1918 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1918 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

• Prince of Wales - Edward, Prince of Wales, son of King George V of the United Kingdom
• Princess of Wales - vacant
• Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales - Dyfed

Events

• The beginning of an influenza epidemic which lasts into the following year and kills about 10,000 people in Wales.
• 26 January - An Irish steamship, the Cork, is torpedoed by a U-boat off Point Lynas in Anglesey. Twelve crew are killed.
• 29 January - The steamship Ethelinda is torpedoed by a U-boat off the Skerries. Twenty-six crew are killed.
• 4 February - The steamship Treveal is torpedoed by a U-boat off the Skerries. Thirty-three people are killed.
• 5 February - The steamship Mexico City is torpedoed by a U-boat off South Stack, Holyhead. Twenty-nine crew are killed.
• 7 March - The steamship Kenmare is torpedoed by a U-boat off the Skerries. Twenty-six crew are killed.
• 7 April - The steamship Boscastle is torpedoed by a U-boat off Strumble Head. Eighteen crew are killed.
• 21 April - The steamship Landonia is torpedoed by a U-boat off Strumble Head. Twenty-one crew are killed.
• 9 May - The steamships Baron Ailsa and Wileysike are torpedoed by a U-boat off Pembrokeshire. Fourteen crew are killed.
• 19 May - The German U-boat U-B 119 is sunk off Bardsey Island.
• 15 June - The steamship Strathnairn is torpedoed by a U-boat off Bishops and Clerks, Pembrokeshire. Twenty-one crew are killed.
• August - August is fixed as the annual month of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
• 22 August - The steamship Palmelia is torpedoed by a U-boat off South Stack, Holyhead. Twenty-eight people are killed.
• 16 September - The steamship Serula is torpedoed by a U-boat off Strumble Head. Seventeen crew are killed.
• 10 October - Three seamen are killed while returning to their ship by boat at Milford Haven.
• 14 October - The steamship Dundalk is torpedoed by a U-boat off the Skerries. Twenty-one crew are killed.
• 11 November - Armistice Day. Able Seaman Richard Morgan, serving aboard HMS Garland, is the last Welshman – and the last Briton – to be killed in action in the First World War, in the course of which over 40,000 Welsh people have lost their lives.
• 14 December - United Kingdom general election:
  • For the first time, a woman stands as a parliamentary candidate stands in Wales: Millicent Mackenzie stands unsuccessfully for the University of Wales, itself a new parliamentary seat.
  • Home Rule for Wales is included as a policy in the manifesto of the Labour Party.
  • William Brace becomes Labour MP for Abertillery.
  • Alfred Onions becomes Labour MP for Caerphilly.
  • John Hugh Edwards becomes Liberal MP for Neath, his previous constituency of Mid Glamorgan having been abolished.
  • Sir Robert Thomas, 1st Baronet, becomes Liberal MP for Wrexham.
• Edward T. John (Liberal MP for East Denbighshire) defects to the Labour Party.
• David Alfred Thomas is created Viscount Rhondda.

Arts and literature

• John Morris-Jones is knighted for his services to literature.

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Neath)

• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - John Thomas Job
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - D. Emrys Lewis

New books

• Moelona - Rhamant y Rhos

Music

• Walford Davies is appointed director of music to the Royal Air Force.

Film

• The Life Story of David Lloyd George (drama, not shown publicly until 1996)

Sport

Births

• 9 May - Sir Kyffin Williams, artist (died 2006)
• 20 May - William David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech (died 1985)
• 6 June - Susan Williams-Ellis, founder of Portmeirion Pottery
• 19 September - Penelope Mortimer, writer (died 1999)
• date unknown - Dilys Elwyn Edwards, composer

Deaths

• 13 April - Thomas Tannatt Pryce, VC recipient
• 3 July - David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda, industrialist and politician
• 13 September - Samuel Thomas Evans, MP
• 21 September - Emily Charlotte Talbot, heiress
• 27 September - Morfydd Llwyn Owen, composer
• 4 November - Wilfred Owen, poet from the Welsh borders
• 25 November - William Griffith, mining engineer (with Cecil Rhodes)
• 1 December - John Griffiths, artist

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