1938 in Wales

Centuries:	18th; 19th; 20th; 21st; ;
Decades:	1910s; 1920s; 1930s; 1940s; 1950s;
See also:	List of years in Wales; Timeline of Welsh history 1938 in The United Kingdom Scotland Elsewhere

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1938 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

Archbishop of Wales – Charles Green, Bishop of Bangor^[1]
Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – J.J.^[2]

Events

14–19 January – A storm causes extensive damage in Aberystwyth; the promenade and pier are largely destroyed by 90 mph winds.^[3]
8 May – William Ormsby-Gore succeeds his father as Baron Harlech.
October – The first scheduled night flight in the UK begins operating between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare.
23 November – Opening of the Temple of Peace and Health in Cathays Park, Cardiff.^[4]
Mining comes to an end at Dolaucothi Gold Mines.^[5]
The excavation of Llantwit Major Roman Villa by V. E. Nash-Williams, begins (continues to 1948).^[6]
Opening of RNAD Trecwm.

Arts and literature

April – Augustus John resigns from the Royal Academy.^[7]
September – Ivor Novello appears in Henry V at Drury Lane Theatre, produced by Lewis Casson.^[8]

Awards

National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Cardiff)
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair – Gwilym R. Jones
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown – Edgar H. Thomas
National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal – Elena Puw Morgan^[9]

New books

In English

Idris Davies – Gwalia Deserta^[10]
Ness Edwards – History of the South Wales Miners Federation
Richard Hughes – In Hazard
Jack Jones – Bidden to the Feast
Edith Picton-Turbervill – Myself When Young^[11]
William Plomer (ed.) – Kilvert's Diary, 1870-1879

In Welsh

Richard Bennett – Methodistiaeth Caersws
Tom Beynon – Gwrid ar Orwel ym Morgannwg
Edward Tegla Davies – Stori Sam^[12]
Edward Morgan Humphreys – Dirgelwch Gallt Y Ffrwd^[13]
Ifor Williams (ed.) – Canu Aneirin

New drama

James Kitchener Davies – Susannah
Charles Langbridge Morgan – The Flashing Stream^[14]
Emlyn Williams – The Corn is Green^[15]

Music

Tudor Davies plays the lead in the first English-language production of Verdi's Don Carlos, at Sadler's Wells.

Film

Naunton Wayne appears as Caldicott in The Lady Vanishes.^[16]

Broadcasting

1 March – BBC Radio broadcasts the world première of Arwel Hughes's latest composition, Tydi a Roddaist.

Sport

Empire Games
- Wales win three medals at the 1938 Empire Games, Denis Reardon, (middleweight boxing), Jim Alford (1 mile run) and Jeanne Greenland (110 yard backstroke).
Rugby union
- 5 February – Scotland beat Wales 8–6 at Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Births

6 January – William Edwards, politician (d. 2007)^[17]
1 February – Cynog Dafis, politician^[18]
22 January – Brook Williams, actor (d. 2005)^[19]
2 March – Deddie Davies, actress (d. 2016)^[20]
20 April – Andrew Vicari, portrait painter (d. 2016)^[21]
25 April – John Davies, historian (d. 2015)^[22]
14 May – Clive Rowlands, rugby player and coach (d. 2023)^[23]
25 May – Trevor Peck, footballer (d. 2014)^[24]
31 May – John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister of the UK^[25] (d. 2024)
13 June – Gwynne Howell, bass^[26]
6 July – Tony Lewis, cricketer and commentator
23 July – Meic Stephens, literary editor (d. 2018)^[27]
6 August – Rees Davies, historian (d. 2005)^[28]
12 September
- Richard Booth, secondhand bookseller (d. 2019)^[29]
- Patrick Mower, Welsh-descended actor
9 October – Denzil Davies, politician (d. 2018)^[30]
22 October – Dai Davies , English-born Welsh sports journalist (d. 2008)^[31]
1 November – Delwyn Williams, politician
4 December – Richard Meade, equestrian (d. 2015)^[32]
15 December – Michael Bogdanov, theatre director (d. 2017 in Greece)^[33]

