CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "https://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="https://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"><head><title>BBC - Wales History</title><style type="text/css"> #archive-mothballed-message a:hover span { text-decoration:underline; } #blq-container #archived-mothball-message a { padding-left:250px; padding-top:17px; background-position: 180px 10px; } #ttd-masthead #archived-mothball-message a { padding-left:250px; padding-top:17px; background-position: 180px 10px; } #k-masthead-container #archived-mothball-message a { padding-left:250px; padding-top:17px; background-position: 180px 10px; } #archived-mothball-message a { display:block; height:56px; background:url(/globalresources/mothball-images/i.gif) 100px 10px no-repeat; color:#666; text-decoration:none; padding-left:160px; padding-top:12px; font-size:20px; font-family: verdana,helvetica,arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; } </style><meta name="description" content="A guide to the history of Wales: blogging on historic figures, events, anniversaries, memories, museum exhibitions, castles, places to go and more."><meta name="keywords" content="bbc, wales, welsh, whales, welch, english, history of wales, cymru, history, historic, historical, blog, blogging, blogger, writer, writing, news, phil carradice, past master, hidden histories, coal house, look up your genes, snowdonia farmhouse, st david, saint david, nye bevan, owain glyndwr, world war 1, world war 2, ww1, ww2, wwi, wwii, world war one, world war two, first world war, second world war, lloyd george, pontcysyllte aqueduct, dr john davies, romans, tudors, dark ages, medieval wales, family history, investiture, migration, bbc wales archive, anniversary, anniversaries, legends, cardiff, newport, swansea, wrexham, north wales, south wales, mid wales, children"><meta name="DCTERMS.created" content="2009-01-27T12:00:00Z"><meta name="DCTERMS.modified" content="2012-07-30T15:29+0:00"><link rel="schema.dcterms" href="https://purl.org/dc/terms/"><link rel="index" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/a-z/" title="A to Z"><link rel="copyright" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/" title="Terms of Use"><link rel="icon" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"><meta name="viewport" content="width = 974"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/staticarchive/c808749ad4d537416e40591def8e05c130d72722.css"><script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/ (function(undefined){if(!window.bbc){window.bbc={}}var ROLLING_PERIOD_DAYS=30;window.bbc.Mandolin=function(id,segments,opts){var now=new Date().getTime(),storedItem,DEFAULT_START=now,DEFAULT_RATE=1,COOKIE_NAME="ckpf_mandolin";opts=opts||{};this._id=id;this._segmentSet=segments;this._store=new window.window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage(COOKIE_NAME);this._opts=opts;this._rate=(opts.rate!==undefined)?+opts.rate:DEFAULT_RATE;this._startTs=(opts.start!==undefined)?new Date(opts.start).getTime():new Date(DEFAULT_START).getTime();this._endTs=(opts.end!==undefined)?new Date(opts.end).getTime():daysFromNow(ROLLING_PERIOD_DAYS);this._signupEndTs=(opts.signupEnd!==undefined)?new Date(opts.signupEnd).getTime():this._endTs;this._segment=null;if(typeof id!=="string"){throw new Error("Invalid Argument: id must be defined and be a string")}if(Object.prototype.toString.call(segments)!=="[object Array]"){throw new Error("Invalid Argument: Segments are required.")}if(opts.rate!==undefined&&(opts.rate<0||opts.rate>1)){throw new Error("Invalid Argument: Rate must be between 0 and 1.")}if(this._startTs>this._endTs){throw new Error("Invalid Argument: end date must occur after start date.")}if(!(this._startTs<this._signupEndTs&&this._signupEndTs<=this._endTs)){throw new Error("Invalid Argument: SignupEnd must be between start and end date")}removeExpired.call(this,now);var overrides=window.bbccookies.get().match(/ckns_mandolin_setSegments=([^;]+)/);if(overrides!==null){eval("overrides = "+decodeURIComponent(RegExp.$1)+";");if(overrides[this._id]&&this._segmentSet.indexOf(overrides[this._id])==-1){throw new Error("Invalid Override: overridden segment should exist in segments array")}}if(overrides!==null&&overrides[this._id]){this._segment=overrides[this._id]}else{if((storedItem=this._store.getItem(this._id))){this._segment=storedItem.segment}else{if(this._startTs<=now&&now<this._signupEndTs&&now<=this._endTs&&this._store.isEnabled()===true){this._segment=pick(segments,this._rate);if(opts.end===undefined){this._store.setItem(this._id,{segment:this._segment})}else{this._store.setItem(this._id,{segment:this._segment,end:this._endTs})}log.call(this,"mandolin_segment")}}}log.call(this,"mandolin_view")};window.bbc.Mandolin.prototype.getSegment=function(){return this._segment};function log(actionType,params){var that=this;require(["istats-1"],function(istats){istats.log(actionType,that._id+":"+that._segment,params?params:{})})}function removeExpired(expires){var items=this._store.getItems(),expiresInt=+expires;for(var key in items){if(items[key].end!==undefined&&+items[key].end<expiresInt){this._store.removeItem(key)}}}function getLastExpirationDate(data){var winner=0,rollingExpire=daysFromNow(ROLLING_PERIOD_DAYS);for(var key in data){if(data[key].end===undefined&&rollingExpire>winner){winner=rollingExpire}else{if(+data[key].end>winner){winner=+data[key].end}}}return(winner)?new Date(winner):new Date(rollingExpire)}window.bbc.Mandolin.prototype.log=function(params){log.call(this,"mandolin_log",params)};window.bbc.Mandolin.prototype.convert=function(params){log.call(this,"mandolin_convert",params);this.convert=function(){}};function daysFromNow(n){var endDate;endDate=new Date().getTime()+(n*60*60*24)*1000;return endDate}function pick(segments,rate){var picked,min=0,max=segments.length-1;if(typeof rate==="number"&&Math.random()>rate){return null}do{picked=Math.floor(Math.random()*(max-min+1))+min}while(picked>max);return segments[picked]}window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage=function(name){validateCookieName(name);this._cookieName=name;this._isEnabled=(bbccookies.isAllowed(this._cookieName)===true&&bbccookies.cookiesEnabled()===true)};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.setItem=function(key,value){var storeData=this.getItems();storeData[key]=value;this.save(storeData);return value};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.isEnabled=function(){return this._isEnabled};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.getItem=function(key){var storeData=this.getItems();return storeData[key]};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.removeItem=function(key){var storeData=this.getItems();delete storeData[key];this.save(storeData)};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.getItems=function(){return deserialise(this.readCookie(this._cookieName)||"")};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.save=function(data){window.bbccookies.set(this._cookieName+"="+encodeURIComponent(serialise(data))+"; expires="+getLastExpirationDate(data).toUTCString()+";")};window.bbc.Mandolin.Storage.prototype.readCookie=function(name){var nameEq=name+"=",ca=window.bbccookies.get().split("; "),i,c;validateCookieName(name);for(i=0;i<ca.length;i++){c=ca[i];if(c.indexOf(nameEq)===0){return decodeURIComponent(c.substring(nameEq.length,c.length))}}return null};function serialise(o){var str="";for(var p in o){if(o.hasOwnProperty(p)){str+='"'+p+'"'+":"+(typeof o[p]==="object"?(o[p]===null?"null":"{"+serialise(o[p])+"}"):'"'+o[p].toString()+'"')+","}}return str.replace(/,\}/g,"}").replace(/,$/g,"")}function deserialise(str){var o;str="{"+str+"}";if(!validateSerialisation(str)){throw"Invalid input provided for deserialisation."}eval("o = "+str);return o}var validateSerialisation=(function(){var OBJECT_TOKEN="<Object>",ESCAPED_CHAR='"\\n\\r\\u2028\\u2029\\u000A\\u000D\\u005C',ALLOWED_CHAR="([^"+ESCAPED_CHAR+"]|\\\\["+ESCAPED_CHAR+"])",KEY='"'+ALLOWED_CHAR+'+"',VALUE='(null|"'+ALLOWED_CHAR+'*"|'+OBJECT_TOKEN+")",KEY_VALUE=KEY+":"+VALUE,KEY_VALUE_SEQUENCE="("+KEY_VALUE+",)*"+KEY_VALUE,OBJECT_LITERAL="({}|{"+KEY_VALUE_SEQUENCE+"})",objectPattern=new RegExp(OBJECT_LITERAL,"g");return function(str){if(str.indexOf(OBJECT_TOKEN)!