1919 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1919 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 - Evan Rees (known by the bardic name Dyfed)

Events

• Ongoing - 1918 flu pandemic.
• 13 January - The Red flag is hoisted during a mutiny on HMS Kilbride at Milford Haven.
• 4–5 March - Kinmel Park Riots by Canadian troops at Kinmel Camp, Bodelwyddan. Five men are killed and 28 injured.
• 31 March - Submarine HMS H52 is launched at Pembroke Dock; commissioned on 16 December, she is the last Welsh-built fighting ship to enter the Royal Navy.
• 14 May - The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, establishes probably the world's first Chair in International Politics, endowed by David Davies and his sisters in honour of Woodrow Wilson, with Alfred Eckhard Zimmern as first professor.
• 6 June - A race riot breaks out in Newport, Monmouthshire.
• 11 June - Three people are killed in a 4-day race riot in Cardiff.
• 10 July - Coalition Liberal candidate David Matthews wins the Swansea East by-election following the death of Thomas Jeremiah Williams MP.
• 4 August - Death of Thomas Francis Roberts, Principal of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, since 1891; he is succeeded by John Humphreys Davies.
• 25 August - Fire destroys the Waterloo Hydro, Aberystwyth's largest hotel.
• 20 December - Six seamen drowned while returning to their ship by boat at Milford Haven.
• John Sankey chairs the commission that recommends nationalisation of the coal industry.
• Surgeon John Lynn-Thomas is knighted.
• James Cory, Cardiff shipowner and philanthropist, is created a baronet.
• William James Thomas (Trethomas), coalowner and philanthropist, is created a baronet.

Arts and literature

Awards

• National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Corwen)

• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - D. Cledlyn Davies
• National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - William Williams (Crwys)

New books

• Sir Joseph Alfred Bradney - Noctes Flandricae
• William Evans (Wil Ifan) - Dail Iorwg
• David Rees Griffiths - Ambell Gainc
• John Cowper Powys - After My Fashion (unpublished until 1980)
• W. Llewelyn Williams - The Making of Modern Wales

Film

• Ivor Novello appears in his first film: The Call of the Blood.

Sport

• Boxing - Jimmy Wilde goes on a tour of the USA, taking on all contenders.
• Quoits - Wales defeat England 219 - 203 at the Custom House in London.
• Rugby union - Wales lose to a touring New Zealand Army team.

Births

• 17 February (in Washington, Co. Durham) - Jonah Jones, sculptor, writer and educationist (died 2004)
• 18 March - Menna Gallie née Humphreys, novelist and translator (died 1990)
• 15 April - Emyr Humphreys, writer
• 22 May - Glyn Davies, economist (died 2003)
• 16 June - Morys Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare (died 2005)
• 12 December - Cliff Davies, Wales international rugby player (died 1967)
• 27 December - Brinley Rees, academic (died 2004)

Deaths

• 2 January - Arthur Gould, Wales international rugby captain, 54
• 3 January - James Hills-Johnes, Victoria Cross recipient, 85
• 24 February - Edward Bishop, Wales international rugby player, 54
• 27 February - Robert Harris, Welsh-born painter, 69
• 12 June - Thomas Jeremiah Williams, Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Swansea East
• 13 July - Theo Harding, Wales international rugby player
• 26 July
  • Griffith Hugh Jones (Gutyn Arfon), composer
  • Richard Hughes Williams (Dic Tryfan), writer
• 4 August - Thomas Francis Roberts, academic, 58
• 27 September - Adelina Patti, singer, 76
• 15 October - Arthur Owen Vaughan (Owen Rhoscomyl), novelist, 56
• 3 December - Volney Rogers, Welsh-American lawyer, 73