Above is a photo-postcard depicting the unveiling ceremony of the Memorial. This is one of a series of photographs which were used in the memorial booklet, a transcription of which is below.
FOREWORD
As no record of the Pembrokeshire South African War Memorial has appeared, I have compiled the following account in the hope that it may prove of interest locally, and also to strangers visiting Haverfordwest.
I am indebted to Mr. W. G. Eaton Evans, Hon. Sec. of the Memorial Committee, for permission to publish extracts from its minutes ; to the Proprietors of the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph and Pembrokeshire Herald newspapers for allowing me to reprint the passages indicated; to the late lamented editor of the Archaeologia Cambrensis (Mr. Romilly Allen, F.S.A.) for his consent to my publishing extracts from his article on “The Cross of Irbic,” in the Archaeologia Cambrensis, of July, 1904; to Mr. Thomas Lewis James, of Haverfordwest, for information as to the site of the Memorial; to the Lord Bishop of St. David’s for the words of his Prayer at its unveiling, and to the Curator of the Cardiff Museum (Mr. John Ward, F.S.A.) for permission to give a plate from a photograph of the cast of “The Cross of Irbic,” which is in the Museum.
March, 1908. THE COMPILER.
The Pembrokeshire South
African War Memorial
ON the 28th of February, 1903, a public meeting, convened by Earl Cawdor, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, was held in the Shire Hall, Haverfordwest, to consider the arrangements to be made for the erection of a Memorial to Pembrokeshire men who lost their lives in active service during the South African campaign.
EARL CAWDOR said:
It had been represented to him that there was a wish that a Memorial of an appropriate kind should be erected to the memory of those Pembrokeshire men who died in South Africa during the war, either in action or from disease. He thought they would all agree with him that they could not, that day, go into the details of the matter, though, if anyone had a suggestion to make, he was sure they would be glad to hear it. He thought the best course would be to ascertain whether there was a feeling that such a Memorial was desired, and then, if that was so, to invite ladies and gentlemen to join a committee to raise subscriptions and carry out the work. They could not, of course, decide what form the Memorial should take until they knew what amount of money could be raised. They would surely have to cut their coat according to their cloth; but he thought they would have no difficulty in getting sufficient money to put up a proper and suitable Memorial to those whose good services they wished to record for posterity. . . One of those who suggested that meeting was his good friend, the High Sheriff, and as he was responsible for the meeting in the first instance, he would ask him to address them now.
The HIGH SHERIFF (Henry Owen, D.C.L. Oxon., F.S.A.), in moving a resolution affirming that it was desirable that a Memorial should be erected to Pembrokeshire men who lost their lives in the late war, said it had not been their custom to erect a Memorial to those of whom they had good reason to be proud. There was no public monument to the member of a Pembrokeshire house who fell at Waterloo, nor was there one in this town to the Elizabethan statesman who was its greatest benefactor. He was glad to see they were inaugurating a new departure. They were called upon to erect a Memorial to Pembrokeshire men who, in the good old phrase, laid down their lives for Queen and Country in South Africa. That great war had been brought to a conclusion, and he thought the consequence would be more important than any ever waged by the British Empire. It was the least they could do, and he thought also their bounden duty, to take care that the names and services of those who gave their lives for us should be recorded in some desirable Memorial. The form the Memorial should take would be a matter for future consideration, and also the place where it should be erected. If he might express an individual opinion, he would say that the proper place for a County Memorial was the County Town. He had great pleasure in moving the resolution.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
It was proposed by MR. EDWARD LAWS, F.S.A., and seconded by MR. A. W. J. STOKES, that a committee be appointed to collect subscriptions and to arrange for the erection of such Memorial, and that the following be invited to serve on the committee, with power to add to their number: —Earl Cawdor, Dr. Henry Owen, F.S.A., Sir C. E. G. Philipps, Bart., Mr. J. B, Bowen, Mr. John Worthington, Colonel M. J. Saurin, Mr. F. Lort Phillips, Mr. G. P. Brewer, the Archdeacon of St. David’s, Lady Kensington, Sir O. H. P. Scourfield, Bart., Mr. J. W. Philipps, M.P., Mr. Edward Laws, F.S,A., Colonel Meyrick, C.B., Mr. J. V. Colby, Mr. H. Seymour Allen, Colonel W. R. Roberts, Mr. Percy Arden, Mr. C. W. Rees Stokes. Mr. W. G. Eaton Evans was asked and consented to act as Hon. Secretary.
