Patriotic Alternative Wales

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Today in Welsh history... 20 April 1893, Harold Lloyd was born in Nebraska (his paternal great-grandparents were Welsh), Lloyd, was a film actor and producer most famous for his silent comedies. Early in his career Lloyd lost most of his right hand in an accident with a bomb but went on to perform all of his own hair-raising stunts, including the iconic hanging from the hands of a clock in 'Safety Last.!' He made more films than Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin put together and was dubbed the 'king of daredevil comedy.'

Today in Welsh history... 19 April 1775, the 23rd regiment of foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers or Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig) fought at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Battles were fought in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge. They marked the outbreak of armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and Patriot militias from America's thirteen colonies. The British aim was to destroy military supplies at Concord, but on the night before the battle, warning of the British expedition had been rapidly sent from Boston to militias in the area by several riders, including Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott, with information about British plans. As the British passed through Lexington a shot was fired, the 'shot heard around the world'. 500 American militiamen fought and defeated three British companies, forcing the British to retreat with their mission unaccomplished.

Today in Welsh history... 18 April 1896 James Ira Thomas 'Taffy' Jones was born in Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire. 'Taffy' Jones was the highest scoring Welsh air ace of The First World War. During the War, he scored 37 victories and survived 28 flying accidents. In one incident he attacked an enemy bomber with just a flare pistol. At the end of the war, he volunteered to fight against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War and also went on to serve during the Second World War.

Today in Welsh history... 17 April 1621, the twin brothers Thomas Vaughan (physician and natural philosopher), and Henry Vaughan (physician, author, and metaphysical poet) were born in Llansantffraed near Abergavenny. Both brothers attended Jesus College, Oxford, after which Thomas became rector of the parish of Llansantffraed, until he was evicted in 1650 because of his Royalist sympathies. He went on to use his alchemical skills in the preparation of medicines in the manner recommended by Renaissance physician Paracelsus and established a reputation with his book of Natural Magic, AnthroposophiaTheomagica. Henry began to practise medicine and write poetry, taking his inspiration from the mountainous environment of the Brecon Beacons, using the pseudonym 'Silurist' in homage to the native Celtic Tribe. His work influenced later poets such as Wordsworth, Tennyson and Siegfried Sassoon.

Today in Welsh history... 15 April 1822, lieutenant-general Sir Percy Egerton Herbert, Welsh soldier, was born at Powys Castle. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He saw much hard service with his regiment in the Kaffir war of 1851-3, and was present with it in the expedition to the Orange River sovereignty and at the battle of the Borea. He received a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy for his services in South Africa. In 1854 he saw action in the Crimea and was dangerously wounded at the Alma. He was present with his division at Inkermann and at the siege and fall of Sebastopol (where he was wounded), and was regarded at the time as one of the most active and indefatigable staff-officers in the whole army. For his Crimean services he was made aide-de-camp to the queen and C.B.; received the brevet rank of colonel, the Crimean medal and three clasps; was appointed an officer of the Legion of Honour.

Today in Welsh history... 13 April 1743, Thomas Jefferson, known as a Founding Father of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence was born in Shadwell, Virginia. Jefferson was of Welsh descent, and, according to Jefferson himself, the family had originally come to America from Snowdonia. Jefferson became the third president of the United States. As president, Jefferson pursued the nation's shipping and trade interests against Barbary pirates and aggressive British trade policies. Beginning in 1803, he promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's claimed land area.  After he retired he founded the University of Virginia.

Today in Welsh history... 11 April marks the anniversary of two Welsh mining disasters; On 11th April 1877 an underground flood at the Tynewydd Colliery, Rhondda, caused the deaths of five miners. Four other miners were rescued after eighteen hours, but a further five were trapped underground for four days. After the resulting rescue, twenty-five men were awarded the Albert Medal for bravery, the first to be awarded for gallantry on land. On 11th April 1893 an underground fire at Great Western Colliery, Pontypridd, led to the deaths of 63 men and boys. There would have been many more casualties but for the bravery of district fireman Thomas Prosser, who braved the dense smoke underground to open air doors, diverting poisonous fumes out of the mine.

