Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society is pleased to announce the launch of their latest publication which will be launched on Remembrance weekend in Pembroke Town Hall.

‘Pembroke Remembers: a Memorial publication recalling the part played by Pembroke and District in The Great War and recording some of the local events marking the Centenary of the War’.

The Centenary of WW1, 1914-18, served to focus all our minds on that traumatic period in our history and urged us to find out more about the men and women who lived through it.

As a result, members of Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society launched a multi media project with the title ‘Pembroke commemorates the WW1 Centenary: in words, pictures, art and film’ which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and which commenced in February 2018 with a public event in Pembroke Town Hall.

A great deal of material was amassed during the course of the year forming the basis of this book.

Written by Society chairman, Linda Asman and edited by Keith Johnson, the book opens with ‘a Nation’s Tribute’ November 11th 2018, when communities throughout the land took part in an act of commemoration.

It then looks back one hundred years to the outbreak of WW1 which saw the influx of thousands of troops into this area due to the strategic importance of Milford Haven and the Royal Dockyard.

Linda commented: “It is not the intention of this book to be a history of the War itself: there have been many books written about World War One, especially during the years of centenary 2014 -18.

“My aim has been to look at the effects of that momentous conflict on our local area and its people and in this I have been fortunate for the help given by people who are experts in their field.

“A big thank you also to the many people who have participated in the project and supplied information and photographs. And, of course, the support of the hard working History Society Committee”.

The book is lavishly illustrated and will undoubtedly form an invaluable resource, shining a light on a period in our past about which little has been written locally.

The Museum in Pembroke Town Hall now has an archive dedicated to WW1 as well as a display of artefacts. Without this project, so much would have been lost.

The book launch will take place in Pembroke Town Hall on Saturday, November 9 at 10 am.

There will be a talk by Dr Simon Hancock on ‘The Great Peace’ as well as an exhibition of work by the VC Gallery. All are welcome and there will be an accompanying Coffee Morning.