At a meeting of the Memorial Committee, held on the 18th of April, 1903, it was arranged to ask the following gentlemen to allow their names to be added to the Committee: —Lord Kensington, D.S.O., Sir Marteine Lloyd, Colonel Mirehouse, C.M.G., Mr. A. P. Saunders Davies, Captain R. V. Lloyd Philipps, M.V.O., Mr. G. D. Harries, the Mayors of the Boroughs, and the Chairmen of the several Urban District Councils in the County.
It was decided to call the Memorial “The Pembrokeshire South African War Memorial.”
At a meeting of the Memorial Committee, held on the 30th of May, 1903, the following resolution was proposed by COLONEL ROBERTS and seconded by MR. EDWARD LAWS and carried unanimously:—” That the Pembrokeshire Memorial take the form of a monument in a prominent position in Haverfordwest, and that the Town Council be asked to grant a site in one of the main thoroughfares of the town.’’
It was moved by COLONEL ROBERTS and seconded by D HENRY OWEN that Dr. Griffiths be added to the Committee.
The Corporation of Haverfordwest, on being applied to, readily consented to the erection of the monument on the site of the Old Guild Hall, an open triangular piece of ground at the top of High Street, with the east end of St. Mary’s Church as the background.
The building which for many centuries occupied the site of the War Memorial was known by the several names of Guildhall, Council House, and Shire Hall. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Justices of the Great Sessions for the County of Pembroke began their business on the Castle Green, or outer Court of the Castle (which is in the County of Pembroke); all warrants and writs were dated at the Castle. There all judgments upon life and death were given, all fines proclaimed, and all adjournments made; but for want of a convenient Court House, the Justices were obliged to sit in the Guildhall. Some doubts seem to have arisen as to the legality of this practice, and steps were taken by the Town to remove them. The second Charter granted by James I. to Haverford empowered the Justices of Great Sessions, Sheriffs, and justices of Pembrokeshire to hold their Courts in the Guildhall of Haverford; and all acts done by them there were to have the same legal force and effect as if done within the limits of the County of Pembroke. Persons attending these Courts were exempted from the jurisdiction of the Mayor and Sheriff of Haverford. This arrangement for the use of the Guildhall came to an end on the erection, in 1835, of the present Shire Hall. The right to use the Shire Hall in the same manner as the Guildhall had theretofore been used by both counties was assured to Haverford authorities, who had expended £1,000 in providing convenient access to the Shire Hall. The Guildhall was removed to widen and improve the street, a considerable part of its site being (as above stated) utilised for the War Memorial and its enclosure.
At a meeting of the Committee, held on the 26th of September, 1903, it was resolved that a sub-committee be appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen : —Mr. Laws, Dr. Owen, Dr. Griffiths, and the Mayor of Haverfordwest (Mr. T. L. James).
The Sub-committee, at the suggestion of the late Mr. Romilly Allen, F.S.A. (editor of the Archaeologia Cambrensis), instructed Mr. Arthur G. Langdon, of Launceston, Cornwall, to draw designs, and Mr. Langdon advised that the execution of the work should be entrusted to Mr. J. Nicholls, of Launceston.
It was decided that the Cross should be a copy of the Cross of Irbic at Llandough, a village near Cardiff.
“This Cross is quite unlike most of the monuments of the same period (probably ninth century) in Wales, or indeed in any other part of Great Britain and Ireland. The architectural features of the design here assume a prominence not to be found elsewhere. When the Cross was perfect, the design must have consisted of three parts—namely, (1) the head, (2) the shaft, and (3) the pedestal. The ornament on it is of three kinds— namely, (1) interlaced work, (2) key-patterns, (3) figure subjects. The latter are confined to the four faces of the base of the pedestal of the Cross. There is nothing in the figures themselves or their grouping to give any clue to their meaning. The man on horseback on the west face is the most remarkable, and the only thing of a similar kind which occurs in Wales is on the base of the great Wheel-Cross of Conbelin, at Margam, Glamorganshire.’’ it has been suggested that, in each case, the horseman was intended for Christ.
