A renewed confidence ....... the new century bought an exciting period of economic growth and political achievements. The south Wales valleys and the coal industry were flourishing and producing a third of the world’s coal exports. 1910-1913 was a period of industrial unrest with a strike at the Penrhyn Quarry, and riots in Tonypandy and Llanelli. Women’s voices were heard for the first time with the emergence of the Suffragette movement. It was a period of great success and optimism, but this was soon disrupted by the start of the First World War in 1914. One of Wales’ most prominent political figures of the 20th century, David Lloyd George, came to the fore in its wake http://centenary.llgc.org.uk/en/XCM1907/index.html The First World War is remembered as the bloodiest conflict ever seen. 40,000 Welshmen had been killed on the battlefield by 1918. One symbol of this loss is the poet ‘Hedd Wyn’, Ellis Humphrey Evans (1887–1917). He completed his poem ‘Yr Arwr’ (The Hero) en route to the battlefields of Flanders and submitted it to the Chair competition at the National Eisteddfod in Birkenhead, 1917. His poem won the competition, but he had been killed in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge near Ieper (Ypres) six weeks earlier. http://centenary.llgc.org.uk/en/XCM1907/events/3.html In Memory of Private ELLIS HUMPHREY EVANS 61117, 15th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers who died age 30 on 31 July 1917 Son of Evan and Mary Evans, of Trawsfynydd, Merioneth. One of the war poets, who wrote poetry under the name 'Hedd Wyn'. Remembered with honour ARTILLERY WOOD CEMETERY
