1944 in Wales

none 1944 This article is about the particular significance of the year 1944 to Wales and its people. Incumbents Archbishop of Wales Charles Green, Bishop of Bangor (died 7 May) David Prosser, Bishop of St David's (elected) Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Crwys Events 22 January - Wynford Vaughan-Thomas reports for the BBC from the Battle of Anzio.Robert Niemi History in the Media: Film and Television https://books.google.com/books?id=WVFhcBcv_X8C&pg=PA110 2006 ABC-CLIO 978-1-57607-952-2 110 23 January - An RAF Halifax bomber crashes in the Elan Valley, killing nine crew. 28 March - Cardiff Blitz: Nine people are killed in an air raid on Cardiff. 11 April - An RAF Lancaster bomber crashes near Llanwrtyd Wells, killing eight crew. 16 August - Lt. Tasker Watkins leads a bayonet charge at Barfour in Normandy, winning the Victoria Cross for his courage.https://biography.wales/article/s11-WATK-TAS-1918 Watkins, Sir Tasker (1918-2007), barrister and judge John Griffith Williams Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales 2 May 2019 17 October - The first "Welsh Day" debate takes place in the House of Commons (UK). 11 November - A US Dakota C-47 with four crew crashes into cliffs above Llyn Dulyn.https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/dry-spell-reveals-ghostly-reminder-21093275 Dry spell reveals ghostly reminder of Snowdonia lake's war-time tragedies 20 July 2021 Daily Post 21 July 2021 10 December - American Liberty ship Dan Beard is torpedoed off Strumble Head, resulting in the deaths of 29 crew.Reference Wales https://books.google.com/books?id=-j0ro22GZU8C 1994 University of Wales Press 978-0-7083-1234-6 242 20 December - An American B-24 Liberator plane crashes into the sea off Anglesey, killing eight crew. Plaid Cymru transfers its head office from Caernarfon to Cardiff. Morgan Phillips becomes Secretary of the Labour Party (UK), a position he will hold until 1961.https://biography.wales/article/s2-PHIL-WAL-1902 Phillips, Morgan Walter (1902-1963), general secretary of the Labour Party Mary Auronwy James Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales 2 May 2019 Sir Thomas Williams Phillips becomes permanent secretary of the new government ministry created to implement the national insurance system. Sir David Brunt is awarded the royal medal of the Royal Society for his work in meteorology. Politician Goronwy Owen and naval architect Llewellyn Soulsby are knighted.https://biography.wales/article/s2-SOUL-GOR-1885 Soulsby, Sir Llewellyn Thomas Mary Auronwy James Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales 2 May 2019 Arts and literature 2 October - Dylan Thomas is best man at the wedding of his friend and fellow poet Vernon Watkins in London - but fails to turn up. BBC commentator Alun Williams marries Perrie Hopkin Morris, daughter of Sir Rhys Hopkin Morris. Awards National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Llandybie) National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - D. Lloyd Jenkins National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - J. M. Edwards National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - withheld New books English language Rhys Davies – Black Venus Fred Hando - The Pleasant Land of GwentAntiquarian Book Monthly Review https://books.google.com/books?id=ldNMAQAAIAAJ 1985 ABMR Publications 273 Jack Jones - The Man David Alun Lewis - The Last Inspection Sir Percy Emerson Watkins - A Welshman Remembers Sir Ifor Williams - Lectures on early Welsh Poetry Welsh language Thomas Rowland Hughes - William Jones Edward Morgan Humphreys - Ceulan y Llyn DuMeic Stephens The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont00meic registration April 1986 Oxford University Press 272 978-0-19-211586-7 T. H. Parry-Williams - O'r Pedwar GwyntJohn Buchanan-Brown Cassell's Encyclopaedia of World Literature: Biographies L-Z https://books.google.com/books?id=AIEYAAAAIAAJ 1953 Morrow 292 9780688002282 New drama James Kitchener Davies - Meini GwageddPoetry Wales https://books.google.com/books?id=sc9lAAAAMAAJ 1981 C. Davies 40 Emlyn Williams - The Druid's Rest Music Harry Parr Davies - Jenny Jones (musical) Grace Williams - Sea Sketches Film The Halfway House, starring Mervyn Johns, Glynis Johns and Rachel Thomas, is set in Wales. Broadcasting August - Wynford Vaughan-Thomas