==-1){return false}while(str.match(objectPattern)){str=str.replace(objectPattern,OBJECT_TOKEN)}return str===OBJECT_TOKEN}})();function validateCookieName(name){if(name.match(/ ,;/)){throw"Illegal name provided, must be valid in browser cookie."}}})(); /*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/ if (typeof bbccookies_flag === 'undefined') { bbccookies_flag = 'ON'; } showCTA_flag = true; cta_enabled = (showCTA_flag && (bbccookies_flag === 'ON') ); (function(){var e="ckns_policy",m="Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT",k={ads:true,personalisation:true,performance:true,necessary:true};function f(p){if(f.cache[p]){return f.cache[p]}var o=p.split("/"),q=[""];do{q.unshift((o.join("/")||"/"));o.pop()}while(q[0]!=="/");f.cache[p]=q;return q}f.cache={};function a(p){if(a.cache[p]){return a.cache[p]}var q=p.split("."),o=[];while(q.length&&"|co.uk|com|".indexOf("|"+q.join(".")+"|")===-1){if(q.length){o.push(q.join("."))}q.shift()}f.cache[p]=o;return o}a.cache={};function i(o,t,p){var z=[""].concat(a(window.location.hostname)),w=f(window.location.pathname),y="",r,x;for(var s=0,v=z.length;s<v;s++){r=z[s];for(var q=0,u=w.length;q<u;q++){x=w[q];y=o+"="+t+";"+(r?"domain="+r+";":"")+(x?"path="+x+";":"")+(p?"expires="+p+";":"");bbccookies.set(y,true)}}}window.bbccookies={_setEverywhere:i,cookiesEnabled:function(){var o="ckns_testcookie"+Math.floor(Math.random()*100000);this.set(o+"=1");if(this.get().indexOf(o)>-1){g(o);return true}return false},set:function(o){return document.cookie=o},get:function(){return document.cookie},_setPolicy:function(o){return h.apply(this,arguments)},readPolicy:function(o){return b.apply(this,arguments)},_deletePolicy:function(){i(e,"",m)},isAllowed:function(){return true},_isConfirmed:function(){return c()!==null},_acceptsAll:function(){var o=b();return o&&!(j(o).indexOf("0")>-1)},_getCookieName:function(){return d.apply(this,arguments)},_showPrompt:function(){var o=(!this._isConfirmed()&&window.cta_enabled&&this.cookiesEnabled()&&!window.bbccookies_disable);return(window.orb&&window.orb.fig)?o&&(window.orb.fig("no")||window.orb.fig("ck")):o}};bbccookies._getPolicy=bbccookies.readPolicy;function d(p){var o=(""+p).match(/^([^=]+)(?==)/);return(o&&o.length?o[0]:"")}function j(o){return""+(o.ads?1:0)+(o.personalisation?1:0)+(o.performance?1:0)}function h(r){if(typeof r==="undefined"){r=k}if(typeof arguments[0]==="string"){var o=arguments[0],q=arguments[1];if(o==="necessary"){q=true}r=b();r[o]=q}else{if(typeof arguments[0]==="object"){r.necessary=true}}var p=new Date();p.setYear(p.getFullYear()+1);p=p.toUTCString();bbccookies.set(e+"="+j(r)+";domain=bbc.co.uk;path=/;expires="+p+";");bbccookies.set(e+"="+j(r)+";domain=bbc.com;path=/;expires="+p+";");return r}function l(o){if(o===null){return null}var p=o.split("");return{ads:!!+p[0],personalisation:!!+p[1],performance:!!+p[2],necessary:true}}function c(){var o=new RegExp("(?:^|; ?)"+e+"=(\\d\\d\\d)($|;)"),p=document.cookie.match(o);if(!p){return null}return p[1]}function b(o){var p=l(c());if(!p){p=k}if(o){return p[o]}else{return p}}function g(o){return document.cookie=o+"=;expires="+m+";"}function n(){var o='<script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/bbccookies/0.6.6/script/bbccookies.js"><\/script>';if(window.bbccookies_flag==="ON"&&!bbccookies._acceptsAll()&&!window.bbccookies_disable){document.write(o)}}n()})(); /*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript"> if (! window.gloader) { window.gloader = [ "glow", {map: "https://node1.bbcimg.co.uk/glow/glow/map.1.7.7.js"}]; } </script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://node1.bbcimg.co.uk/glow/gloader.0.1.6.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/21f604032d29edfa0a166f89bd41c95004718ed2.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> bbcRequireMap = {"jquery-1":"/staticarchive/6cabfa9be6f12b6fec5ddf61c2dca1dde868555e", "jquery-1.4":"/staticarchive/cce0a0919c693f9473535d6941613bad16a4b40f", "jquery-1.9":"/staticarchive/14a082a42c1074b40bedae2666d3204e142899f5", "swfobject-2":"/staticarchive/b02e05aa3b12cfe8510390c7eccecd0af315b0a6", "demi-1":"/staticarchive/a916559c328a465dafcc30056734651ac8fdbb4b", "gelui-1":"/staticarchive/0159feca9179b145c659298e302b55dc76dfa15d", "cssp!gelui-1/overlay":"/staticarchive/fee6b4a3b22c51a59dd3ddebfb1b765049c683f6.css", "istats-1":"/staticarchive/125ca583fde51c9babc88112cf0545a6d2cf53ac", "relay-1":"/staticarchive/ab39b61cf0980994246594bebe70fe460df87a42", "clock-1":"/staticarchive/7b8bb05c3fa19067c2c4c99144d21702cc15704f", "canvas-clock-1":"/staticarchive/703fd8b8a1b4ecf9cf624195bfb9691c648d3919", "cssp!clock-1":"/staticarchive/85ca997ae2f6bd2990765422dcc5b1c386c9d0cb.css", "jssignals-1":"/staticarchive/238f1d675d1626860f85815b7ab638cd41811a06", "jcarousel-1":"/staticarchive/3b38690b91f14468826c5f05f6e3da9beb55f4b1", "bump-3":"//emp.bbci.co.uk/emp/bump-3/bump-3.js", "gelui-1/widget": "/staticarchive/fcf01fd866ac629bad5a92592c208c3b04184cd3", "gelui-1/carousel": "/staticarchive/562f83c33cfe04062d95de8024ba03636cd0af4c", "gelui-1/core": "/staticarchive/d69cc93987af4e17f910996164dc15516614353e", "gelui-1/overlay": "/staticarchive/84bd061f5e14f0728caa8c933fe6d758b54fec5a", "gelui-1/autosuggest": "/staticarchive/ca81d8400ee443b0c31a47f1eea1c6872091dd48"}; require({ baseUrl: 'https://'+location.host+'/', 'dynamicServer': 'https://id.bbc.co.uk', 'secureServer': 'https://id.bbc.co.uk', 'assetVersion': '3.27.2', 'assetPath': 'https://static.bbci.co.uk/modules/identity/statusbar/3.27.2/' }; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/1333b9944bd6388f9645c37cab1e3a1d9ac83b90.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/fbe86a6c073f48f146a72f3e858ac837debcd84a.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ define('id-statusbar-config', { 'translation_signedout': "Sign in", 'translation_signedin': "Your account", 'use_overlay' : false, 'signin_url' : "https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/id/signin", 'locale' : "en-GB", 'policyname' : "", 'ptrt' : "https://www.bbc.co.uk/" }); /* ]]> */ </script><script type="text/javascript"> (function () { if (! window.require) { throw new Error('idcta: could not find require'); } var map = {}; map['idapp-1'] = 'https://static.bbci.co.uk/idapp/0.63.23/modules/idapp/idapp-1'; map['idcta/idcta-1'] = 'https://static.bbci.co.uk/id/0.23.4/modules/idcta/idcta-1'; require({paths: map}); define('id-config', {"idapp":{"version":"0.63.23","hostname":"ssl.bbc.co.uk","insecurehostname":"www.bbc.co.uk","tld":"bbc.co.uk"},"idtranslations":{"version":"0.29.1"},"identity":{"baseUrl":"https:\/\/talkback.live.bbc.co.uk\/identity"},"pathway":{"name":null,"staticAssetUrl":"http:\/\/static.bbci.co.uk\/idapp\/0.63.23\/modules\/idapp\/idapp-1\/View.css"}}); })(); </script><link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Atom" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/atom.xml"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/rss.xml"><style type="text/css"> @import '/staticarchive/6e19cb98ed19c044c78020031b13199c99fa7633.css'; </style><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/ef2ce6cbd768090f28ae6b14453268a3e16611af.js?r1112733"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/296b7e9b01b56142aec1bfa4760e2eb86073b802.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/880927e055ea2d75cc32254b7274b0e4a04822c2.js"></script><link rel="stylesheet" href="/staticarchive/3c2b27e8596edca82a396f84e4c6a991b49acc9e.css" type="text/css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="/staticarchive/3f22e626d9c302da131c20df3cd9b6fe5bc59b92.css" type="text/css"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.bbc.co.uk/dnaimages/components/commentbox/gloader/commentbox.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.bbc.co.uk/glow/gloader.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> gloader.load( ["glow", "1", "glow.net"], { async: true, onLoad: function(glow) { if (window.dna) { glow.ready(function(){ dna.lang.register(glow); }) } if (typeof identity !