alan Frederick James Pembroke Yeomanry
Corporal Evans, David Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
C.Q.M.S. Evans, Evan Charles Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Evans, Henry Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private Evans, Reginald Charles Wilfred Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 2nd Battalion
Serjeant Evans, William Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Trooper Foxwell, Thomas W. Pembroke Yeomanry-1/1st Battalion
Private George, Hubert Thomas Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Glanville, Hugh Slader Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Corporal Griffiths, David George Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Griffiths, Evan Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Guilfoyle, Francis Arthur De Montmerenzie Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Hall, Frederick Charles Lancashire Fusiliers- 2nd Battalion
Corporal Hallam, Edward Douglas Maine Pembroke Yeomanry-2/1st Battalion
Private Hamer, William Charles Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private Harries, John Clarke Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Lance Corporal Harries, Seth John Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Harrington, Henry Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Major Higgon, John Arthur Pembroke Yeomanry
Captain Hoare, Reginald Arthur Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Howard, Victor Ballard East Yorkshire Regiment- 1st Battalion
Private Hughes, William John Cheshire Regiment- 11th Battalion
Private Hurlow, Albert Arthur Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 11th Battalion
Private Jackson, William Connaught Rangers- 3rd Battalion
Private James, George Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private Jenkins, David Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
CSM Jenkins, Edwin Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private John, Bertie Lancashire Fusiliers- 18th Battalion
Private John, David Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private John, John Henry Pembroke Yeomanry
Private John, John James Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private John, William Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private John, William Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, David Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Jones, David Aaron Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Lance Corporal Jones, David Robert Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, Evan Lloyd Durham Light Infantry- 1/6th Battalion
Private Jones, Evan Richard Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, Frank Egerton Royal Army Service Corps
Private  Jones, Henry Pembroke Yeomanry-1st Battalion
Private Jones, John Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, Moses Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, Thomas Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, Thomas John Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Jones, W Pembroke Yeomanry
Lieutenant Karslake, William Reginald Pembroke Yeomanry
Captain Lambton, Edward (L) Pembroke Yeomanry
Private  Last, E Pembroke Yeomanry-2/1st Battalion
Private Lewis, Thomas Richard East Yorkshire Regiment- 1st Battalion
Private Little, Walter Charles Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Llewellyn, Wilfred Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Llewhellin, John Austin Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Lloyd, David Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Marsh, Bertie Durham Light Infantry- 1/6th Battalion
Private Morgan, James Clifford Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment- 2nd Battalion
Private Nethercott, Edward Sydney Durham Light Infantry- 1/6th Battalion
Private Phelps, Peter Thomas Pembroke Yeomanry-1/1st Battalion
Lance Corporal Phillips, James Howell Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Phillips, John Evan Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Postings, Hubert Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Prosser, Charles Baddam Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Boy Rafferty, Bernard Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Rees, Albert Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Rees, David Roderick Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 11th Battalion
Private Rees, George Ernest Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private Reid, Charles Richard Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 1st Battalion
Pioneer Richards, Frederick John Royal Engineers- Railways
Corporal Richards, Maldwyn Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Richardson, John Royal Dublin Fusiliers- 6th Battalion
Private Roberts, Morley Pembroke Yeomanry
Captain Roch, George Powell Pembroke Yeomanry-attd 1st Battalion KSLI
Lance Corporal Saer, David Charles Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Scott, Robert Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Scourfield, Benjamin David Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Smith, Gilbert James Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Smith, William Arthur Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Southgate, Frederick Welsh Regiment- 2nd Battalion
Private Speke, Harold Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 1st Battalion
Private Thomas, David John Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Thomas, David Lewis Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Thomas, David Lewis Lancashire Fusiliers- 2/7th Battalion
Private Thomas, David Morgan Tank Corps
Private Thomas, David Richard Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Thomas, Evan Welsh Regiment-13th Battalion
Lance Corporal Thomas, John James Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Thomas, John Samuel Labour Corps-805th Employment Company
Private Thomas, Thomas James Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
Private Thomas, William Pembroke Yeomanry-1/1st Battalion
Private Treharne, Thomas Trevor Welsh Regiment- 9th Battalion
Private Williams, Arthur Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 16th Battalion
Private Williams, David Welsh Regiment- 24th Battalion
2nd Lieutenant Williams, Hugh Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Williams, James Pembroke Yeomanry-1/1st Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Williams, O H S Pembroke Yeomanry
Private Williams, Sidney James Royal Welsh Fusiliers- 4th Battalion
Private Williams, William Owen Pembroke Yeomanry

One of many famous sons of the Pembroke Yeomanry was Major Stewart Loudon-Shand, who had served with the Regiment during the Boer War as a Corporal. He was commissioned into the Green Howards and won the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry, on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July, 1916, at Fricourt. On the 1st July 1916, near Fricourt, France, Major Loudoun-Shand's company attempted to climb over the parapet to attack the enemy's trenches. They were met by very fierce machine-gun fire which temporarily stopped their progress. The major immediately leapt on the parapet, helped the men over it and encouraged them in every way until he was mortally wounded. Even then, he insisted on being propped up in the trench and went on encouraging his men until he died. He was buried in Becordel-Becourt Military Cemetery.



Captain George Powell Roch was the son of the late William Roch, of Butterhill, Pembrokeshire. His Grandfather was the M.P., Walter R.H. Powell, of Maesgwynne, Whitland, and he was married to Muriel Roch, of 33, Draycott Place, London. George had transferred into the 1st Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, which formed part of the 16th Brigade, 6th Division. This Division was trying to stem the German Offensive in Flanders in 1918, when George was killed in action, on the 21st May, 1918, aged 43. He was buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Ieper.


Corporal Robert Thomas Davies, Army Number 36413, was born at Holywell and enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. At some time he transferred into the Pembroke Yeomanry, and Died of Sickness at home aged just 24, on the 5th November, 1918. He was buried in Holywell, but an alternative headstone has been erected to him at Bodelwyddan Churchyard in North Wales.