On this day 1928 when she arrived in Burry Port, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

Aviator Wilmer Stultz asked Amelia to join him on the flight from Newfoundland to Wales in the trinator plane "Friendship" and upon its landing at Burry Port, she became the first woman ever on a transatlantic flight. When interviewed afterwards, she pledged to one day make the flight solo and true to her word in 1932, she became the first woman to make the crossing solo when she flew from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland to Ireland. Tragically Earhart disappeared (presumed dead) over the central Pacific during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937.

The historic 1928 flight and landing which was completed in 20hrs 49 minutes is commemorated by the Amelia Earhart Gardens in Burry Port on Stepney Road.   

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Killed this day 1815 at The Battle of Waterloo 

Sir Thomas Picton , on whom, opinion was and remains divided.

A military hero, a roisterer, a duellist, a fornicator and a “blood-soaked governor” of Trinidad, described by Wellington as  “a rough, foul-mouthed devil as ever lived.”.  Opinion on  was and remains divided.

Sir Thomas Picton, was born on 24 August 1758 at Poyston, near Haverfordwest and embarked on a military career from an early age.  He is best remembered for his bravery and death at The Battle of Waterloo (on the allied side, he was the highest-ranking victim of the battle).   Interestingly, it is reported that he fought the battle wearing his civilian clothes and a top hat, as his luggage had not arrived in time. Public monuments were later erected to his memory in St Paul's Cathedral and Carmarthen.

However, Picton had also gained notoriety whilst governor of Trinidad from 1797 to 1803. In one of the greatest scandals of the age, he was recalled to London and found guilty of the brutal execution, torture and mutilation of slaves.  However, a retrial found Picton’s behaviour, legal though deplorable, which allowed him to continue his military career. 

Some Welsh connections to The Battle of Waterloo, which occurred this day 1815. 

*  The 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers  were positioned on the crest behind Hougoumont, where they were ravaged by cannon balls and harassed by regular cavalry attacks, the whole day,  knowing that they formed the cornerstone of the front line and that they must hold at all costs.  Out of an initial force of 641 men, the 23rd lost 5 officers and 13 rank & file, with 6 officers and 80 rank and file wounded. 

*  Sir Thomas Picton of Pembrokeshire was the highest ranking victim of the battle on the allied side

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Born this day 1971 in Mynyddcerrig, Gwendraeth Valley

Nigel Owens , Wales's most capped  international rugby union referee, who was the only Welsh Rugby World Cup referee  in France 2007 and New Zealand 2011.  He also refereed two consecutive Heineken Cup finals in 2008 and 2009.  Owens, a former school technician is a fluent Welsh speaker and was made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 2011.  He is also known as one of the presenters on the S4C programmes, Jonathan and Welsh language chat show Bwrw'r Bar.

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The Edge of Love,  a film released on 18th June 2008 and starring Matthew Rhys, Kiera Knightley and Sienna Miller  concerns the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (played by Rhys), his wife Caitlin Macnamara (played by Miller) and their married friend  Vera Phillips( played by Knightley ) 

The story is based loosely on real events, during the London blitz of World War II.  Vera Phillips  runs into and falls in love again with her first love, the poet, Dylan Thomas who is now married to and has a child with the spirited Caitlin Macnamara.   The storyline then follows their drink-fuelled relationships, with the two women eventually becoming best friends.

The first section of the South Wales Railway, operated by the Great Western Railway, between Chepstow and Swansea, was opened on 18th June 1850  

The connection to the Gloucester and London Paddington line was then completed in July 1852, with the opening of the bridge at Chepstow. Construction of the line west of Swansea to New Milford (Neyland)  was completed in 1856.