== 'undefined') { glow.events.addListener(identity,'login',function(){ window.location.reload(); }); } } } ); </script><style type="text/css"> #dna_commentbox_holder{display: block;} #dna_commentbox_holder_error{display: none;} </style><link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/staticarchive/8db1272f67d2a84959a2f118e59c89632f24e33f.css" type="text/css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="/staticarchive/2b7167fe844eaf06092aafd3c44b036199afe739.css" type="text/css"><script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/83f5bedfaaaae12a1220a872db0629fb6b14a507.js"></script></head><body class="orange blogs wales-history"> <script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/ bbcFlagpoles_istats = 'ON'; istatsTrackingUrl = '//sa.bbc.co.uk/bbc/bbc/s?name=SET-COUNTER&app_type=web&ml_name=SSI&ml_version=0.23.1&language=en-GB'; /*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.bbci.co.uk/archive_stats/modules/stats-1.0.0.js"></script> <div id="blq-container" class="blq-lang-en-GB blq-gvl-2-8 blq-id-identitystatusbar"> <div id="blq-pre-mast" lang="en-GB">  </div> <script type="text/html" id="blq-bbccookies-tmpl"><![CDATA[ <div id="bbccookies-prompt" class="bbccookies-d"> <h2> Cookies on the BBC website </h2> <p> We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.<span class="bbccookies-international-message"> We also use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you.</span> If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the BBC website. However, if you would like to, you can <a href="/privacy/cookies/managing/cookie-settings.html">change your cookie settings</a> at any time. </p> <ul> <li id="bbccookies-continue"> <button type="button" id="bbccookies-continue-button">Continue</button> </li> <li id="bbccookies-more"><a href="/privacy/cookies/bbc">Find out more</a></li></ul> </div> ]]></script><script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/ (function(){if(bbccookies._showPrompt()){var i=document,b=i.getElementById("blq-pre-mast"),f=i.getElementById("blq-global"),h=i.getElementById("blq-container"),c=i.getElementById("blq-bbccookies-tmpl"),a,g,e;if(b&&i.createElement){a=i.createElement("div");a.id="bbccookies";e=c.innerHTML;e=e.replace("<"+"![CDATA[","").replace("]]"+">","");a.innerHTML=e;if(f){f.insertBefore(a,b)}else{h.insertBefore(a,b)}g=i.getElementById("bbccookies-continue-button");g.onclick=function(){a.parentNode.removeChild(a);return false};bbccookies._setPolicy()}}})(); /*]]>*/</script><span id="blq-mast-background"></span> <div id="blq-container-inner" lang="en-GB"> <div id="blq-acc" class="blq-rst"> <p id="blq-mast-home" class="blq-no-images"><a href="/" hreflang="en-GB"> <span id="blq-blocks-wrapper"> <span class="blq-home">British Broadcasting Corporation</span><img src="/staticarchive/2e00d1d53e9c3bd91993196aa19a1d88589969f0.png" alt="BBC" id="blq-blocks" width="84" height="24"><span class="blq-span">Home</span> </span> </a></p> <p class="blq-hide"><strong><a id="page-top">Accessibility links</a></strong></p> <ul id="blq-acc-links"><li><a href="#blq-content">Skip to content</a></li> <li><a href="#blq-local-nav">Skip to local navigation</a></li> <li><a href="#blq-nav-main">Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation</a></li> <li><a href="#blq-search">Skip to bbc.co.uk search</a></li> <li><a href="/accessibility/">Accessibility Help</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="blq-main" class="blq-clearfix"> <div id="archived-mothball-message" style=" background:url(/globalresources/mothball-images/bg.jpg) 0 0 repeat-x #fbfbfb; "> <a href="/globalresources/mothballing" style=" "> This page has been archived and is no longer updated. <span style=" display:block; font-size:0.5em; padding:10px 0 0 70px; font-weight:bold; "> <span style=" color:#1A75BB; margin-left:100px; ">Find out more about page archiving.</span> </span> </a> </div><div id="blq-content"> <div id="header"> <a title="Wales History" href="/wales/history" id="headerlink">Wales History</a> <div class="rhsimg"> <a title="Go to Wales homepage" href="/wales/"> <img height="56" width="130" src="/staticarchive/cac44d99ab6617ea0efaa40aff50982db4adbf7c.gif" alt="BBC Cymru Wales"></a> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div>  <div id="local-navigation"> <ul id="navigation-list"><li class="navigation-button-first"><a href="/wales/history">History home</a></li> <li class="navigation-button"><a href="/wales/history/sites/themes">Themes</a></li> <li class="navigation-button"><a href="/wales/history/sites/localhistory">Local history</a></li> <li class="navigation-button"><a href="/wales/history/media">Archive</a></li> <li class="navigation-button selected"><a href="/blogs/waleshistory">Blog</a></li> <li class="navigation-button-last"><a href="/wales/history/sites/kids">History for kids</a></li> </ul></div>  </div> <div id="breadcrumb"><ul><li class="first"> <a href="/wales/history/">Wales History</a></li> <li>Blog</li></ul></div>  <div id="content"> <div class="main content">  <div class="content-left"> <div class="post" id="entry-310129"> <h2><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/july_1942_enemy_action_over_pwllheli.html" rel="bookmark">July 1942: enemy action over Pwllheli</a></h2> <div class="meta"> <div class="flt-r" style="width:180px"> <p style="text-align:right"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/july_1942_enemy_action_over_pwllheli.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a></p> <div class="flt-r bbc-st bbc-st-slim bbc-st-colour bbc-st-light"> <a href="/modules/sharetools/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fwaleshistory%2F2012%2F07%2Fjuly_1942_enemy_action_over_pwllheli.html&appId=news">Share this page</a> </div> </div> <div style="float:left; width:420px"> <p class="categories">Post categories: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/" rel="tag" title="">History</a><span class="delimiter">, </span><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/world_war_two/" rel="tag" title="">World War Two</a> </p> <p class="flt-l user-pic"> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/"> <img class="author_pic" src="/staticarchive/706a4d8585d66becc8455111a92dc0eb076ed541.png" width="50" alt="Phil Carradice"></a> <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></span> <span class="separator">|</span> <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-30T11:00:00+00:00">11:00 UK time, Monday, 30 July 2012</abbr> </p> </div> <div class="cleardiv"></div> </div> <div class="post_content"> <p>Britain might have been totally unprepared for war in 1939 but within a relatively short space of time the country's economy had been placed on a war footing. Slowly but surely things began to change. </p> <p>The defeat of the German air armada in the <a href="/history/battle_of_britain">Battle of Britain</a> during the summer and autumn of 1940 is well known. Without that victory Britain would almost certainly have been defeated. Thereafter, Germany turned to night bomber raids in an attempt to pummel Britain to her knees. But, to some extent at least, the British had learned their lesson and now the attacking bombers found they would not get their own way.</p> <p>By the end of 1941 there were 23 night fighter squadrons operating around the coast, as well as numerous anti-aircraft guns, searchlight batteries and so on. One of the best night fighter units was No 456 Squadron, operating out of Valley aerodrome on Anglesey.</p> <p><strong>Defending industrial ports</strong></p> <p>On 27 March 1942 Wing Commander EC Wolfe was appointed CO of the squadron. He was an experienced and capable pilot who was determined that his aircraft would play their part in helping to defend ports and industrial cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham. </p> <p>On the night of 30 July 1942 Wolfe was flying a <a href="https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bristolbeaufighter.cfm">Bristol Beaufighter</a> over the Irish Sea and Cardigan Bay, hunting for enemy raiders. With him in the two-seater fighter was Pilot Officer EA Ashcroft. </p> <p>Two radar contacts were made, the first with an enemy <a href="https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/junkers88.cfm">Junkers 88</a>. To Wolfe's annoyance the German plane managed to slip away in the darkness. The second contact, however, yielded much better pickings. As Wolfe later wrote in his combat report: "I obtained a visual at 2,000 feet range and identified the aircraft as a HE 111, the exhausts on each side of the engines being very apparent" (quoted in Fighter Command 1942).</p> <p>The German Heinkel bomber was one of several on their way to attack Birmingham but had, obviously, become separated from the rest of the force. Wolfe immediately closed the range and opened fire. Two quick bursts were enough to make the pilot drop his bomb load which fell harmlessly into the sea.