1917 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1917 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 - Dyfed

Events

*February - Psychoanalyst Ernest Jones marries composer Morfydd Llwyn-Owen.
*6 July - Aqaba falls to a joint force of Arab irregulars and the supporters of Auda Abu Tayi, largely thanks to the efforts of T. E. Lawrence.
*17 July - Prince Louis of Battenberg is created Marquess of Milford Haven.
*August - At the Birkenhead eisteddfod, the announcement is made that the winner of the chair, Hedd Wyn, has been killed in battle. Contralto Laura Evans-Williams sings "I Blas Gogerddan" instead of the traditional chairing song.
*25 August - The steamship "Cymrian" is torpedoed by a German U-boat off Porthcawl, resulting in the deaths of 10 crew.
*September - Hugh Evan-Thomas is promoted to vice-admiral.
*28 October - The steamship "Eskmere" is torpedoed by a German U-boat in St Bride's Bay, resulting in the deaths of 20 crew.
*7 December - The steamship "Earl of Elgin" is torpedoed by a German U-boat in Caernarfon Bay, resulting in the deaths of 18 crew.
*15 December - The steamship Formby" is torpedoed by a German U-boat in Caernarfon Bay, resulting in the deaths of 15 crew.
*27 December - The steamship "Adela" is torpedoed by a German U-boat off the Skerries, Anglesey, resulting in the deaths of 24 crew.
*The Rotary Club opens its first branches in Wales, at Cardiff and Llanelli.
*Launch of the first submarine built in Pembroke.
*Josiah Towyn Jones becomes a Junior Lord of the Treasury and government Whip.
*Jimmy Thomas is instrumental in forming the National Union of Railwaymen.
*Margaret Haig Thomas becomes Director of the Women's Department of the Ministry of National Service.
*St Winefride's Well at Holywell temporarily dries up as a result of mining activity.
*Trade unionist Ness Edwards is imprisoned as a conscientious objector.

Arts and literature

*"Papur Pawb" ceases publication.

Awards

*National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Birkenhead)

*National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - Hedd Wyn
*National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - William Evans (Wil Ifan)

New books

*A. G. Prys-Jones - "Welsh Poets"
*Moelona - "Bugail y Bryn"
*Mary Edith Nepean - "Gwyneth of the Welsh Hills"

Music

*Tenor Ifor Owen Thomas goes to study under Jean de Reszke in Paris.

Film

*

port

*Boxing - May 28: Freddie Welsh is knocked out at the Manhattan Athletic Club, losing his world lightweight title after three years as champion.

Births

*9 January - Haydn Tanner, rugby player
*21 April - Megs Jenkins, actress (died 1998)
*10 June - Meredith Edwards, actor (died 1999)
*27 October - Dylan Thomas, poet (died 1953)
*26 November - Gerald James, actor (died 2006)

Deaths

*28 February - Richard Lloyd, uncle of Lloyd George, 82
*9 April - Edward Thomas, Anglo-Welsh poet (born 1878)
*1 May - William Knox D'Arcy, industrialist (born 1849)
*9 June - Thomas McKenny Hughes, geologist, 84
*31 July
**Ellis Humphrey Evans ("Hedd Wyn"), poet (born 1887)
**James Llewellyn Davies, VC recipient
*21 November - Rhys Jones Huws, poet, 55
*25 November - John Williams, choirmaster, 61
*25 December - Richard Jones Berwyn, colonist and writer, 54
*"date unknown" - Frederick William Harris, industrialist