The ancient Town of Pembroke dates back to the 11th Century, when the first castle was built. Over the centuries the castle was updated and expanded to become the great structure that can be seen today- the birthplace of Henry Tudor. What more fitting a place is it then to have the War Memorial to the men of the town who lost their lives during both World Wars sited at the entrance to this magnificent fortress. This granite obelisk stands on the green, by the entrance to the castle, and contains the men of the Parishes of St Mary and St Michael in Pembroke and also of the Monkton men who died. Many thanks again to Les Nixon for supplying the excellent photographs of the War Memorial. This page commemorates the men of the area who died during World War Two. The three sections of the memorial are listed seperately in alphabetical order, so please scroll down to see them all.

Pembroke and Monkton War Memorial

World War Two, 1939-1945

Monkton

 

William George Brickle, Canteen Manager, C/NX 195, Royal Naval Canteen Service. William was the Son of William and Sarah Brickle, of Monkton, and the husband of Mary Margaret Annie Brickle, of Goodwick, Pembrokeshire. He served with the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Walney. Walney was a former US Coastguard utter, which had been leased to the Royal Navy. She had served on the Atlantic Convoys early in the war, under the command of Western Approaches Command, and was nominated for special duties during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. Her task was to break into Oran harbour, so she sailed from the Clyde on 26 October 1942, as part of the escort for the military convoy MKF-1 to Gibraltar. On arrival in November, she embarked troops to carry out a landing inside the harbour. The operation commenced on 8 November 1942, but rapidly ran into trouble, when Walney came under heavy fire from shore defences, and rammed the outer, and then the inner booms, causing her to sink after being struck by shells from the French sloop La Surprise. Over 80 of her crew and most of the troops being carried went down with the ship. William was one of the men killed aboard Walney on 8 November 1942. He was 33 years old, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. He is also commemorated on the Goodwick Memorial.

Eric Brock, Lance Corporal, 2008307, Royal Engineers. Eric was the Son of William and Elizabeth Ann Brock, and the husband of Lucy May Brock, of Pembroke. He served with 284 Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers, which was an armoured assault unit. Eric landed on the Normandy Beaches in June 1944, and took part in the break out of Normandy, and the drive north towards Belgium. On 20 October 1944, at a farm on Isabelleweg near the town of Ijzendijke, a horrific explosion occurred, which caused the death of forty-one British and Canadian soldiers and caused injury to another fifty-one some of which would be fatal. One of the dead was Eric. He was killed on 20 October 1944, aged 25, and is buried at Adegem Canadian War Cemetery. The explosion was never fully investigated, but at the time, the men of 284 Assault Squadron were busy repairing and refuelling several tanks, and it is thought that an unstable load of nitro-glycerine had exploded, killing the men.

Charles Victor Catherall, Sergeant (Observer), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Charles was the Husband of Margaret Catherall, of Monkton, and served as an Observer with 37 Squadron, RAF. The Squadron was a heavy bomber squadron, equipped with the Vickers Wellington. In November 1940 the squadron was transferred to Egypt, via Malta, from where it carried out a number of sorties. Once in Egypt the squadron took part in the campaign in the western desert, supporting the Eighth Army against Rommel and the Afrika Korps. It also took part in the suppression of the Iraqi revolt and sent a detachment to Greece in March 1941. Charles was killed in North Africa on 16 November 1941. He was 27 years old, and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Libya.

D. Jenkins. Cannot be positively identified.

Thomas Albert Thomas, Guardsman, 2734724, Welsh Guards. Thomas was the Son of William and Elizabeth Thomas of Pembroke, and served with the 3rd Battalion, Welsh Guards. The Battalion sailed for North Africa on the 5th February 1943, and fought there until moving to Italy early in 1944. Thomas was killed during the fighting at Monte Cerasola on 11 February 1944. He was 24 years old, and is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial, Italy.

St. Mary's

 

Phillip Dennis Byrne, Sergeant (Flight Engineer), 534732, Royal Air Force. Phillip was the Son of Patrick and Frances Byrne, and the husband of Elsie Mary Byrne, of Pembroke. He served with 15 Squadron, RAF, which was equipped with the Bristol Blenheim. Phillip was killed when his Blenheim was shot down over Holland on 26 July 1942. He was 28 years old, and is buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

 

H. G. Davies. Cannot be positively identified.

William Mansfield, Corporal, 1326666, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Husband of Ethel Kate Mansfield, of Orange Gardens, Pembroke. He served during the war with the RAF, and died on 9 March 1945. He was 56 years old, and is buried at Pembroke (St. Daniel) Churchyard.

