This past week marks the centenary of the event which was to lead to the outbreak of World War One. On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were being driven though Sarajevo in Bosnia when they were shot just before 11 am by a student named Gavrilo Princip. The assassination was the spark which set alight the tinderbox and resulted in a series of events that led to a European war. Few could have guessed the impact this was to have on all our communities.

WWI Exhibition this weekend

This weekend, Saturday July 5, and Sunday, July 6, Lamphey School is holding a World War I commemorative exhibition which not only features the work of its pupils but also displays by local organisations, including Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society. There will be refreshments and all money raised plus donations will go to the Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign. The exhibition will be open between 10 am and 4.30 pm and admission is free. Please support if you can.

Pembroke Museum

Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society launched its World War 1 project in February and continues to gather material together for a continuing exhibition in Pembroke Museum. This is currently on display in the Main Hall of Pembroke Town Hall, but we are adding more material throughout the year. All contributions are gratefully received, and this week, an interesting addition was given to me by Dilys Hanmer, who has, in her possession, postcards from the Front written by her uncle, Edward M. Morgan. Artefacts like these provide a real link with the past - this is why it is so important that we develop our community museum so that they can be preserved for all to see. Edward M. Morgan

Edward M. Morgan was born on April 21, 1879, son of John Morgan who had farmed at Landway in Jameston, but later moved to Pembroke where Edward attended Monkton School. Dilys was able to tell me that Edward later became a junior master at Monkton School under Mr. James, and, a very able young man, he won a scholarship to study for a degree at Bangor University. He followed a teaching career and taught at Sydenham Boys School, London, eventually becoming headmaster. The lovely old photograph pictured here shows him (he is the tall man in the centre foreground wearing a cap) and his class of boys visiting the Crystal Palace. The occasion was the 1911 Festival of Empire, which was held at Crystal Palace to mark the coronation of George V and Queen Mary.

Wartime Postcards

Edward was called up for military service in 1916 and served in France. He regularly corresponded with his family back in Pembroke - two of his postcards survive and are printed here. Despite the terrible conditions of the War, one postcard displays a sense of humour - a soldier ducking bullets and declaring 'Here I am! Still well and enjoying life.' The postcard is address to Mr. Garfield Evans, of 6 Holyland Road, and reads "Dear Gar Hope you are o.k. Tell Aunt Patti that I received her letter of Oct 8th quite safely. I hope that she got my last one of Oct 3rd. Our letters have been crossing lately. She is not far out in her guess. I hope that Hannah will enjoy her holiday. The weather keeps on the bad side out here but from Aunt Patty's account it is not quite so bad as you are getting. Things seem to be going on all right with regard to the war. It may finish earlier than we think. Let me know whether this card reaches you safely. Love to all. Uncle Ed' There is no date on this - it bears the stamp 'passed by censor no. 5021'and was sent via Army Post. Demobilisation

The second postcard is addressed to Miss M. J. Morgan of the same address. This would appear to have been written at the end of the war, as Edward refers to demobilisation. This appears to have been a disorganised and protracted affair which meant another Christmas away from home - he describes it as a farce. 'Dear Martha Just a line to let you know that I am quite well. This is a photo of the kind of country all round us; the sea runs along the left and we are a bit further up on the right; this kind of country runs inland for miles. I shall send a letter along tomorrow to let you know how we spent Xmas. Hope you are all quite well. Best of love to all. We are all concerned out here that we shall not be home for a long time. Demobilisation is simply a (word illegible) and a farce.'

Honoured on the Cenotaph

Dilys was able to tell me that, although he survived the war itself, Edward died later as a result of his injuries in 1921. In recognition of this, Pembroke Cenotaph bears the name of E. M. Morgan.

The Welsh Memorial in Flanders

Money raised at Lamphey's WWI weekend event will be donated to the Welsh memorial in Flanders appeal which aims to commemorate Welsh soldiers who fought during WWI. The winning design for the memorial is by artist Lee Odishow and features a six-foot high red dragon on top of a Cromlech formed by four Welsh blue pennant stones and will be sited at Langemark in Belgium. Please support if you can.

Contact

If you have any stories, photographs or feedback for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk

Forthcoming events

Friday, July 11: We are holding a fundraising quiz night and social at Monkton Church Hall in aid of Monkton Priory Church. Tickets are £4 which includes a delicious buffet. Teas, coffees included, but bring your own bottle if you wish.