Today in Welsh history... 29 March 1913, the poet R. S. Thomas was born in Cardiff and raised from the age of five in Holyhead, Anglesey. Thomas was a poet and a priest who was noted for his national pride, spirituality and deep love of the nation of Wales. He was nominated for a Nobel Prize and awarded the Queen's Medal for Poetry. He is regarded as one of Wales's finest poets, with a career spanning fifty years. He was also a prolific campaigner on issues such as holiday homes, the Welsh language and nuclear disarmament. It seems wrong that out of this bird, Black, bold, a suggestion of dark Places about it, there yet should come Such rich music, as though the notes' Ore were changed to a rare metal At one touch of that bright bill. (From A Blackbird Singing)

Today in Welsh history... 28 March 1942, Captain Stephen Halden Beattie from Montgomery, a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Navy, was awarded the Victoria Cross the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and British Empire forces (now Commonwealth), for his actions at the St. Nazaire Raid which took place on this day. Beattie was in command of the destroyer HMS Campbeltown which, whilst under intense fire, he deliberately rammed into the dock gates of the Normandie dry dock. The ship had been packed with timed explosives which took the dock out of action, forcing German warships to return to home waters for repairs. His citation read: “Under intense fire directed at the bridge from point blank range of about 100 yards, and in the face of the blinding glare of many searchlights, he steamed her into the lock-gates and beached and scuttled her in the correct position.”

Today in Welsh history... 24 March 1877, Annie Foulkes, Welsh writer and teacher of French was born in Llanberis. She was educated at Dr Williams School in Dolgellau and later at the Collège de Jeunes Filles in Saumur, France (1896–97). She taught French after graduating, teaching at Tregaron County School from 1898 to 1905, and Barry County School from 1905 to 1918. In 1918, she succeeded Robert Silyn Roberts as Executive Secretary of the Appointments Board of the University of Wales. Foulkes spent many years in Barry, where she was an associate of Thomas Jones and his literary circle, and it was Thomas who convinced Foulkes to compile an anthology of modern Welsh poetry, which was first published in 1918 with the title Telyn y dydd. The anthology became a staple in the Welsh school curriculum and was published in many new editions. She also authored a travel book documenting her trip to the Pyrenees. Foulkes died in Caernarfon in 1962.

Today in Welsh history.. 22 March 1582, John Williams, Welsh clergyman and political advisor to King James I was born in Conwy. In 1620 he was made Dean of Westminster and was elevated by King James I to the Bishopric of Lincoln in 1621. When James I was succeeded by Charles I in 1625, Williams was quickly removed from office and was prevented from attending Parliament. He was suspended from his benefices in 1636, fined, and imprisoned in the Tower of London until 1640. But Williams refused to resign as Bishop of Lincoln. In 1640 the Lords forced the King to release him, and Williams resumed his offices and tried to steer a course between the extreme wings of the Church. He spent the last years of his life in his native north Wales, initially supporting the royalist cause, but eventually coming to an accommodation with the local parliamentarian commander in 1646.

Today in Welsh history... 21 March 1713, Francis Lewis, signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New York, was born in Llandaff. Lewis entered a mercantile house in London until he turned 21 and inherited some properties left by his father. Lewis sold the properties and used the proceeds to acquire merchandise and set sail for New York City, arriving there in 1734 or 1735.  Lewis was later a member of the Committee of Sixty, a member of the New York Provincial Congress, and a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1779. In 1776 he was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence. In Queens, New York, Francis Lewis High School and The Francis Lewis School are named after Lewis. Francis Lewis Boulevard, which locals sometimes refer to as "Franny Lew" or "Franny Lewie," stretches almost the entire north/south length of the borough. Francis Lewis Park is located under the Queens approach of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.

Today in Welsh history... 20 March 1345, a Saturn-Jupiter-Mars-conjunction occurred which, at the time, was conjectured to have been the cause of the Black Death that was to soon devastate Europe. The Black Death (The Plague) was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Historians estimate that up to 200 million people perished. It is believed that the pathogen responsible was the Yersinia Pestis bacterium, which is thought to have started in China or central Asia before travelling along the trade route called the Silk Road, reaching the Crimea by 1346 and from there, carried by fleas on black rats on merchant ships into the Mediterranean and Europe. It struck Bristol in the summer of 1348 and arrived in Wales later that year, killing an estimated 30% of the population. Further outbreaks of the plague occurred in 1360 and 1369 though these were not so virulent. It took 150 years for Europe's population to recover.