Broadhaven War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
Walter James Griffiths, Private, 73207, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Walter was the Son of Joseph and Frances Griffiths, of Haroldstone Hill, Broad Haven. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Army, and joined the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Battalion had a busy war. At the outbreak it was stationed at Portland, and on the 11th August, 1914 landed at Rouen as L. Of C. Troops. On the 22nd August, 1914 it joined the 19th Brigade, at Valenciennes, and on the 12th October the 19th Brigade was attached to the 6th Division. The Division move to reinforce the hard-pressed BEF on the Aisne, before the whole army was moved north into Flanders. Here they fought at First Ypres, and at Neuve Chappelle, before the 2nd RWF joined the 27th Division at the end of May, 1915. They then fought at St. Eloi and Second Ypres before being ordered to move to Salonika. However the 2nd RWF stayed in France, and joined the 2nd Division. The Division took part in the Battle of Loos, and also fought at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, before the 2nd RWF again moved, and on the 25th November, 1915 joined the 33rd Division. The Division moved to France during November, 1915, and saw its first major action during the Battles of the Somme, from July, 1916 onwards. They then fought at the Battle of the Scarpe and at Bullecourt, before heading to Ypres, and fighting at the Menin Road and at Polygon Wood. Walter was killed in action during Third Ypres, on the 26th November, 1917. He has no known grave, and so is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, near Ypres. Walter was just 19 years old, and is not commemorated on the Broad Haven Memorial.
David James Jenkins, Private, 200919, Welsh Regiment. David was the Son of Thomas and M. A. Jenkins, of Broad Haven. He must have worked as a miner prior to the war, as he enlisted at Tumble into the Army, and joined the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The Battalion formed at Carmarthen during August, 1914 and moved to Barracks at Pembroke Dock, where it became attached to the 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The 53rd Division moved to the Mediterranean, sailing from Devonport in July, 1915 arriving at Mudros by the 5th August, 1915. From here they moved to Gallipoli, landing on the 9th August. 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, and then at the Attack on Scimitar Hill. 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 the 11th December, 1915 the Division was evacuated to Mudros, and by the 23rd 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. David was killed during the First Battle of Gaza, on the 27th March, 1917. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. He was 26 years old.
Thomas Jenkins, Private, 22232, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was the Son of Stephen and Sarah Jenkins, of 3, North Road, Newbridge, Monmouth. The family was originally from Broad Haven, and had moved to Newbridge just before Thomas was born. Thomas enlisted at Newbridge, and joined the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The Battalion was attached to 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. Thomas was killed in action here on the 5th May, 1915. He was just 21 years old, and his grave was lost during the further fighting at Ypres, and so Thomas is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Thomas is not commemorated on the Broad Haven War Memorial, but his older brother William John, who also fell, is as he was born in Broad Haven.
William John Jenkins, Private, 9593, South Wales Borderers. William was born at Broad Haven, and was the Son of Stephen and Sarah Jenkins. The family moved soon after the birth of William, and set up home at 3, North Road, Newbridge, Monmouth. William enlisted there at the outbreak of war, into the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. The Battalion had been based in China at the outbreak of war, and after having defeated the German Garrison at Tientsin, was recalled to Britain. Here it joined the 87th Brigade, 29th Division. The Division moved to Gallipoli via Egypt, landing on the 25th April, 1915. They remained here until evacuation to Egypt on the 11th January, 1916 and then moved to the Western Front on the 15th March. The Division took part in its first major action in France during the 1916 Somme Offensive, and fought at the Battles of Albert and Le Transloy, suffering heavy casualties. In the Spring of 1917 they fought at the Battle of the Scarpe, which was part of the Arras Offensive, and then moved further north to Ypres. Here they fought at the Battle of Langemarck, and then at the Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle, before moving to Cambrai. Here they fought at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December, 1917 before moving back to Flanders early in 1918. The German Spring Offensive hit the British on the Somme on the 21st March, 1918, and hit in Flanders just weeks later. The 29th Division fought at the desperate defensive battles of Estaires, Messines, Bailleul and Kemmel, before the war turned in favour of the Allies after a series of successes on the Somme in August. William had been wounded early in 1918 and was medically downgraded and transferred to the Labour Corps, with the service number 527693. He sadly died of wounds at home on the 1st July, 1918 and is buried at Barrow-in-Furness Cemetery, Lancashire. His Brother Thomas also fell.