I understand from Dr. Henry Owen that as the head of the Llandough Cross is missing, that of the Memorial was designed by the late Mr. Romilly Allen from what he conjectured it had been; so the Memorial, besides commemorating those who died for their country, should keep green the memory of a distinguished Pembrokeshire antiquarian. Churchmen will appreciate he fact of the base of the Memorial having been laid in its place on the Festival of St. Luke, when they remember the “great influence which he has had upon Christian art, of which, in a real sense, he may he called the founder.”
The stone of which the Cross is made comes from Polyphant, a Cornish village. The flight of steps which it surmounts are of Forest of Dean stone, the work of Mr. Harvard, monumental mason, of Haverfordwest.
The pedestal is inscribed: — On the East side
“This Memorial was raised in grateful memory of Pembrokeshire Men, who gave their lives for the Empire during the South African War, 1899—1902.”
On the North side:
WILLIAM, 5th Baron Kensington, Capt., 2nd Life Guards.
LAMBTON, A. F., Capt., 71st H.L.I.
MEYRICK, ST. JOHN, Capt., 75th G.H.
LAMBTON, R. R., Lieut., 68th D.L.I.
WHICHER, S., M.B. London, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
REES, B. SKONE, Lance.-Corpl., 5th Dragoon Guards.
RICHARDS, J., Bomdr., 81st Batt. R.F.A.
SKONE. G. H., Gunner, R.G.A.
ROBINSON. S. J., Pte.. R.G.A.
GRIFFITHS, T., Pte., Grenadier Guards.
NICHOLAS, J., Pte., Grenadier Guards.
THOMAS, EVAN, Pte., Grenadier Guards.
On the West side
JONES, F. W., Pte., 2nd Scots Guards.
LEWIS, J., Corpl., 32nd D.C.L.I.
SAMBROOK, D. J., Colr,-Sergt., 41st W.R.
DAVIES, J. J., Sergt., 1st Batt, 41st W.R.
REES, W. J., Sergt., 1st V. Batt. Welsh Regt.
LOCKWOOD, E., Sergt., 2nd Batt. 51st K.O.Y.L.I.
POWELL, J., Pte., 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade.
SPAN, E. G. M., Trooper, Cape Mounted Rifles.
MORRIS, G. A., Trooper, S.A. Constabulary.
THOMAS, J., Trooper, Prince of Wales’ L.H.
JOHN, GEORGE, A.B., H.M.S. Powerful.
On the South side
Pembroke Imperial Yeomanry.
EDWARD, D. CROPPER, Col.
TIPLING, J., O.M.S.
WILLIAMS, R. P., Farr.-Sergt.
PROTHEROE, F. S., Sergt.
WILLIAMS, G., Corpl.-Farr.
JONES, S., Corpl.
Troopers.
BULLIN, L. G. HYDE, W. C. ROGERS, R. P.
CORNISH, G. JAMES, C. H. SUMMERS, A. B.
CRAPPER, A. JAMES, T. L. THOMAS, G. S.
EVANS, S. M. LEWIS, F. J. WEBB, E. R.
FRANKS, E. A. RICHARDS, E. WINSTONE, C.
The railings and dwarf wall which surround the Memorial were put up by Perrott’s Trustees, who also laid out the plot of ground on which the Memorial stands.
UNVEILING OF THE MEMORIAL.
21St OCTOBER, 1904.