</p> <p>Wing Commander Wolfe again: "No return fire resulted, the upper gunner having been shot through the head, the pilot's controls lost and the port engine put out of action during the first burst delivered." (quoted in Fighter Command 1942)</p> <p>After another few bursts of machine gun fire, flames were seen to flicker from underneath the Heinkel. Wolfe later said that he thought the port engine of the bomber fell off - he saw something dark dropping away from the fuselage and, certainly, one engine was missing when the wrecked aircraft was later examined. </p> <p>The Heinkel now went into a vertical dive from about 2,000 feet and crashed onto the beach at Pwllheli, very close to the fairways of the town golf club. </p> <p><strong> Heinkel casualties</strong></p> <p>Opinions vary as to the casualties. It is commonly believed that three men perished in the crash but the <a href="https://www.rcahmw.gov.uk/">Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales</a> claims only two. </p> <p>The gunner, in his position at the top of the fuselage, was killed by Wolfe's opening burst of fire. The observer, Horst Vogl, was also killed while attempting to parachute to safety - his parachute became entangled with the tail of the doomed aircraft and he was dragged to his death. </p> <p>Johann Hesketh, the radio operator, did manage to get out of the diving Heinkel and landed in the sea with two broken legs. He was rescued by a local fisherman. The pilot, Dirk Hofles, also baled out and he was quickly taken prisoner and marched off to captivity. </p> <p>In many respects the combat fought by Wolfe and Ashcroft with their German opponents on the night of 30 July 1942 - 70 years ago now - was no different from many other such engagements in the skies above Britain during <a href="/wales/history/sites/themes/ww2.shtml">World War Two</a> and Wales, certainly, saw its fair share of action during the war years.</p> <p>In 1942 alone, no fewer than eight crashes took place on or above the Welsh countryside. Several of these were British aircraft, brought down by accident or bad weather. But others, like the Junkers 88 that crashed into a hill side just outside Builth Wells in April that year, were as a result of fighter involvement, proof positive - if any were needed - that Britain had at last become prepared to fight a long and bitter war. </p> </div> </div> <div class="post" id="entry-310035"> <h2><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/welsh_language_act_1967.html" rel="bookmark">The Welsh language Act of 1967</a></h2> <div class="meta"> <div class="flt-r" style="width:180px"> <p style="text-align:right"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/welsh_language_act_1967.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a></p> <div class="flt-r bbc-st bbc-st-slim bbc-st-colour bbc-st-light"> <a href="/modules/sharetools/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fwaleshistory%2F2012%2F07%2Fwelsh_language_act_1967.html&appId=news">Share this page</a> </div> </div> <div style="float:left; width:420px"> <p class="categories">Post categories: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/20th_century/" rel="tag" title="">20th century</a><span class="delimiter">, </span><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/anniversary/" rel="tag" title="">Anniversary</a><span class="delimiter">, </span><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/" rel="tag" title="">History</a> </p> <p class="flt-l user-pic"> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/"> <img class="author_pic" src="/staticarchive/706a4d8585d66becc8455111a92dc0eb076ed541.png" width="50" alt="Phil Carradice"></a> <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></span> <span class="separator">|</span> <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-26T13:40:15+00:00">13:40 UK time, Thursday, 26 July 2012</abbr> </p> </div> <div class="cleardiv"></div> </div> <div class="post_content"> <p>There have been many important acts of parliament relating to Wales over the years but none was more significant than the 1967 Welsh Language Act - not so much because of what it said, more for what it symbolised. The act was passed and became law 45 years ago on 27 July 1967, a significant and vitally important date in Welsh history.</p> <p>The 1967 act was, effectively, the beginning of a process and the smashing away of old, out of date legislation that dated back to the time of the Tudors. It gave rights, albeit limited, that allowed people to use the Welsh language in legal proceedings in Wales - something that had been denied to them for centuries.</p> <p>The act also allowed the appropriate and relevant government ministers to authorise Welsh versions or translations of any documents required by the act. And, importantly, the fourth section of the act repealed part of the Wales and Berwick Act of 1746, a section that stated the term English should be used, apply to and include Wales as well as England.</p> <p><strong>Hughes Parry Report</strong></p> <p>The 1967 act was based upon part of the Hughes Parry Report (1965), although it did not include all of the report's recommendations. The report had advocated equal importance and significance, in both writing and speech, for Welsh and English in the court system.</p> <p>The significance of the 1967 Welsh Language Act lay in the fact that English - and only English - had, since the Acts of Union in 1536, been used in the law courts, totally ignoring the fact that most people in Wales in the 16th and 17th centuries spoke Welsh. Very few had any real understanding of English.</p> <p>Obviously things changed with the industrialisation of the country. It did not hide the basic iniquity of a system that effectively prevented Welsh men and women using their natural and native tongue. Now, however, the new act put Welsh and English on equal terms in public life.</p> <p><strong>Welsh Courts Act 1942</strong></p> <p>There had been some slackening of legislation in 1942 when the Welsh Courts Act allowed defendants and plaintiffs appearing in court to use Welsh if they were being disadvantaged by having to speak English. Such a disadvantage had, of course, to be proved and then there was the problem of finding a judge or magistrate who understood the Welsh language. The 1967 act, however, was a much more robust and useful piece of legislation.</p> <p>It had been passed only after extensive campaigning by members of Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Language Society; the latter organisation came into existence following Saunders Lewis' <a href="/blogs/waleshistory/2012/02/saunders_lewis_fate_of_the_language.html">seminal 1962 radio broadcast Tynged yr Iaith</a> ("the fate of the language").</p> <p>The act did not please everyone, particularly the more militant language campaigners who saw it as toothless. They continued to campaign and in 1982 the Welsh Language Society published their manifesto. An aggressive and virulent campaign of protest began, including a series of cottage burnings and the painting out of English language signs.</p> <p>Eventually, in 1993, a new Welsh Language Act was passed, giving far more importance to the Welsh language. Significantly, however, it could never have been passed had it not been for the revolutionary 1967 act - something that tends to be forgotten today.</p> </div> </div> <div class="post" id="entry-309865"> <h2><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/from_cardiff_arms_park_to_the_millennium_stadium.html" rel="bookmark">From Cardiff Arms Park to the Millennium Stadium</a></h2> <div class="meta"> <div class="flt-r" style="width:180px"> <p style="text-align:right"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/from_cardiff_arms_park_to_the_millennium_stadium.