VISIT St Katharine and St Peter's Church this month, and you will see one of the pews occupied by a single soldier, wearing a red poppy.

The 'Tommy' represents just one of the 888,246 British and Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives in the First World War.

Made of clear plastic, the silhouette figure is part of the national 'There but not there' campaign to remember those who died in communities across the country.

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Father Harri Williams said the unnamed soldier had sparked questions from parishioners since it appeared at the end of July, to mark the start of the war.

"It's disturbed a few people, but it's an important and symbolic reminder," he said.

"If we had one of these for everyone in Milford who was lost the church would be full.

"Milford Haven played a crucial part in the war effort by sea, and there is a danger that we take these things for granted.

"It's particularly poignant for me because many of them were so young.

"We have boys in our youth group who are 17, and to think that 100 years ago many of them would have been expected to fight is quite frightening."

To coincide with the centenary of the end of the First World War, the church's memorial chapel has undergone £45,000 of refurbishment work.

The chapel contains more than 20 wooden crosses, collected by Canon Howells in the 1920s from as far afield as the Western Front and Baghdad.

Each one bears the name of a soldier, sailor or airman who died.

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Father Harri said when he arrived in the parish six years ago, the unclaimed crosses were propped against a damp wall.

"It was not a very fitting tribute, we wouldn't leave the cenotaph like that," he said.

"This is the largest collection of original First World War crosses we have in west Wales and yet most people in Milford Haven know nothing about it, which is a great sadness to me."

Funding for the work has come from the Royal British Legion, Pembrokeshire County Council via the Welsh Church Act Fund, Mission to Seafarers through the Trafalgar Institute, Milford Haven Town Council, the Friends of the church and parishioners.

"To be able to present this part of history in a proper way is important, particularly in a building that's been part of the fabric of the town for 200 years."

The crosses will be displayed alongside a book produced this year by the Royal British Legion and Milford Haven School, which gives details of those who died.

"People can go in the chapel, look at the name on the cross, open the book and their story comes to life," said Father Harri.

"It's a very poignant reminder of their sacrifice but also a tremendous tool for teaching the next generation about the sacrifice of war and what it meant.

"I hope it is something that will last for a very long time."

A service of dedication for the chapel will take place on Friday, November 9, at 7pm.

The ‘Tommy’ silhouette will stay in position until Remembrance Sunday.