Early on Friday afternoon the different contingents representing the Army commenced to assemble for the ceremony, and lined the open space on which the memorial, which was draped in a Welsh Red Dragon flag, had been erected. The representatives of the Imperial Yeomanry included: Major O. H. S. Williams, Second-Lieut. D. Davies Evans, Second-Lieut. W. G. S. Morris, Sergeant Majors Yarrow, Willmott, and 88 troopers. They were all on foot. The detachment of the 1st Shropshire Regiment from Pembroke Dock consisted of 25 privates, and the Regimental Band and buglers (under the leader ship of Bandmaster Harry Moss and Bugler-Sergeant Gray). Major Williams was in command, and the other officers present were: Colonel Dawkins, Captain and Adjutant Robinson, Major Wilkinson, and Lieut. Groves. The 1st V.B. Welsh Regiment was represented by 50 men selected from the different companies, and the following officers were present: —Captain and Adjutant Ronaldson, Major T. P. George, Captain W. J. Jones, Captain R. H. Treweeks, Lieuts. W. Marshall George, and W. Campbell Jones, Surgeon-Captain Lloyd, Chaplain Archdeacon G. C. Hilbers, and Sergeant-Major Cook (Haverfordwest). There were also present twenty men and one officer of the Royal Garrison Artillery, and ten men and a non-commissioned officer of the Royal Engineers. Among the others present in uniform were Sir O. H. P. Scourfield, Bart., Hon. Colonel of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, Colonel Mirehouse, Colonel W. R. Roberts and Colonel Ivor Philipps. The band took up a position in the centre of the enclosure, and whiled away the interval of waiting for the arrival of the procession by playing a selection of music. In the meantime the public had gathered in very large numbers, and every available spot from which a view of the ceremony could be obtained was occupied. The windows of all the houses in the vicinity were filled, whilst a number of persons occupied a grand stand in front of St. Mary’s church, and others were even perched on the roof of that edifice.
By three o’clock, those who were taking a leading part in the ceremony had assembled in the Council Chamber just opposite, and about that hour they emerged in the rain in procession and in the following order: —Lord Kensington; High Sheriff of the County (Mr. Owen Philipps); Bishop of St. David’s; Lord—Lieutenant of Haverfordwest (Sir Charles Philipps), Lord Cawdor, and Mr. Wynford Phillipps. M.P.: Colonel Walker (commanding Severn Defences), Baron de Rutzen; Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of the County (Dr. Henry Owen), Mayor of Haverfordwest (Mr. J. H. Bishop), Mayor of Pembroke (Mr. W. H. Griffiths); Mayor of Tenby (Mr. George Chiles), High Sheriff of Haverfordwest (Mr. T. M. Phillips), officers in uniform, Memorial Committee, aldermen and councillors of Haverfordwest. Others present included Dean Smith, of St. David’s; Dr. G. Griffiths, Chairman of the County Council; and Alderman G. P. Brewer, Archdeacon Williams, and many prominent people of the county.
After they had taken up their positions near the cross, the Lord Bishop of St. David’s offered up the following prayer:
O Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Resurrection and the Life in Whom whosoever believeth shall live though he die, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Him shall not die eternally; We bless Thy holy Name for the courage and devotion of our brethren from this country, who endured the hardships of war even unto death in the service of their Sovereign and their country. Give us grace O Lord to follow their good example of seeking always the advancement of Thy Kingdom and the honour of our Sovereign, and as much as in us lies the good of our country and of all mankind.
We heartily thank Thee O Lord for that Thou hast vouchsafed to return to our country the blessings of peace, and we humbly beseech Thee of Thy great mercy to look with pity upon those nations that are now engaged in war, and to grant them peace, and we commend to Thy Fatherly goodness all those who are wounded and are in sorrow. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Advocate and Mediator.—Amen.
LORD KENSINGTON then delivered a short address, in the course which he said that before asking Lord Cawdor to unveil the memorial, he would like to say a few words as to its origin. Soon after peace was declared, other places began to erect memorials, and Pembrokeshire was not far behindhand in the matter. A meeting was held, at which the Lord Lieutenant was in the chair, and it was agreed to erect a memorial. A Committee was appointed, and they had successfully carried out the work. After describing who had done the work, he said the cost had been £480, towards which £430 had been already subscribed. He was quite sure they would not be long in collecting the remaining amount. He added that the Committee thought that the cross, the emblem of the Christian religion, was a fitting memorial to those men belonging to us who died in South Africa. He asked Earl Cawdor to unveil the memorial.
COLONEL WALKER also added a few words, in the course of which he said the memorial was to men who died to build up an Imperial Country.