Deaths

3 February – James Bevan, First Wales rugby union captain, 81^[34]
9 February – Dick Hellings, Wales international rugby player, 63
30 March – Jack Elliott, Wales international rugby player, 66
16 April – Sir William Price, industrialist
8 May – George Ormsby-Gore, 3rd Baron Harlech, 83^[35]
28 May – Alfred Brice, Wales international rugby player, 66
23 June – Clement Edwards, politician, 69^[36]
22 July – Giotto Griffiths, Wales international rugby player, 73
22 October (in Dublin) – Sir John Purser Griffith, civil engineer, 90
4 November – John Thomas Job, minister, hymn-writer and poet, 71^[37]
28 November – Reginald Arthur (Reggie) Gibbs, shipowner and rugby footballer, 56
29 December (at sea) – Eluned Morgan, writer, 68^[38]
date unknown – Gwynfil Evans (Barry Western), novelist^[39]

References

^ C. J. Litzenberger; Eileen Groth Lyon (2006). The Human Tradition in Modern Britain. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7425-3735-4.
^ Jones, Evan David. "John James Williams". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
^ "Aberystwyth's great storm of 1938". BBC. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ Cardiff (Wales). City Council. Development Committee (1960). The City and Port of Cardiff; the Official Handbook: "Cardiff Blue Book.". E.J. Burrow. p. 38.
^ Council for British Archaeology; Cadw (Organization : Great Britain) (1992). The Welsh industrial heritage: a review : based upon the proceedings of a joint Cadw/CBA conference held in Cardiff, 5 December 1986. Council for British Archaeology. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-872414-13-3.
^ Cardiff Naturalists' Society (1937). Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society. p. 33.
^ T. S. Eliot (15 January 2019). Letters of T. S. Eliot Volume 8: 1936–1938. Faber & Faber. p. 918. ISBN 978-0-571-31639-7.
^ Helen Grime (6 October 2015). Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, Twentieth-Century Actress. Routledge. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-317-32095-1.
^ Elena Puw Morgan (1999). Y graith. Gwasg Gomer. ISBN 978-1-85902-745-5.
^ Edward Larrissy (2016). The Cambridge Companion to British Poetry, 1945-2010. Cambridge University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-107-09066-8.
^ David Greer (1997). A Numerous and Fashionable Audience: The Story of Elsie Swinton. Thames Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-905210-93-3.
^ Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 129.
^ Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 272.
^ Colin Chambers (14 May 2006). The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre. A&C Black. p. 513. ISBN 978-1-84714-612-0.
^ Roberta M. Milgram (1991). Counseling Gifted and Talented Children: A Guide for Teachers, Counselors, and Parents. ABC-CLIO. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-89391-773-9.
^ Jeffrey Richards (1997). Films and British National Identity: From Dickens to Dad's Army. Manchester University Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780719047435.
^ Patrick Hannan (5 September 2007). "Will Edwards". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
^ "People in the Assembly: Cynog Dafis". BBC News. 2000 [Published 1 September 1998; updated in 2000 on unspecified date]. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ Harris M. Lentz III (24 October 2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-7864-5210-1.
^ Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
^ "Andrew Vicari". The Valleys Heroes. Retrieved 25 May 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Russell Davies (25 February 2015). "John Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
^ "How a village boy overcame childhood trauma to become Welsh rugby's indisputable leader". WalesOnline. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
^ Silk, Huw (30 May 2014). "Poppies star of the 1970s dies". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
^ A. T. Lane (1995). Biographical Dictionary of European Labor Leaders. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 778. ISBN 978-0-313-29900-1.
^ Trevor Herbert; Peter Stead (2001). Hymns and Arias: Great Welsh Voices. University of Wales Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7083-1699-3.
^ Sam Adams (5 July 2018). "Meic Stephens obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ John Watts (26 May 2005). "Sir Rees Davies". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
^ "Obituary: Richard Booth died on August 20th". The Economist. 29 August 2019.
^ Julia Langdon (15 October 2018). "Denzil Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ Michael Blair (21 May 2008). "Obituary: Dai Davies". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^ Victoria Spicer (12 January 2015). "Richard Meade obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ Michael Coveney (18 April 2017). "Michael Bogdanov obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ "Bevan, James Alfred (BVN877JA)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ Kelly's Handbook of Distinguished People 1938. Kelly. 1923. p. 877.
^ The Law Journal. Law journal. 1938. p. 17l.
^ Enaf Morrice Job. "Job, John Thomas (1867-1938), Calvinistic Methodist minister, hymn writer, and poet". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
^ "MORGAN, ELUNED (1870–1938), writer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 190.

[1] C. J. Litzenberger; Eileen Groth Lyon (2006). The Human Tradition in Modern Britain. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7425-3735-4.

[2] Jones, Evan David. "John James Williams". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

[3] "Aberystwyth's great storm of 1938". BBC. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

[4] Cardiff (Wales). City Council. Development Committee (1960). The City and Port of Cardiff; the Official Handbook: "Cardiff Blue Book.". E.J. Burrow. p. 38.

[5] Council for British Archaeology; Cadw (Organization : Great Britain) (1992). The Welsh industrial heritage: a review : based upon the proceedings of a joint Cadw/CBA conference held in Cardiff, 5 December 1986. Council for British Archaeology. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-872414-13-3.

[6] Cardiff Naturalists' Society (1937). Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society. p. 33.

[7] T. S. Eliot (15 January 2019). Letters of T. S. Eliot Volume 8: 1936–1938. Faber & Faber. p. 918. ISBN 978-0-571-31639-7.

[8] Helen Grime (6 October 2015). Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, Twentieth-Century Actress. Routledge. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-317-32095-1.

[9] Elena Puw Morgan (1999). Y graith. Gwasg Gomer. ISBN 978-1-85902-745-5.

[10] Edward Larrissy (2016). The Cambridge Companion to British Poetry, 1945-2010. Cambridge University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-107-09066-8.

[11] David Greer (1997). A Numerous and Fashionable Audience: The Story of Elsie Swinton. Thames Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-905210-93-3.

[12] Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 129.

[13] Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 272.

[14] Colin Chambers (14 May 2006). The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre. A&C Black. p. 513. ISBN 978-1-84714-612-0.

[15] Roberta M. Milgram (1991). Counseling Gifted and Talented Children: A Guide for Teachers, Counselors, and Parents. ABC-CLIO. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-89391-773-9.

[16] Jeffrey Richards (1997). Films and British National Identity: From Dickens to Dad's Army. Manchester University Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780719047435.

[17] Patrick Hannan (5 September 2007). "Will Edwards". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

[18] "People in the Assembly: Cynog Dafis". BBC News. 2000 [Published 1 September 1998; updated in 2000 on unspecified date]. Retrieved 24 December 2023.

[19] Harris M. Lentz III (24 October 2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-7864-5210-1.

[20] Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

[21] "Andrew Vicari". The Valleys Heroes. Retrieved 25 May 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[22] Russell Davies (25 February 2015). "John Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.

[23] "How a village boy overcame childhood trauma to become Welsh rugby's indisputable leader". WalesOnline. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.

[24] Silk, Huw (30 May 2014). "Poppies star of the 1970s dies". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

[25] A. T. Lane (1995). Biographical Dictionary of European Labor Leaders. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 778. ISBN 978-0-313-29900-1.

[26] Trevor Herbert; Peter Stead (2001). Hymns and Arias: Great Welsh Voices. University of Wales Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7083-1699-3.

[27] Sam Adams (5 July 2018). "Meic Stephens obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

[28] John Watts (26 May 2005). "Sir Rees Davies". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2022.

[29] "Obituary: Richard Booth died on August 20th". The Economist. 29 August 2019.

[30] Julia Langdon (15 October 2018). "Denzil Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

[31] Michael Blair (21 May 2008). "Obituary: Dai Davies". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2018.

[32] Victoria Spicer (12 January 2015). "Richard Meade obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

[33] Michael Coveney (18 April 2017). "Michael Bogdanov obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

[34] "Bevan, James Alfred (BVN877JA)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[35] Kelly's Handbook of Distinguished People 1938. Kelly. 1923. p. 877.

[36] The Law Journal. Law journal. 1938. p. 17l.

[37] Enaf Morrice Job. "Job, John Thomas (1867-1938), Calvinistic Methodist minister, hymn writer, and poet". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2022.

[38] "MORGAN, ELUNED (1870–1938), writer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 18 March 2021.

[39] Meic Stephens (April 1986). The Oxford companion to the literature of Wales. Oxford University Press. p. 190.

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1938 in Wales

Incumbents

Events

Arts and literature

Awards

New books

In English

In Welsh

New drama

Music

Film

Broadcasting

Sport

Births

Deaths

See also

References