THE COMMONWEALTH War Graves Commission (CWGC) will be bringing War Graves Week to Milford Haven and offering free tours at Milford Haven Cemetery on Saturday May 28.
War Graves Week is an initiative aimed at encouraging people from the local community to come together and discover the World War heritage on their doorstep – learning about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC in Milford Haven and the skills, dedication and expertise of those CWGC staff and volunteers who work to keep their memory alive.
The free guided tours will take place on Saturday, May 28 at 11am and 1pm at Milford Haven Cemetery and will give local people the chance to discover the remarkable stories of the men and women of the Commonwealth forces that died in the First and Second World Wars who are buried in their community. War Graves Week provides a unique chance for the people of South Pembrokeshire to reconnect with their local history.
115 casualties from both World Wars are buried at Milford Haven, reflecting the key role that the area had on maritime operations in both conflicts with seafarers from all over the world commemorated. Tragically the cemetery contains 30 victims of a naval disaster off St Ann’s Head in April 1943 in which 73 officers and men lost their lives. The area was also a hub for training establishments and there are also many local service personnel commemorated.
On the tours, local Pembrokeshire residents will learn about the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times project – the focus of this year’s War Graves Week. Alongside the front-line armed forces, the CWGC will be celebrating the value those who served during the World Wars brought to key sectors such as healthcare, logistics, infrastructure and communications. To learn more about specific stories of those who served, and the parallels with today’s global Britain which they helped to create, please visit: www.cwgc.org/wargravesweek
The tours will be led by Graham Owen, who is a volunteer for the CWGC. He said: “For us at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, remembrance and the sharing and caring for World War heritage is a daily duty. Behind every name on a war grave or memorial in Milford Haven Cemetery is a human story waiting to be discovered and War Graves Week is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
“I’d encourage everyone in Milford Haven and South Pembrokeshire to join one of the tours to reconnect with their local history to learn about the courageous ordinary people from the local community and from all parts of the globe who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
The CWGC is encouraging the people of Milford Haven and South Pembrokeshire to seek out the stories in their local area and book onto a free tour this War Graves Week. To book a tour, visit www.cwgc.org/tours