Cyril Henry Monk, Leading Aircraftman, 1079992, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Cyril was the Son of Alice Monk, of Pembroke. He served with the RAF during the war, but died on 15 December 1943. Cyril was 23 years old, and is buried at Pembroke (St. Daniel) Churchyard.

I. Morris. Cannot be positively identified.

J. A. Treweeks. Cannot be positively identified.

Edward Donovan Scott Usher, Lance Bombardier, 844167, Royal Artillery. Edward was the Son of John and Beatrice Usher, of Pembroke, and the husband of Phyllis I. Usher, of Pembroke. He served with 95 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. Edward was wounded during the campaign in the Western Desert, and died on 3 November 1942. He was 29 years old, and is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt.

St. Michael's

 

J. Adams. Cannot be positively identified.

Wilfred Charles Coles, Warrant Officer Class II (B.S.M.), 754008, Royal Artillery. Wilfred was the Son of Celia Mary Coles, of Pembroke, and served with the 102 (The Pembroke Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Wilfred died on 6 October 1940, aged 35, and is buried at Pembroke (St. Michael) Cemetery.

Joseph Craig, Private, 1111315, The East Lancashire Regiment. Joseph was the Husband of Olive May Craig, of Pembroke. He served with the 5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, which landed on the Normandy beaches on 29 June 1944, as part of 59th (Staffordshire) Division. Joseph was killed just over a week after landing in Normandy, on 8 July 1944. He was 29 years old, and is buried at La Delivrande War Cemetery, Douvres, France.

J. E. Dooley. Cannot be positively identified.

Ronald George Hay, Petty Officer Stoker, D/KX 83607, Royal Navy. Ronald was the Son of James and Inez Hay, of Pembroke, and the husband of Gwendoline Avesnes Hay, of Milton, Pembrokeshire. He served in the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Jackal, which was a J-Class destroyer. Ronald was seriously wounded when Jackal was bombed and heavily damaged on 11 May 1942, north-west of Mersa Matruh, Egypt, by German Ju88 aircraft. He died the following day, aged 29, and was buried at sea, and so is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

John Ernest Philip Jeff, Pilot Officer, 88034, Royal Air Force. John was the Son of Ernest and Madge Jeff, of Tenby, and served in 44 Squadron, RAF. The Squadron was part of Bomber Command, and flew the Handley Page Hampden. John was part of the crew of Hampden I, Serial AD864 KM-W, which took off on the night of 2 May 1941 bound for Hamburg. John was killed when the bomber was shot down, and crashed on the River Elbe, between Blankenese and Cranz, on 3 May 1941. He was 23 years old, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, England. His brother Robert also fell.

Robert Voase Jeff, DFC and Bar, Flight Lieutenant, 39285, Royal Air Force. Robert was the Son of Ernest and Madge Jeff, Of Tenby, and served with 87 Squadron, RAF. The Squadron was a fighter squadron, equipped at the beginning of the war with the Hawker Hurricane, which it flew during the Battle of France in 1940. Robert gained the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal twice, and the French Croix-de-Guerre, during his prematurely short career with the RAF, in which he shot down several German aircraft. He was killed when his Hurricane was lost in combat over Portland Bill on 11 August 1940. Robert is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. His brother John also fell. Robert's Bar to his DFC was awarded after his death; 'This officer was a first class leader who inspired his flight with the offensive spirit and himself shot down five enemy aircraft.'

George William Morris, Private, 4207496, Pioneer Corps. George was the Husband of Constance Sear Morris, of Milton Regis, Kent. He died on 12 October 1944, aged 34, and is buried at Hadley General Cemetery.

Leonard R. J. Phillips, Private, 14572556, General Service Corps. Leonard was the Son of James And Winifred Phillips, of Holyland, Pembroke, and served with the General Service Corps. He died, aged 19, on 4 June 1943, and is buried at Pembroke (St. Michael) Cemetery.

R. M. Thomas. Cannot be positively identified.