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a></p> <div class="flt-r bbc-st bbc-st-slim bbc-st-colour bbc-st-light"> <a href="/modules/sharetools/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fwaleshistory%2F2012%2F07%2Ffrom_cardiff_arms_park_to_the_millennium_stadium.html&appId=news">Share this page</a> </div> </div> <div style="float:left; width:420px"> <p class="categories">Post categories: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/" rel="tag" title="">History</a> </p> <p class="flt-l user-pic"> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/"> <img class="author_pic" src="/staticarchive/706a4d8585d66becc8455111a92dc0eb076ed541.png" width="50" alt="Phil Carradice"></a> <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></span> <span class="separator">|</span> <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-25T11:05:06+00:00">11:05 UK time, Wednesday, 25 July 2012</abbr> </p> </div> <div class="cleardiv"></div> </div> <div class="post_content"> <p>Out of all the international sporting arenas in the world, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has to be the most convenient and one of the most iconic. It sits on the banks of the River Taff in the centre of the city.</p> <p>It is an ideal location that makes a visit to Cardiff special every time the Six Nations Championship is held. People come for the rugby and the celebrations - or commiserations - afterwards. Yet what many visitors don't realise is that the ground also sits in an area that has always had important social and historical connections.</p> <div class="imgCaptionCenter" style="text-align: center; display: block; "><img class="mt-image-center" style="margin: 0 auto 5px;" src="/staticarchive/880ba5930366fda4a5f07ff2de1208364b307860.jpg" alt="Millennium Stadium. Photo © Philip Halling and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence" width="446" height="251"><p style="width: 446px; font-size: 11px; color: #666666; margin: 0pt auto 20px;">Millennium Stadium. Photo © <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/1837">Philip Halling</a> and licensed for <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/reuse.php?id=1938783">reuse</a> under this <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Creative Commons Licence </a></p> </div> <p>The original sports ground - and it was "sports", not just rugby - was named after an old hotel that used to exist on the spot where the Angel Hotel sits today. The original Cardiff Arms Hotel was knocked down in the late 1870s but its name lived on in the shape of the wide tract of open land that was once just a stone's throw from its front door.</p> <p>The land, like many of the open spaces around Cardiff, was owned by the Marquess of Bute and, due to his munificence, was used for all types of activity, from parades and shows to concerts and, most importantly of all, for sports events.</p> <p><strong>A home for cricket</strong></p> <p>Cricket was the first major sport played on the land but any real development of the area was hampered by the fact that it lay so close to the Taff and was, therefore, always liable to flooding whenever there was anything like a heavy downpour.</p> <p>A plan to take out the bend in the river - in all fairness, to suit the requirements of the Great Western Railway rather than to develop the sports facilities - resulted in the GWR's chief engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel adding one more to his list of major achievements. The work was finished by 1853 and the scene was set for Cardiff Arms Park to start really developing.</p> <p>The growth of rugby as a major sport in Wales dates to the 1870s, the Welsh Rugby Football Union being established in 1881. Soon the Arms Park was home to Cardiff Rugby Club and, increasingly, to the Welsh team as well. In the early days, international matches were played at various venues in Wales, in particular at St Helen's in Swansea, but gradually - as Cardiff's importance as a port and trading centre increased - the Arms Park came to be seen as the real home of Welsh rugby.</p> <p><strong>Cardiff City leave for Ninian Park</strong></p> <p>As well as rugby and cricket, soccer was also played at Cardiff Arms Park. Not until 1910, when Cardiff City created their pitch at Ninian Park, did soccer finally leave the ground.</p> <p>New stands were built in 1885 but flooding was still a regular hazard and in the final decade of the 19th century new drains were laid in an attempt - not really successful - to solve the problem. It did not stop the ground, and the sport of rugby, becoming increasingly popular. When Wales entered their first "Golden Era" at the beginning of the 20th century the national team was undefeated at the Arms Park for 12 years.</p> <p>The 1930s were a difficult time for Wales and for the Arms Park. Yet, somehow, they struggled through. For a while there was talk of the Welsh Rugby Union leaving the ground and decamping to Bridgend but, in the end, it came to nothing and, instead, the decision was made to revamp Cardiff Arms Park. New stands were built, including a brand new North Stand as well as new changing rooms for the players.</p> <p><strong>Bomb damage</strong></p> <p>It was too good to last and in 1939 the outbreak of World War Two brought more problems for the Arms Park. The ground was seriously damaged during an air raid by German bombers on 2 January 1941, the North Stand being totally destroyed as well as bits of the South Stand and West Terrace. It was not until the early 1950s that the damaged stands were finally replaced. Perhaps more importantly, several of the drains under the pitch were also destroyed and this led, once again, to serious problems with mud, water and flooding in the post-war years.</p> <p>Despite this, in 1953 the WRU made the announcement that, in future, all home international matches for Wales would be played at Cardiff Arms Park. And it was not just rugby. For the 1958 Empire Games the Arms Park acted as an athletics ground with a cinder track - state of the art facilities back in the 1950s - being built around the rugby pitch.</p> <div class="imgCaptionCenter" style="text-align: center; display: block; "><img class="mt-image-center" style="margin: 0 auto 5px;" src="/staticarchive/d9630fd6934685f9e6a7d793b91ecc79128893e9.jpg" alt="Cardiff Arms Park, taken in 1999. Photo © Nicholas Mutton and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence" width="446" height="251"><p style="width: 446px; font-size: 11px; color: #666666; margin: 0pt auto 20px;">Cardiff Arms Park, taken in 1999. Photo © <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/15201">Nicholas Mutton</a> and licensed for <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/reuse.php?id=495595">reuse</a> under this <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a></p> </div> <p>Since 1922, when the 4th Marquess of Bute sold the land to the Cardiff Arms Park Company for just £30,000, the Arms Park had been given to Cardiff Athletic Club on a 99 year lease. For a while both international and Cardiff sides continued to use the same pitch but, in 1962, a decision was made to split the Arms Park into two distinct grounds, one for international games, the other for use by Cardiff RFC.</p> <p>With Cardiff's ground now located on what was once the county cricket pitch, Glamorgan Cricket Club moved into a new home at nearby Sophia Gardens. Cardiff Athletic Club surrendered their lease to the WRU and a debenture scheme was launched to fund the project, enabling debenture holders to buy match tickets for the next 50 years.</p> <p><strong>Millennium Stadium</strong></p> <p>It took almost 17 years for the new National Stadium to become a reality. And then, within a dozen years the new ground was already dated and, in the eyes of some, unsafe. Consequently, yet another new development was proposed.</p> <p>This was for the revolutionary Millennium Stadium, a facility that cost somewhere in the region of £150 million and would, when completed, provide Wales with state of the art sporting facilities. The finished stadium had a fully retractable roof and turf that could be grown in pallets to enable easy replacement of damaged grass.</p> <p>With the new stands only partially finished, the first match at the Millennium Stadium was against South Africa. Wales duly won by 29 points to 19, a suitably fortuitous result. The stadium went on to host matches in two Rugby World Cups. For a short period at least, Cardiff Blues - as they had become known - moved out of the Arms Park to play at the Cardiff City Stadium but an announcement in May 2012 pleased most true rugby (and Cardiff) fans - Cardiff would be returning to the Arms Park.</p> <p>Since its opening the Millennium Stadium has hosted concerts, football matches and boxing tournaments and is regarded as one of the finest entertainment and sporting venues in the world.