LORD CAWDOR then advanced to the front, and before unveiling the memorial he said he accepted with great pleasure the invitation which had been given to him. The memorial had been contributed to by all classes throughout the county— by every town and village. To many of those present no memorial was needed to bring to their minds those whose good service and sell-sacrifice were well known to them all, and the memory of whose works would ever dwell, revered and beloved, in their hearts. But it was right that we should raise this memorial, simple but good of its kind, just to remind those who came after us that it was their duty to follow in the steps of those to whom this memorial was raised—to give their service uncomplainingly wherever it might be needed, and if need be to follow the steps of those whom they were that day commemorating. They were men of every rank and class who gave their lives ungrudgingly at the country’s call and in their country’s need.
EARL CAWDOR then unveiled the memorial, the whole of the troops in the meanwhile being called to “ Atten tion.” The splendid bugle band of the Shropshires sounded the “ Salute.” The band played ‘ Hen WIad fy Nliadau,” and the buglers sounded “Last Post.” His Lordship then said it was now for him to ask Sir Charles Phiiipps, as Lord Lieutenant of Haverfordwest, and the Mayor and Corporation to take over the custody and care of this memorial. (Applause.)
SIR CHARLES PHILIPPS, in responding, said he had great pleasure, on behalf of his brother magistrates, the deputy lord lieutenants, and the inhabitants of the town and county, in conjunction with the Mayor, in accepting the sacred office which had been committed to their trust. It had been said it was a sweet and pleasant thing to die for one’s country. He believed that, but he also believed that young and noble lives, freely given for their country, by that very act showed what deeds they might have accomplished for their country had they lived. It was a great sacrifice on the part of those parents and friends who had lost some of their noblest and best, and he felt, therefore, they could not do less than commemorate the memory of such men as those, and perpetuate their names in that ancient and loyal county. It was to him a sacred office, and one he hoped long as he lived he would faithfully discharge, and he accepted on their behalf the custody of this beautiful cross, which reminded them of the great and noble fallen, and which, if the need arose, would be an incentive to others to follow in the footsteps of those they thus honoured.
THE MAYOR OF HAVERFORD\VEST (Mr. J. H. Bishop) said it gave him the greatest satisfaction to be there that afternoon and take possession of that beautiful cross on behalf of the Mayor, the Corporation and burgesses of Haverfordwest. He was sure the whole county had shown its sympathy with those who had lost relatives in South Africa. At the time these young men volunteered for service this country was in great need of them, and they responded nobly to their country’s call. He hoped there would be never such another occasion, but if there was he hoped they would still have the same motto “ For King and Country.” (Applause.) In conclusion he said it would be a great pleasure to the Corporation to cherish and protect the cross. (Applause.)
The band then played the National Anthem, and the proceedings terminated.
AFTERWORD
A PILGRIM to St. David’s, arriving at Haverfordwest and making his way to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, which he must not fail to visit, will notice in Salutation Square (name happily suggestive of the courteous people amongst whom he has come) a Memorial of the Diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria, originally intended for the refreshment of man, as well as beast.
Ascending the High Street, he will presently see the Cross which has been described in the foregoing pages, and as he does so, may, perhaps, like the writer, be reminded of Twidle’s suggestive picture, “ My grace is sufficient for thee,” a copy of which was distributed with Home Words, of January, 1906. If so, as a reproduction of “The Happy Warrior” of Watts is said to have kindled the imaginations of the soldiers at Pretoria, so may this beautiful Celtic Cross “all good thoughts stir within him.”
And yet. he may complain that a better site was not selected for the Memorial. If this be so, let him imagine that the bodies of those whose names are inscribed thereon have been brought home to rest beneath the shade of the finest Church in their County Town. Should he object that there is not sufficient contrast between the colour of the Memorial and that of the fabric in front of which it has been erected, may he remember that the thought of The Church is inextricably blended with that of The Cross.
If, whilst reasoning thus, he hears the Voice of the Cross, unveiled upon the ninety anniversary of Trafalgar Day, bidding him ever be mindful of his “Duty,” and like Dante in the Heaven of Mars, seems to see “souls in light move and pass upon the limbs of the Cross uttering divine melody and singing songs of Victory,” instead of cavilling at the site, he will rather bless the Hand which, guiding him to the Shrine of Pembrokeshire’s “Sons of the Empire,” has cut deep into his soul
“Great thoughts, grave thoughts,
Thoughts lasting to the end.”