reports on the liberation of Paris for BBC radio. Launch of the Noson Lawen series on BBC radio. Visual arts Polish-born expressionist painter Josef Herman begins 11 years living and working in Ystradgynlais. Sport Boxing - Syd Worgan beats Tommy Davies for the vacant Welsh featherweight title.Coal; the NCB Magazine https://books.google.com/books?id=nk5wHqhG4HgC 1952 Football - The first post-war match between Wales and England ends in a 1 - 0 victory for Wales. Births 120px|thumb|July:Glenys Kinnock 120px|thumb|October:Mandy Rice-Davies 120px|thumb|December:Deke Leonard 21 January – Peter Rodrigues, footballer 26 January – Ken Rees, television journalist17 May 2020 Ken Rees, ITN correspondent who led the way with a livelier style of television reporting – obituary https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/05/17/ken-rees-itn-correspondent-led-way-livelier-style-television/ 1 August 2026 The Daily Telegraph 17 February – Karl Jenkins, composerJohn Chilton Who's Who of British Jazz: 2nd Edition https://books.google.com/books?id=DGuvAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA193 1 May 2004 Bloomsbury Publishing 978-0-8264-2389-4 193 1 March – Dai Morgan Evans, English-born archaeologist (died 2017)Howard Williams https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/17/dai-morgan-evans-obituary Dai Morgan Evans obituary The Guardian 17 April 2017 29 April 2017 6 March – Billy Raybould, Wales international rugby player 12 March – Tammy Jones, singer 24 March Mary Balogh, novelist Steve Jones, biologistJones, Prof. (John) Stephen U22395 2011 online Oxford University Press Oxford 31 March – Myfanwy Talog, actress (died 1995)Myfanwy Talog British Film Institute 2020 31 March 2020 https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba20b6ba0 https://web.archive.org/web/20201020081206/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba20b6ba0 dead October 20, 2020 4 April – Ronnie Rees, footballer 8 April – Hywel Bennett, actor (died 2017)https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/04/hywel-bennett-obituary Hywel Bennett obituary 4 August 2017 Anthony Hayward The Guardian 3 February 2020 15 April – Dave Edmunds, rock musicianPatricia Romanowski Bashe Holly George-Warren Jon Pareles The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll https://books.google.com/books?id=_hKFAAAAIAAJ 1995 Fireside 978-0-684-81044-7 1975 16 April – Llew Smith, politician (died 2021)https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/22/llew-smith-obituary Llew Smith obituary 22 June 2021 Julia Langdon The Guardian 22 July 2021 5 May Roger Rees, actor (died 2015 in the United States)Contemporary Contemporary Books Chase's Annual Events: The Day-By-Day Directory to 1994 https://books.google.com/books?id=zQoBM1qCk5wC 1993 Contemporary books 978-0-8092-3732-6 193 John Rhys-Davies, actorBrad Linaweaver Sliders: The Episode Guide : the Classic Episodes https://books.google.com/books?id=1SDugAAQxVAC 1998 TV Books 978-1-57500-053-4 21 20 May – Kathrin Thomas, magistrateBirthdays today https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-20.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130520080952/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-20.html dead 20 May 2013 The Telegraph 16 May 2014 20 May 2013 Mrs Kathrin Thomas, Lord–Lieutenant for Mid Glamorgan, 69 3 June – Dilwyn John, footballer. 11 June – Alan Howarth, Baron Howarth of Newport, politicianhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2122321.stm Alan Howarth 17 October 2002 BBC News 22 July 2021 16 June – Brian Protheroe, English-born singer and actor of Welsh parentage 7 July – Glenys Kinnock, English-born politician (died 2023)https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/politician-glenys-kinnock-of-holyhead-2773097 Politician Glenys Kinnock of Holyhead 19 April 2013 North Wales Daily Post 1 May 2019 7 July – Angharad Rees, actress (died 2012)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18940018 BBC News - Poldark actress Angharad Rees dies from cancer Bbc.co.uk 2012-07-21 21 July 2012 31 July Endaf Emlyn, TV presenter, musician and director Betty Williams, politician 3 September – John Cooper, serial killer 9 October – Desmond Barrit, actor 10 October – Eurig Wyn, politician1944-10-10 5th parliamentary term Eurig WYN MEPs European Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/4551/EURIG_WYN/history/5 2026-09-14 www.europarl.europa.eu en 21 October – Mandy Rice-Davies, socialite (died 2014)Harris M. Lentz III Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2014 https://books.google.com/books?id=11diCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA288 30 April 2015 McFarland 978-0-7864-7666-4 288 6 November – Gerallt Lloyd Owen, poet (died 2014)https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/28311175 Gerallt Lloyd Owen wedi marw 15 July 2014 cy BBC Cymru Fyw 1 May 2019 14 November – Eurfyl ap Gwilym, economist and politician 29 November – Gareth Wardell, politicianGuide to the House of Commons https://books.google.com/books?id=cXaIAAAAMAAJ 1983 Times Books 9780723002574 18 December – (Roger) Deke Leonard, rock musician (died 2017)https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/06/deke-leonard-obituary Deke Leonard obituary 26 March 2017 Michael Heatley The Guardian 1 May 2019 24 December – Meirion Pennar, translator and son of Pennar Davies (died 2010)http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/12/18/academic-and-poet-meirion-pennar-dies-at-65-91466-27846677/ Academic and poet Meirion Pennar dies at 65 Steve Dube Western Mail 18 December 2010 19 December 2010 Deaths 120px|thumb|May:Charles Green 8 January - John Newell Evans, Welsh-born farmer and politician in Canada, 97http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-4E75D75/view/Deaths/find-adv%2B%20callnumber=%28%221944-09-636096%22%20%29%20AND%20microfilm=%28b13181%29%20%2B%2B%2B%2B/1 Vital Event Death Registration BC Archives 2011-08-27 May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes 11 January - Richard Powell, Wales international rugby player, 79 5 March - Alun Lewis, poet, 28 (accidentally shot)s2-LEWI-ALU-1915 Gwyn Jones Lewis, Alun (1915-1944), poet 22 November 2025 20 March - William Retlaw Williams, lawyer and historian, 80 or 81 31 March - Talfryn Evans, cricketer, 29 7 May - Charles Green, Bishop of Monmouth, Bishop of Bangor and Archbishop of Wales, 79 17 May - John Lloyd Morgan, lawyer and MP, 83s2-MORG-LLO-1861 Morgan, John Lloyd (1861-1944), county court judge Thomas Mardy Rees National Library of Wales 19 September 2019 24 May - Sir Herbert Williams-Wynn, 7th Baronet, politician, 83 27 May - Griffith Hartwell Jones, academic, 8530 May 1944 6 Rev. Dr. G. H. Jones The Times June - Dai Davies, footballer, 63/64 16 June - David Davies, 1st Baron Davies, philanthropist and MP, 64 Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood Burke's Peerage & Gentry Mosley, Charles Charles Mosley (genealogist) 107 2003 1049–1050 Burke 0-9711966-2-1 25 June - James Atkin, Baron Atkin, judge, 76 5 August - Maurice Turnbull, cricketer, 38 (killed in action)John Stern Marcus Williams The Essential Wisden: An Anthology of 150 Years of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack https://books.google.com/books?id=ne8EAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA942 7 January 2014 A&C Black 978-1-4081-7896-6 942 5 August - Ethel Lina White, crime novelist, 68 20 September - Oliver Morris, rugby player and footballer, 27 (killed in action)http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/24183.php True Heroes Remembered therhinos.co.uk 31 December 2014 1 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150114204147/http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/24183.php 14 January 2015 dead 21 September - Bob Jones, rugby union player, 69 25 September - David Davies, 2nd Baron Davies, 29 (killed in battle)Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage https://books.google.com/books?id=0SIMAQAAMAAJ 1973 Kelly's Directories 30 September- David Harris Davies, Wales international rugby union player, 66David Davies player profile Scrum.com 5 October - Laura Evans-Williams, singer, 61https://biography.wales/article/s2-EVAN-LAU-1883 EVANS-WILLIAMS, LAURA (1883-1944), singer Thomas Iorwerth Ellis Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales 23 January 2019 27 October - Clem Lewis, rugby player, 54 19 November - Watkin Williams, Bishop of Bangor, 99Who was who https://books.google.com/books?id=4ooYAAAAIAAJ 1967 A. & C. Black 1242 8 December - Sir William Jenkins, MP for Neath, 73 See also 1944 in Northern Ireland References Wales Category:1944 in Europe Category:1940s in Wales