</p> <p>It is all a very far cry from the early days of Cardiff Arms Park when players had to change in the hotel across the road and, if it should happen to rain, spectators and players alike slowly sank into a wet and smelly bog.</p> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="sidebar"> <p class="jump"><a href="#jump_more">Jump to more content from this blog</a></p> <div class="block block-one about"> <div class="wrap1"> <div class="wrap2"> <div class="wrap3"> <div class="title"><h3>About this blog</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <p>Welcome to the BBC Wales History blog, a place to explore both celebrated and lesser-known incidents in Welsh history, watch rare clips from BBC Wales' own archive, find out about history events in Wales and get tips to help you delve into your family history.</p> <p><a title="Phil Carradice" href="/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/"><img src="/staticarchive/2f13cc481b199a48827d5b7a90647eef127c464b.jpg" width="55" height="55" alt="Phil Carradice" align="right"></a><a title="Phil Carradice" href="/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a> is a broadcaster, writer and poet. His blog posts provide a distinctly Welsh perspective on major events in world history, as well as revealing some little-known events from the Welsh past. </p><div class="cleardiv"></div> <p style="margin:10px 0 0 0!important">For the latest updates across BBC blogs, <br><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs">visit the Blogs homepage</a>.</p> <div class="cleardiv"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block rss block-one"> <div class="wrap1"> <div class="wrap2"> <div class="wrap3"> <div class="title"><h3>Subscribe to Wales History</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <p>You can stay up to date with Wales History via these feeds.</p> <p class="rss_link first"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/rss.xml">Wales History Feed</a><span>(RSS)</span></p> <p class="rss_link"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/atom.xml">Wales History Feed</a><span>(ATOM)</span></p> <p>If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find <a href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3223484.stm">our beginner's guide to RSS</a> useful.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="block blogs block-one"> <div class="wrap1"> <div class="wrap2"> <div class="wrap3"> <div class="title"><h3>Latest from BBC Wales blogs</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <div class="blogpromo"> <img src="/staticarchive/08416ea474d4d7b060174204ce8e40b02d01e94e.jpg" width="55" height="55" alt="Laura Chamberlain"><div class="blogpromoinfo"> <h4><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesarts/2012/07/remembering_welsh_poet_hedd_wyn.html">Remembering Welsh poet Hedd Wyn</a></h4> <p>Ninety-five years ago today, 31 July, Welsh poet Hedd Wyn died in... </p> <p class="blogtitle"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesarts/">Wales Arts »</a></p> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <div class="blogpromo"> <img src="/staticarchive/99d82943e05d34db77d3433a2f33b2e3b6c7ff3a.jpg" width="55" height="55" alt="Cardiff Singer"><div class="blogpromoinfo"> <h4><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesmusic/2012/11/cardiff-singer-30th-anniversary.shtml">Cardiff Singer 30th anniversary</a></h4> <p> The season ticket booking form, with details of all the concerts... </p> <p class="blogtitle"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesmusic/">Wales Music »</a></p> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <div class="blogpromo"> <img src="/staticarchive/f0bcec5bb2adea3ddb35c67f7f0d7dada7417413.jpg" width="55" height="55" alt="Derek Brockway"><div class="blogpromoinfo"> <h4><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesnature/2012/07/a_taste_of_summer.html">A taste of summer</a></h4> <p>Last week most of Wales enjoyed a taste of summer. At the... </p> <p class="blogtitle"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesnature/">Wales Nature »</a></p> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <div class="blogpromo"> <img src="/staticarchive/4340a59860577403b1d3734c73aa0843905b1d9f.jpg" width="55" height="55" alt="X-Ray production team"><div class="blogpromoinfo"> <h4><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/x-ray/2012/03/dog-grooming.shtml">Dog Grooming</a></h4> <p>A third of Welsh families own a dog and a growing number... </p> <p class="blogtitle"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/x-ray/">X-Ray »</a></p> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div>   </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div>  </div> <div class="cleardiv"></div>  <div class="related content"> <h2>Other posts from this blog</h2> <div class="grids"> <div class="first unit"> <h3><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/strata_florida_abbey.html" rel="bookmark">Strata Florida Abbey</a></h3> <div class="meta"> by <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></span> on <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-23T08:00:00+00:00">08:00 UK time, Monday, 23 July 2012</abbr> <span class="separator">|</span> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/strata_florida_abbey.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a> </div> <p>The ruins of Strata Florida Abbey lie close to the Ceredigion town of Tregaron, deep in rural solemnity and with almost no hint of the importance the place once held. Strata Florida (© Miss Steel, licensed for reuse under this...</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/strata_florida_abbey.html" rel="bookmark">Read more...</a></strong></p> </div> <div class=" unit"> <h3><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/the_sunday_school_movement.html" rel="bookmark">The Sunday school movement</a></h3> <div class="meta"> by <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></span> on <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-22T08:13:00+00:00">08:13 UK time, Sunday, 22 July 2012</abbr> <span class="separator">|</span> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/the_sunday_school_movement.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a> </div> <p>For many people living in Wales, childhood was marked by two special events - the children's matinée at the town picture house each Saturday and, a day later, attendance at Sunday school in the local church or chapel. Sunday school...</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/the_sunday_school_movement.html" rel="bookmark">Read more...</a></strong></p> </div> <div class=" unit"> <h3><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/searching_for_absent_friends_twylia_worlund.html" rel="bookmark">Hunting Twylia</a></h3> <div class="meta"> by <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/cat_whiteaway/">Cat Whiteaway</a></span> on <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-21T09:00:00+00:00">09:00 UK time, Saturday, 21 July 2012</abbr> <span class="separator">|</span> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/searching_for_absent_friends_twylia_worlund.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a> </div> <p>Back in April 2012 I received an email from a lady called Kathy in Newport, after appearing on BBC Radio Wales' Jamie & Louise programme. Kathy and her husband Stuart met in Singapore in the 1950s. She was stationed there...</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/searching_for_absent_friends_twylia_worlund.html" rel="bookmark">Read more...</a></strong></p> </div> <div class=" unit"> <h3><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/porthcawl_history_industrial_port_to_holiday_resort.html" rel="bookmark">Porthcawl: from industrial port to holiday resort</a></h3> <div class="meta"> by <span class="vcard author"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></span> on <abbr class="published" title="2012-07-20T14:33:08+00:00">14:33 UK time, Friday, 20 July 2012</abbr> <span class="separator">|</span> <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/porthcawl_history_industrial_port_to_holiday_resort.html" title="Comments made about this entry." rel="comments">Comments </a> </div> <p>The town of Porthcawl on the Glamorganshire coast seems to be a sleepy little seaside resort. But in its prime the place was first a centre for the export of agricultural and industrial products and, later, one of the premier...