The End

In November 1918 a rumour spread like wildfire throughout Pembrokeshire - 'Great excitement in town. News has come through that the war is over'.

There was much disappointment when it was learned that the Allies were still engaged against the enemy, although the national press was filled with news that peace was imminent.

It was on Sunday November 10th that Councillor Richard Sinnett, Deputy Mayor of Haverfordwest received a message branded 'Urgent and Strictly Confidential'. It revealed that the Armistice was to be signed the following day at 11am.

On the day that Germany accepted the Allies' armistice terms at Compiegne, joy and relief swept across the County. The streets of Haverfordwest were animated. Flags flew and the Boys Brigade band paraded the streets playing martial airs.

It was not until the Tuesday, that the magnitude of the victory was fully appreciated. Enthusiasm increased and the bells of St Mary's rang out. The Mayor, Major Hugh Thomas, called a public meeting in the Shire Hall which was filled to capacity. It was agreed that congratulatory addresses should be sent to the King, Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and the Navy, Army and RAF.

There were also celebrations in Milford Haven, where the cheers were so noisy that for an hour it was almost impossible to enter into any form of conversation. An unparalleled display of bunting bedecked the streets, shops and dwellings, and the bells of St Katherines' rang out for the first time since the outbreak of the war.

Due to the celebrations business on the fish market stood still, and the delay meant a rush later on to get fish shared and packed. All the engineering works closed down and the remainder of the day was a holiday.

At Neyland there was also great rejoicing with the sound of hooters and sirens being heard from the direction of Milford Haven. All the ships lying off Neyland and Pembroke Dock followed suit while the steam engines at Neyland station whistled.

In Pembroke Dock the news was received with immense enthusiasm. Every ship sounded its siren and, what with fog horns from the lightships, the firing of guns from the Defensible Barracks and the exploding of fog signals on the railway, mayhem reigned for a while.