Henry Jones, Gunner, 64680, Royal Garrison Artillery. Henry was born at Walton West, the Son of Thomas and Martha Jones. He resided at Treffgarne prior to the war, and enlisted at nearby Haverfordwest along with his friend Benjamin Lawless, into the Royal Garrison Artillery. After training, the friends were split up, and Henry joined the 278th Siege Battery, R.G.A. The battery moved out to the Western Front on the 18th March 1917, armed with 4 x 6 in Howitzers (26 cwt). They saw their first major action during Third Ypres, and suffered many casualties there during the course of the Battle, when they were attached to the 53rd HAG Brigade. The following year was one of turmoil on the Western Front, and Henry would have seen plenty of action during the months of March and April, during the German Offensive. As the year pushed on, the Allies gained the upper hand, and began the drive for victory during August, 1918, after a series of successful Battles, at Villers-Brettoneux and Albert. During September the British pushed towards the Hindenburg Line, and in October it was smashed, allowing the Allies to pour through, and drive on towards Germany. Henry was wounded during the final offensives of the war, and was evacuated to the Base Hospital at Etaples for treatment. Sadly he died of his wounds there on the 6th November, 1918. He was 26 years old, and is buried there, at Etaples Military Cemetery.
Benjamin Lawless, Gunner, 64681, Royal Garrison Artillery. Benjamin was the Son of John and Martha Lawless, of Bay View, Broad Haven. He travelled to nearby Haverfordwest with his friend Henry Jones, and they enlisted together into the Royal Garrison Artillery. After their basic training, the friends were split up, and Benjamin joined the 64th Siege Battery, R.G.A. The Battery was equipped with two rail mounted 12” Howitzers, and attached to the Fifth Army. The Fifth Army was in the line in front of Cambrai in the Spring of 1918 when it was caught by the German Spring Offensive of the 21st March, 1918. The Fifth Army crumbled in the face of the ferocious onslaught that was brought upon them, and over the coming days retreated in turmoil. Benjamin was wounded during the ensuing fighting, and sadly died of a result on the 9th April, 1918. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Jesse May, Corporal, S4/145085, Royal Army Service Corps. Jesse was the Son of Thomas and Ann Max, of Blockett Farm, Little Haven, and the husband of Maude E. Max, of Burton House, Little Haven. Jesse had enlisted at Haverfordwest into the Army, and was posted to the 58th Field Butchery, Army Service Corps. Jesse was sent out to Egypt with his unit, and followed the British advance into Mesopotamia throughout 1917. The campaign in Mesopotamia was to be plagued by illness, and Jesse was one of the men to succumb to this, when he died of sickness on the 10th September, 1918. Jesse was 37 years old, and is buried at Amara War Cemetery, Mesopotamia.
Joseph Mills, Private, 5892, Welsh Regiment. Joseph was the Son of John and Jane Mills, of Woodland, Little Haven. He had served with the 4th Battalion, Welsh regiment during the war, but due to suffering from wounds at some time had been medically downgraded, and transferred to the Labour Corps, with the new service number 483046. Joseph sadly died as a result of his wounds, just days after the end of the war, on the 15th November, 1918. He was 31 years old, and is buried at Milford Haven Cemetery. His cousin Albert Mills, of Milford Haven sadly drowned whilst bathing in the River Lys in Flanders on the 25th September, 1917.
William Alban Rogers, Rifleman, 653437, London Regiment. William was the Son of Richard and Mary Anne Rogers, of Broad Haven. He had married prior to the outbreak of war, and lived with his wife, Nellie Rogers, at 9, Cintra Park, Upper Norwood, London. William enlisted there into the Army, and joined the 21st Battalion (1st Surrey Rifles), London Regiment, which was attached to the 142nd Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. The Division moved to France between the 9th and 22nd March, 1915, and served with distinction on the Western Front throughout the war. The new designation of the Division, its Brigades and other constituent units changed from the 2nd London to 47th in mid May 1915. The Division fought at the Battle of Aubers, and the Battle of Festubert during May, 1915 and in September fought at the Battle of Loos, and subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. They were north of Arras when the Germans attacked Vimy Ridge, and then moved south to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Le Transloy, where the Division captured Eaucourt l'Abbe, and took part in Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt. Early in 1917 the Division moved north to Belgium, and took part in the Battle of Messines, which is where William was killed in action on the 7th June, 1917. William has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. He was 35 years old.
World War Two, 1939-1945
Thomas George Sinnett, Sergeant, 1135365, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Thomas was the Son Of Frederick And Anne Jane Sinnett, of Milford Haven. He served with the RAFVR, but sadly his Squadron is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Thomas was killed on the 16th October, 1942. He was just 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Because his Squadron is not known, it is not yet possible to find out how or where Thomas lost his life.