</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/porthcawl_history_industrial_port_to_holiday_resort.html" rel="bookmark">Read more...</a></strong></p> </div> </div> </div>  </div>  <div class="cleardiv"></div> <div id="explore"> <div class="more content"> <h2><a name="jump_more"></a>More from this blog...</h2>  <div class="grids"> <div class="unit topical"> <div class="title"><h3>Topical posts on this blog</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <div id="beingdiscussedNow"> <h2>Being Discussed Now</h2> <ul class="dna-list"><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/mumbles_lifeboat_disaster_1947">mumbles_lifeboat_disaster_1947</a><span>(1)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/thomas_pennant_natural_history">thomas_pennant_natural_history</a><span>(1)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/06/story_of_corona_pop.html">The story of Corona pop</a><span>(12)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/family_history_dna_test_results">family_history_dna_test_results</a><span>(1)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/tom_pryce_35th_anniversary_formula_one_south_african_grand_prix">tom_pryce_35th_anniversary_formula_one_south_african_grand_prix</a><span>(1)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/01/1889_tragedy_on_pembroke_river.html">1889 tragedy on Pembroke River</a><span>(5)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/wartime_evacuees_reunion_at_iscoyd_park">wartime_evacuees_reunion_at_iscoyd_park</a><span>(1)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/investiture_of_edward_viii">investiture_of_edward_viii</a><span>(1)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/05/family_history_researching_foundlings.html">After Z: forgotten foundlings</a><span>(2)</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogwales/posts/donald_houston_great_welsh_actor">donald_houston_great_welsh_actor</a><span>(1)</span></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="unit archives">  <div class="title"><h3>Archives</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <p><strong>Past twelve months</strong></p> <ul><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/07/">July 2012 (14)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/06/">June 2012 (9)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/05/">May 2012 (14)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/04/">April 2012 (16)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/03/">March 2012 (22)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/02/">February 2012 (12)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2012/01/">January 2012 (16)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/12/">December 2011 (12)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/11/">November 2011 (16)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/10/">October 2011 (13)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/09/">September 2011 (16)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/08/">August 2011 (16)</a></li> </ul><p class="all"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/archives.html">complete archive</a></p> </div>  </div> <div class="unit tags">  <div class="title"><h3>Categories</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <p>These are some of the popular topics this blog covers.</p> <ul class="tags"><li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/12th_century/">12th century</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/14th_century/">14th century </a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/15th_century/">15th century</a></li> <li class="rank-4"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/16th_century/">16th century</a></li> <li class="rank-5"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/17th_century/">17th century</a></li> <li class="rank-7"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/18th_century/">18th century</a></li> <li class="rank-35"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/19th_century/">19th century </a></li> <li class="rank-67"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/20th_century/">20th century</a></li> <li class="rank-4"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/america/">america</a></li> <li class="rank-40"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/anniversary/">anniversary</a></li> <li class="rank-8"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/archaeology/">archaeology</a></li> <li class="rank-11"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/archive/">archive</a></li> <li class="rank-1"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/arts/">arts</a></li> <li class="rank-5"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/battlefields/">battlefields</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/black_history_month/">black history month</a></li> <li class="rank-9"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/books/">books</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/business/">business</a></li> <li class="rank-8"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/castles_1/">castles</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/chartism/">chartism</a></li> <li class="rank-4"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/children/">children</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/christmas/">christmas</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/education/">education</a></li> <li class="rank-6"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/eisteddfod/">eisteddfod</a></li> <li class="rank-5"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/entertainers/">entertainers</a></li> <li class="rank-4"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/explorers/">explorers</a></li> <li class="rank-33"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/family/">family</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/film/">film</a></li> <li class="rank-5"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/first_click/">first click</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/food/">food</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/hands_on_history/">hands on history</a></li> <li class="rank-7"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/health/">health</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/hidden_histories/">hidden histories</a></li> <li class="rank-446"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/">history</a></li> <li class="rank-20"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/industry/">industry</a></li> <li class="rank-1"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/iron_age/">iron age</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/leisure/">leisure</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/local/">local</a></li> <li class="rank-7"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/maritime/">maritime</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/memorials/">memorials</a></li> <li class="rank-9"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/memories/">memories</a></li> <li class="rank-9"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/mid_wales/">mid wales</a></li> <li class="rank-11"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/military/">military</a></li> <li class="rank-18"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/mining/">mining</a></li> <li class="rank-14"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/museums/">museums</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/music/">music</a></li> <li class="rank-10"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/myths_and_legends/">myths and legends</a></li> <li class="rank-5"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/normans/">normans</a></li> <li class="rank-15"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/north_east_wales/">north east wales</a></li> <li class="rank-18"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/north_west_wales/">north west wales</a></li> <li class="rank-4"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/open_doors/">open