Castlemartin and Warren War Memorials

Castlemartin lies about six miles from Pembroke, its parish forming a promontory on the sea coast, which is bounded on the north by Freshwater West, which runs into St. George’s channel, on the east by the adjoining parish of Warren, and on the west and south by the Bristol channel. Much of the local land is take up by the MOD Firing Range, which covers around 2,400 hectares. The village is sited around a Norman Motte and Bailey castle, and the church, once dedicated to St. Martin, but nowadays to St. Michael, gave the village its name. There are several war graves and memorials locally, within the St. Michaels Church and at Flimston Chapel, which commemorate the local men who have died in military service, ranging from the Boer War to World War Two and later.

The Boer War, 1899-1902

Ronald Robert Lambton, Lieutenant, Durham Light Infantry. Ronald was born in March 1879, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis William Lambton, of Brownslade, Pembrokeshire, late Scots Guards, and Lady Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Frederick Campbell, second Earl of Cawdor. He was educated at Wellington, prior to being commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment. Ronald transferred to the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in May 1899, and was promoted Lieutenant in November 1900. He went to South Africa with his battalion in October 1899, which formed part of the Natal Field Force, was present at the battle of Colenso, and in the operations on the Tugela from 12 January until 6 February 1900, being severely wounded in the engagement at Vaal Kranz. He also took part in the advance through Northern Natal into the Transvaal. Ronald was mentioned in despatches by General Lord Kitchener, on 8 December 1901, for his “most gallant conduct in trying to repulse the Boer attack.” He died of wounds received at Blood River Poort on 17 September 1901, aged 22, and is buried at Vryheid.

The Great War, 1914-1918

William George Hier, Lance Corporal, 74848, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. William was born at Warren in 1896, the son of George Hier and Alice Hier (nee Hopler), of Merrion Village, Pembroke. He worked as a servant at Merrion Court prior to the war. William enlisted into the army and was posted to Salonika in 1918 to join the 8th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 40 Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. William probably joined the battalion in time to take part in the Second Battle of Doiran in September 1918. The Salonika campaign came to a close following an armistice on 30 September, and within two months the war was over. William became ill and died of pneumonia at the 63rd General Hospital, Salonika on 11 January 1919. He was 23 years old, and is buried at Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika.

George James, Private, 19253, Welsh Regiment. George was born in 1893, the son of William and Ann James of Castlemartin. His parents had died by 1911, and George was working as a waggoner at Bulliber Farm. At the outbreak of war he was working at Nantyfyllon, and enlisted at Maesteg into the newly formed Rhondda Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Due to the massive influx of recruits, the battalion was split into two, the 10th and 13th Battalions, and George moved into the 13th Battalion (2nd Rhondda), Welsh Regiment, moving to Rhyl in November 1914. After initial training at Rhyl, the battalion moved to Winchester the following year, attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. On 2 December 1915 the battalion moved to France, and the entire Division moved to the Fleurbaix sector, where it was initiated into trench warfare. During June 1916 the Division marched south to the Somme, and on 7 July 1916 attacked Mametz Wood. The initial attack failed, and it was three days later, on 10 July, that a fresh attack was mounted. After two days of heavy hand to hand fighting within the wood, the Germans withdrew, and the battered Welshmen moved via Hebuterne to Boesinghe, on the Yser Canal, where it remained until launching its attack on Pilckem Ridge on 31 July 1917. The 15th Welsh remained in the line, and also took part in the Battle of Langemarck, before the entire Division was moved to positions near Armentieres over the winter. After the Germans launched their offensive on the Somme on 21 March 1918, the Division was moved back to the Somme, and took up positions north of Albert, around Aveluy Wood. After several months of stagnant warfare here, the 38th Division forced crossings of the River Ancre on 21 August 1918. George was wounded during the crossing, and died at Englebelmer on 23 August 1918. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Steam Ship Ionian Casualties

The Steam Ship Ionian was a defensively armed Merchant Ship, owned by the Canadian Pacific Line, Montreal. On 20 October 1917, she was on route from Milford Haven for Plymouth when she hit a mine and sank, about two miles west of St Govan´s Head. Seven crewmen were lost in the sinking, six of whom were washed ashore locally, and are buried at Castlemartin, at St. Michael’s Churchyard. About 60 men were saved, largely due to the skill of Able Seaman Thomas Murphy, who was awarded the Lloyds Medal for Lifesaving for his efforts in navigating a lifeboat containing the survivors, and bringing them to safety at Milford Haven. The six men buried at Castlemartin are;

J. Brown, Waiter, Mercantile Marine, S.S. Ionian.

D. Doyle, Trimmer, Mercantile Marine, S.S. Ionian.

J. Maguire, Assistant Cook, Mercantile Marine, S.S. Ionian.

Philip Monjou, Steward, Mercantile Marine, S.S. Ionian.

J. Shallow, Seaman, Mercantile Marine, S.S. Ionian.

Francis Daniel Simmons, Waiter, Mercantile Marine, S.S. Ionian. Francis was born at Homerton, London, the son of Daniel and Agnes Simmons. The family later resided at 162, Falkner Street, Liverpool. Francis was just 17 years old.

World War Two, 1939-1945

Anthony Humphrey Lewis Jones, Captain, 346334, Royal Engineers. Anthony was born in Swansea on 30 June 1925, the son of the politician and later Liberal Democrat MP Sir Lewis Jones and of Lady Alice Maud Jones. He was commissioned on 7 May 1945 into the Royal Engineers. Anthony was killed on active service at Sialkot, India on 14 August 1947, aged 22, and is buried in Karachi War Cemetery, India.

Thomas Richard Morris, Petty Officer Stoker, D/KX 85174, Royal Navy. Thomas was born at Castlemartin in 1916, the son of Thomas and Martha Morris, of Coxey, Castlemartin. He served with the Royal Navy, and was based at Liverpool when he met, and married, Jennie Edwards at Birkenhead early in 1943. Thomas served aboard the destroyer HMS Charybdis. Charybdis sailed for Gibraltar in August 1943, and from there escorted Mediterranean convoys. She supported the Salerno landings, and landed troops brought from Tripoli. She returned to Plymouth the following month, patrolling the Bay of Biscay. During October 1943, Charybdis was patrolling along with several other ships when they intercepted the German ship Münsterland off Ushant, Brittany. The force was attacked at night by the German 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, and  Charybdis was torpedoed and sank in the resulting action. Thomas died aboard her as she sank on 23 October 1942. He was 27 years old, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

Other Memorials at Castlemartin (Lambton Family)