1917 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1917 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
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.
- 10 September - Oakdale Workmen's Institute is officially opened.
- 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.
- Josiah Towyn Jones becomes a Junior Lord of the Treasury and government Whip.
- Jimmy Thomas becomes General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, which he had been instrumental in forming.
- 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
New books
- A. G. Prys-Jones - Welsh Poets
- Moelona - Bugail y Bryn
- Mary Edith Nepean - Gwyneth of the Welsh Hills
Music
Film
Sport
- Boxing: on 28 May 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, Wales rugby international and captain (d. 2009)
- 21 January – Stan Richards, footballer (d. 1987)
- 21 April – Megs Jenkins, actress (d. 1998)
- 10 May – Bill Tamplin, Wales rugby international and captain (d. 1989)
- 10 June – Meredith Edwards, actor (d. 1999)
- 8 October – Ronnie James, British champion boxer (d. 1977)
- 24 October – Denys Val Baker, British writer and promoter of Celtic culture (died 1984)
- 27 October – Dylan Thomas, poet (d. 1953)
- 26 November – Gerald James, actor (d. 2006)
- 3 December – Esyllt T. Lawrence, feminist writer (d. 1995)
Deaths
- 31 January – Henry Bracy, tenor, 71
- 28 February – Richard Lloyd, uncle of Lloyd George, 82
- 2 April – Bryn Lewis, Wales international rugby player, 26 (killed in action)
- 9 April – Edward Thomas, Anglo-Welsh poet, 39 (killed in action)
- 1 May – William Knox D'Arcy, industrialist (born 1849)
- 8 June – George Dobson, Wales international rugby union player
- 9 June – Thomas McKenny Hughes, geologist, 84
- 31 July
- 21 November – Rhys Jones Huws, poet, 55
- 25 November – John Williams, choirmaster, 61
- 14 December – Phil Waller, Wales and British Lions rugby player, 28 (killed in action)
- 25 December – Richard Jones Berwyn, colonist and writer, 54
- date unknown – Frederick William Harris, industrialist
1917 in Wales