doors</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/organisations/">organisations</a></li> <li class="rank-10"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/past_master/">past master</a></li> <li class="rank-30"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/places/">places</a></li> <li class="rank-10"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/politics/">politics</a></li> <li class="rank-20"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/radio/">radio</a></li> <li class="rank-14"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/religion/">religion</a></li> <li class="rank-7"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/romans/">romans</a></li> <li class="rank-1"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/royal_welsh_show/">royal welsh show</a></li> <li class="rank-13"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/royalty/">royalty</a></li> <li class="rank-9"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/ryder_cup/">ryder cup</a></li> <li class="rank-5"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/science/">science</a></li> <li class="rank-10"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/snowdonia/">snowdonia</a></li> <li class="rank-51"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/south_east_wales/">south east wales</a></li> <li class="rank-45"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/south_west_wales/">south west wales</a></li> <li class="rank-12"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/sport/">sport</a></li> <li class="rank-1"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/st_davids_day/">st david's day</a></li> <li class="rank-2"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/story_of_wales/">story of wales</a></li> <li class="rank-33"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/television/">television</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/the_story_of_wales/">the story of wales</a></li> <li class="rank-77"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/things_to_do/">things to do</a></li> <li class="rank-6"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/tonypandy_riots/">tonypandy riots</a></li> <li class="rank-6"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/tourism/">tourism</a></li> <li class="rank-30"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/transport/">transport</a></li> <li class="rank-14"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/war/">war</a></li> <li class="rank-3"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/weather/">weather</a></li> <li class="rank-15"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/welsh_abroad/">welsh abroad</a></li> <li class="rank-14"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/women/">women</a></li> <li class="rank-19"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/world_war_one/">world war one</a></li> <li class="rank-47"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/history/world_war_two/">world war two</a></li> </ul></div>  </div> <div class="unit authors"> <div class="title"><h3>Latest contributors</h3></div> <div class="inner"> <ul><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/james_roberts/">James Roberts</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/phil_carradice/">Phil Carradice</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/bbc_wales_history/">BBC Wales History</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/cat_whiteaway/">Cat Whiteaway</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="/staticarchive/a6d9e652f6ae17eb1e582e3c58afb64e417a7216.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">set_latest_blog(499);</script></div> <div id="blq-mast" class="blq-rst blq-default-domestic blq-new-nav" lang="en-GB"> <div id="blq-sign-in"> <div id="id-status" class="blq-id-v4"> <div class="id-out id-gel"> <h2 class="blq-hide">BBC iD</h2> <a href="https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/id/status" id="blq-idstatus-link"> <span class="id-icon"> <span></span> </span> <span id="blq-idstatus-text"> BBC iD </span> <span class="id-spinner"></span> <span class="blq-dropdown-arrow"> <span></span> </span> </a> </div> <div id="id-status-nav"> <div class="id-in blq-rst"> <ul><li> <a name="idDash" class="blq-nogo has-ptrt idDash" href="https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/id/settings"> Settings </a> </li> <li> <a name="idSignout" class="blq-nogo has-ptrt idSignout" href="https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/id/signout"> Sign out </a> </li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> <form method="get" id="blq-search-form" action="https://search.bbc.co.uk/search" accept-charset="utf-8"> <p id="blq-nav-search"> <input type="hidden" name="go" value="toolbar"><input type="hidden" name="uri" value="/blogs/waleshistory//"><label for="blq-search" class="blq-hide">Search term:</label> <input id="blq-search" type="text" name="q" value="" maxlength="128"><input id="blq-search-btn" type="submit" value="Search"></p> </form> <h2 class="blq-hide">BBC navigation</h2> <ul id="blq-nav-main" class="blq-not-uk"><li id="blq-nav-n"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/" hreflang="en-GB">News</a></li> <li id="blq-nav-s"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/" hreflang="en-GB">Sport</a></li> <li id="blq-nav-w"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/" hreflang="en-GB">Weather</a></li> <li id="blq-nav-i"> <a href="/iplayer/" hreflang="en-GB">iPlayer</a> </li> <li id="blq-nav-t"><a href="/tv/" hreflang="en-GB">TV</a></li> <li id="blq-nav-r"><a href="/radio/" hreflang="en-GB">Radio</a></li> <li id="blq-nav-m"><a href="#blq-nav">More…</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="blq-nav" class="blq-orange"> <div id="blq-nav-links" class="blq-clearfix" lang="en-GB"> <div id="blq-nav-links-inner"> <ul class="blq-nav-sub blq-first"><li><a href="/cbbc/">CBBC</a></li> <li><a href="/cbeebies/">CBeebies</a></li> <li><a href="/comedy/">Comedy</a></li> <li><a href="/food/">Food</a></li> <li><a href="/history/">History</a></li> </ul><ul class="blq-nav-sub"><li><a href="/learning/">Learning</a></li> <li><a href="/music/">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/science/">Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/earth/">Earth</a></li> <li><a href="/local/">Local</a></li> </ul><ul class="blq-nav-sub blq-last"><li><a href="/northernireland/">Northern Ireland</a></li> <li><a href="/scotland/">Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wales/">Wales</a></li> <li id="blq-az"><a href="/a-z/">Full A-Z<span class="blq-hide"> of BBC sites</span></a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div>  <div id="blq-foot" lang="en-GB" class="blq-rst blq-clearfix blq-foot-grey"> <div id="blq-footlinks"> <h2 class="blq-hide">BBC links</h2> <ul><li class="blq-footlinks-row"> <ul class="blq-footlinks-row-list"><li><a href="https://m.bbc.co.uk/">Mobile site</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/aboutthebbc/">About the BBC</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="blq-footlinks-row"> <ul class="blq-footlinks-row-list"><li><a href="/privacy/">Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/accessibility/">Accessibility Help</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="blq-footlinks-row"> <ul class="blq-footlinks-row-list"><li><a href="/privacy/cookies/about">Cookies</a></li> <li><a href="/contact/">Contact the BBC</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="blq-footlinks-row"> <ul class="blq-footlinks-row-list"><li><a href="/guidance/">Parental Guidance</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></div> <div id="blq-foot-blocks" class="blq-footer-image-light"><img src="/staticarchive/a8e42f8fe987b7cc9bf2d43b74b2c74b2448d2e3.png" width="84" height="24" alt="BBC"></div> <p id="blq-disclaim"><span id="blq-copy">BBC © 2014</span> <a href="/help/web/links/">The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.</a></p> <div id="blq-obit"><p><strong>This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.</strong></p></div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof require !== 'undefined') { require(['istats-1'], function(istats){ istats.track('external', { region: document.getElementById('blq-main') }); istats.track('download', { region: document.getElementById('blq-main') }); }); } </script></body></html>