Marloes is situated 5 miles west of Milford Haven. It is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park , and the parish has 5 miles of mainland coastline accessible throughout by the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The parish, together with St Brides, constitutes the community of Marloes and St Brides, and there is a War Memorial in the form of a plain granite Cross which commemorates the memory of the men of the Parish who gave their lives during the Great War.

Marloes and St. Brides War Memorial

The Great War, 1914-1918

 

Jonathan Davies, Private, 26518, Welsh Regiment. Jonathan was the Son of Thomas and Phyllis Davies, of "Tree Hill Cottage," Murchin, Marloes. He enlisted at Haverfordwest into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was a regular Battalion stationed at India at the outbreak of war. They were recalled to Britain, and arrived at Plymouth on the 22nd December, before joining the 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Division formed in England between December 1914 and January 1915 from regular units returning from India, Singapore and Egypt. During January 1915 it moved to France, landing at Le Havre and moved to the Western Front, where it saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Ypres. Jonathan was killed in action at Ypres on the 25th May, 1915. He was only 17 years old, and has no known grave, and so he is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

William E. Devonald, Stoker 2nd Class, K/54833, Royal Navy. William was the Husband of Mary Devonald, of The Cottage, Marloes. He served in the Royal Navy, at H.M.S. Vivid, the Shore Establishment at Devonport. William was taken ill towards the end of the war, and died on the 9th November, 1918 aged 26. He is buried at Marloes (St. Peter) Churchyard.

The Honorable Cecil Edwardes, Captain, Scottish Horse & Tank Corps. Cecil was the Son of William Edwardes, 4th Baron Kensington and his wife Grace Elizabeth. He was the husband of Marie Louise Edwardes. Cecil had been commissioned into the Scottish Horse, but in 1916 had transferred to the newly formed Tank Corps. He served with 'H' Battalion, which took part in the opening of the Battle of Cambrai on the 20th November, 1917. Six tanks from H Battalion took Fontaine, four miles from Cambrai, bursting through the Cantaing Line and getting into the village half an hour before infantry of the Seaforth Highlanders and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from the 51st Division followed up and occupied it. Cecil was killed when his tank was knocked out during the initial advance that day. He was 41 years old, and has no known grave, and so he is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval.

William Thomas Edwards, Sergeant, 4003, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. William was born at Marloes. He had married prior to the war, and lived with his wife Margaret Nicholson Edwards, at 18, Harbour Road, Wigtown. William enlisted there into the 1/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, which formed at Dumfries during August, 1914, as part of the South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division. They moved to Camp at Bannockburn, near Stirling, where they joined the 155th Brigade, 52nd Division. Initially assigned to the defence of the Scottish coast, the Division moved to Gallipoli (less two of its artillery Brigades) arriving there by early July 1915. While moving from Scotland, the Division lost 210 officers and men killed, and another 224 injured, in a train crash near Gretna that involved the 1/7th Battalion, the Royal Scots. William was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 12th July, 1915. He was 46 years old, and is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

David Evans, Guardsman, 15047, Grenadier Guards. David was born at St. Brides, the Son of David and Alice Evans. He had moved to London prior to the war, living with his wife, Emma H. Evans, at 13, Havelock Road, West Kensington, London. He enlisted at Cardiff into the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, which was at Chelsea at the outbreak of war. They quickly joined the 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division, and on the 15th August, 1914 landed at Havre, before moving to positions near Mons, as part of the BEF. They fought at the Battle of Mons, and retreating southwards, fought at the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets, and at the Battle of the Marne where the German offensive was stopped. The Germans retreated north, and the BEF met them, fighting at the Battle of the Aisne. The 2nd Division were then moved to Flanders, where they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, when the German sweep through Flanders was stopped, and remained there throughout the first winter of the war. David was wounded in France, probably at Ypres, and had been transported back to Britain for treatment. He died here on the 23rd November, 1914 aged 23, and is buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.

John Thomas Folland, Private, 27458, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of James and Ellen Folland, of Murchin, Marloes, and the brother of William below. He enlisted at Milford Haven into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was a regular Battalion stationed at India at the outbreak of war. They were recalled to Britain, and arrived at Plymouth on the 22nd December, before joining the 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Division formed in England between December 1914 and January 1915 from regular units returning from India, Singapore and Egypt. During January 1915 it moved to France, landing at Le Havre and moved to the Western Front, where it saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Ypres. Following serious casualties at Ypres, a Composite Brigade was formed, composing of the 2nd Battalion, the Buffs, 2nd Battalion, the Cheshire's, 1st Battalion, the Welsh, and 1st Battalion, the York and Lancaster. It was dissolved on the 19th May 1915, and the formation assumed its normal configuration, taking part in the Battle of Loos. John was killed in action at Loos on the 2nd October, 1915. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Loos Memorial, France.

William Folland, Corporal, 8501, Welsh Regiment. William was the Son of James and Ellen Folland, of Murchin, Marloes, and the brother of John above. William enlisted at Haverfordwest into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 3rd 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 in action at Loos, a week before his brother John. He was 31 years old, and is remembered on the Loos Memorial, France.

George Henry Griffiths, Private, 19475, Welsh Regiment. George was the Son of James Griffiths, of Marloes, and he enlisted at Milford Haven into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was at India at the outbreak of war. They were recalled to Britain, and arrived at Plymouth on the 22nd December, before joining the 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Division formed in England between December 1914 and January 1915 from regular units returning from India, Singapore and Egypt. During January 1915 it moved to France, landing at Le Havre and moved to the Western Front, where it saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Ypres. George was killed in action at Ypres on the 25th May, 1915. He was 26 years old, and has no known grave, and so he is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Ewart Edmund (Ted) Lewis, M.M., Sergeant, 91747, Royal Field Artillery. Ted served with the Royal Field Artillery, in "C" Battery, 177th Brigade. Ted was killed in action during the opening day of the German Spring Offensive on the Somme, on the 21st March, 1918. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Ted had gained the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field during his time at war, but the exact details of why he earned this award are unknown.

Albert Ernest Owen, Private, 53918, Welsh Regiment. Albert was the Son of James and Mary Owen, of Marloes, and enlisted into the 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 114th 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, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The attack on the wood began on the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. The Division suffered terrible casualties at Mametz, and were taken out of the line, and moved to Ypres to rebuild. Albert was wounded at Ypres, and died on the 30th April, 1917. He was 30 years old, and is buried at Ferme-Olivier Cemetery, Belgium.

Albert Edward Pearce, Sapper, 67333, Royal Engineers. Albert was born at Wandsworth, and prior to the war had moved to Marloes, where he lived with his wife Eunice Pearce, at Marloes. Albert enlisted at Haverfordwest into the Royal Engineers, and served with their 151st Field Company, which was attached to the 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, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The attack on the wood began on the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. Albert was wounded at Mametz, and evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly in the Somme Valley, where he died of wounds on the 14th July, 1916. He was 25 years old, and is buried there, at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe.