1942 in Wales
Encyclopedia
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1942 to Wales
and its people
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and its people
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
.
Incumbents
- Prince of WalesPrince of WalesPrince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
- vacant - Princess of WalesPrincess of WalesPrincess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
- vacant - Archbishop of WalesArchbishop of WalesThe post of Archbishop of Wales was created in 1920 when the Church in Wales was separated from the Church of England , and disestablished...
- Charles Alfred Howell GreenCharles Alfred Howell GreenCharles Alfred Howell Green was the first bishop of the newly established diocese of Monmouth and subsequently Bishop of Bangor during which time he also served as Archbishop of Wales... - ArchdruidArchdruidThe Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
of the National Eisteddfod of WalesNational Eisteddfod of WalesThe National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
- CrwysWilliam Williams (Crwys)William Williams , better known by his bardic name of "Crwys", was a Welsh poet in the Welsh language. He served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1939 to 1947....
Events
- 27 March – Lt-Commander Stephen Halden BeattieStephen Halden BeattieCaptain Stephen Halden Beattie VC was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
steers HMS Campbeltown through an enemy attack, winning the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his courage under fire. - 25 April – A Nazi German LuftwaffeLuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Junkers 88 crashes into a hill near Builth WellsBuilth WellsBuilth Wells is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh of the Wye Valley. It has a population of 2,352....
. Two crew members are killed, the other two taken prisoner. - 20 July – An RAF Lockheed HudsonLockheed HudsonThe Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
crashes near Llanfair Dyffryn ClwydLlanfair Dyffryn ClwydLlanfair Dyffryn Clwyd is a village in Denbighshire, Wales, situated in the Vale of Clwyd about one mile south of the town of Ruthin. By the 2001 census, it had 1048 residents and 50.6% of them could speak Welsh. The age group with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers was the 15 year olds where...
, killing thirteen crew. - 30 July – A Heinkel 111 crashes on PwllheliPwllheliPwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
beach, killing three crew. The survivor is captured. - 11 August
- An American Flying Fortress crashes in the Berwyn rangeBerwyn rangeThe Berwyn range is an isolated and sparsely populated area of moorland located in the north-east of Wales, roughly bounded by Llangollen in the north-east, Corwen in the north-west, Bala in the south-west, and Oswestry in the south-east.The Berwyn range also played its part in causing King Henry...
, killing its six crew. - An RAF Wellington bomber crashes into St Brides Bay, killing six Polish crew.
- An American Flying Fortress crashes in the Berwyn range
- 18 August – The body of a German pilot is washed ashore at Newton on the South Wales coast. He is buried in the village of NottageNottageNottage is a small village near Porthcawl in Bridgend County Borough, Wales....
. - 31 October – An RAF Wellington collides in mid-air with an RAF Bristol BeaufortBristol BeaufortThe Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
near Bangor, killing seven crew. - 16 November – An RAF Lancaster bomber crashes into Dolwen Hill, Llanerfyl, near WelshpoolWelshpoolWelshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
killing seven crew. - The Glamorganshire CanalGlamorganshire CanalThe Glamorganshire Canal was a canal in south Wales, UK, running from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff. Construction started in 1790, and the 25 miles of canal was fully opened by 1794. Its primary purpose was to enable the Merthyr iron industries to transport their goods, and it later served the coal...
closes. - The South Wales Coal Dust Research Committee is set up.
- The Welsh Courts Act is passed, allowing the Welsh languageWelsh languageWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
to be used in courts of law. - During the building of a military airfield, a hoard of La Tène metalwork is found in Llyn Cerrig BachLlyn Cerrig BachLlyn Cerrig Bach is a small lake in the north-west of the island of Anglesey, Wales. Its main claim to fame is the large hoard of Iron Age materials discovered there in 1942, apparently placed in the lake as votive offerings...
.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in CardiganCardigan, CeredigionCardigan is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203...
)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - withheld
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Herman Jones
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - withheld
New books
- D. Gwenallt JonesD. Gwenallt JonesGwenallt , poet, critic, and scholar, was one of the most important figures of 20th-century Welsh-language literature.-Early life:...
- Cnoi Cil - John Gwilym Jones - Y Dewis
- Thomas Jones (T. J.) - Cerrig Milltir
- Roland MathiasRoland MathiasRoland Glyn Mathias , was a Welsh writer, known for his poetry and short stories. He was also a literary critic, and responsible with Raymond Garlick for the success of the literary magazine Dock Leaves , later from 1957 The Anglo-Welsh Review. He edited it from 1961 to 1976...
- Days Enduring - Leslie NorrisLeslie NorrisGeorge Leslie Norris FRSL , was a prize-winning Welsh poet and short story writer. Up to 1974 he earned his living as a college lecturer, teacher and headmaster...
- Tongue of Beauty
Sport
- FootballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
- 9 May – Wales defeat England 1-0
- 24 October – Wales defeat England 2-1
Births
- 2 January - Billy HullinBilly HullinWilliam Gwyn "Billy" Hullin is a former Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and London Welsh. He represented the Barbarians and played county rugby for Surrey and the London Counties...
, Wales international rugby union player - 1 February – Terry JonesTerry JonesTerence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
, writer, comedian and actor - 15 February – Leslie GriffithsLeslie GriffithsLeslie John Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Burry Port, is a Methodist minister and life peer in the House of Lords, where he sits with the Labour Party....
, Methodist minister and politician - 9 March – John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
, musician - 13 March – John MantleJohn Mantle (rugby player)John Mantle is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby player. He was capped for Wales at rugby union, and Great Britain, and Wales in rugby league.-Rugby career:...
, Welsh dual-code rugby player - 28 March – Neil KinnockNeil KinnockNeil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
, politician - 5 April – Peter GreenawayPeter GreenawayPeter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
, film-maker - 20 May – Lynn DaviesLynn DaviesLynn Davies CBE was a member of the Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club and captain of the British Olympic long jump team in 1964....
, athlete - 21 May – David Hunt, Secretary of State for Wales 1990-93
- 25 May – Ron DaviesRon Davies (footballer)Ronald Tudor "Ron" Davies was a Welsh footballer who played as a centre forward. He spent most of his career with Southampton in the Football League First Division, and also for the Welsh national team....
, footballer - 8 June – Doug MountjoyDoug MountjoyDoug Mountjoy is a retired Welsh snooker player. Although he only won two ranking titles, he did so in successive tournaments in 1988/1989 – and while in his mid 40s. In more recent years he was the coach to the United Arab Emirates snooker association between 1997 and 1999.- Early life...
, snooker player - 13 July – Hywel GwynfrynHywel GwynfrynHywel Gwynfryn is a Welsh TV and radio personality, and lyricist.Gwynfryn was born in Llangefni, Anglesey. He was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama....
, television presenter - 17 July – Spencer DavisSpencer DavisSpencer David Nelson Davis is a British musician and multi-instrumentalist, and the founder of the 1960s rock band, the Spencer Davis Group.-Early life:...
, musician - 20 July – Sylvia HealSylvia HealSylvia Lloyd Heal is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Halesowen and Rowley Regis from 1997 to 2010, having previously been the MP for Mid Staffordshire from 1990 to 1992...
, politician - 16 September – Barrie HoleBarrie HoleBarrington Gerard "Barrie" Hole is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international.-Career:...
, footballer - 16 September – Jeff YoungJeff YoungJeff Young is an American guitarist. He graduated from Musicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with the thrash metal band Megadeth, appearing on the 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!...
, rugby player - 24 November – Craig ThomasCraig Thomas (author)David Craig Owen Thomas was a Welsh author of thrillers, most notably the Mitchell Gant series.-Background:...
, novelist - 5 September – Chris Corbett, rugby player
- 12 September – Delme ThomasDelme ThomasWilliam Delme Thomas is a former rugby union player who became one of Wales' best known rugby players in the 1960s and 70s. He joined Llanelli RFC in 1961 and was the team's captain when they won the league in the 1972-73 season and was also the captain when Llanelli famously beat a touring All...
, rugby player - 2 December - Brian EvansBrian Evans (footballer)Brian Clifford Evans was a Welsh footballer who played as a winger in the Football League for Swansea City and Hereford United...
, footballer (d.2003)
Deaths
- 1 January – John Baldwin Hoystead Meredith, Welsh-Australian soldier and doctor
- 7 January – Edward Arthur Lewis, historian
- 27 January – Tom BarlowTom Barlow (rugby player)Thomas Marriott Barlow was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales...
, Welsh rugby player and cricketer - 15 February – Frank Treharne Jones, lawyer
- 22 March – Ebenezer Griffith-Jones, academic
- 22 April
- John John Evans, journalist
- James Morgan PryseJames Morgan PryseJames Morgan Pryse was an author, publisher, and theosophist.-Family Background and Early Life:Pryse was born in New London, Ohio , and died in Los Angeles, California....
, Welsh-descended American author, publisher, theosophist and founder of the Gnostic Society, 96
- 14 May - Walter WatkinsWalter WatkinsWalter Martin Watkins was a Welsh footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke, Aston Villa and Sunderland. He was born in Caersws, Wales.-Club career:...
, footballer - 10 July - Sydney Curnow VosperSydney Curnow VosperSydney Curnow Vosper RWS, RWA was a painter and etcher of landscapes and figure subjects. His later work has a close association with Wales and Brittany...
, artist, 75 - 22 July – Gilbert Cunningham JoyceGilbert Cunningham JoyceGilbert Cunningham Joyce was a university educator and Bishop of Monmouth.Born 7 April 1866, he was educated at Harrow School, and Brasenose College, Oxford...
, Bishop of Monmouth - 6 August – Francis Green, antiquary
- 24 September – David Walters (Eurof), minister and author
- 14 October – Jem EvansJem EvansOwen James 'Jem' Evans was a Welsh rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales...
, Wales international rugby union player - 26 October - Richard MathiasRichard MathiasSir Richard Mathias, 1st Baronet was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was elected at the December 1910 general election as Member of Parliament for Cheltenham, but was subsequently unseated on petition....
, politician, 79 - 7 December - Lionel Beaumont ThomasLionel Beaumont ThomasColonel Lionel Beaumont Thomas MC , was a Welsh businessman, British Army officer and politician, who served as Conservative Member of Parliament for Birmingham King's Norton, from 1929 to 1935.-Biography:...
, businessman, British Army officer and politician, 49 - 22 December – Elias Henry Jones, educationist and author