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2nd October
Born on this day 1897 in Shotton, Flintshire
Henry Weale, who as a 20 years old Lance-Corporal in the 14th Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers, during the First World War, on 26 August 1918 at Bazentin-le-Grand, France, Weale rushed and captured a hostile machine gun posts, even though his own gun failed him. He was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his action.
Born on this day 1787 at Pencaerelin, in Llanfihangel-Bryn-Pabuan, near Builth Wells.
Reverend Thomas Price, better known by his bardic name "Carnhuanawc" who was the leading figure in the cultural life of Wales in the first half of the 19th century.
His greatest achievement was his "Hanes Cymru" ("History of Wales") which was the first attempt to trace the origin and development of the Welsh nation. Published between 1836 and 1842 it showed how the people of Wales were inheritors of the Celtic traditions. Price was also a major influence on Lady Charlotte Guest and assisted her in her translation of the Mabinogion.
In October 1171, King Henry II of England made a pilgrimage to St David’s.
This was at the time when Rhys ap Gruffydd (The Lord Rhys) was ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth and in conflict with Henry who was also involved in the Norman invasion of Ireland.
1155 Rhys became the ruler of Deheubarth.
1158 Rhys met with Henry to discuss peace terms. The terms were harsh and he was stripped of all his possessions apart from Cantref Mawr.
1159 With Henry II away in France, Rhys attacked Dyfed and laid siege to Carmarthen.
1162 Rhys captured Llandovery castle.
1163 Henry II returned from France and invaded Deheubarth, stripped Rhys of l his lands and took him prisoner. Rhys was released a few weeks later and given back a small part of his holdings.
1164 Rhys and Owain Gwynedd united in an uprising.
1165. Henry invaded Wales again, however, Rhys and Owain, helped by torrential rain forced Henry's army to retreat in disorder and Rhys won back most of his lands. Henry had Rhys's son Maredudd blinded and in reprisal Rhys burned down Cardigan Castle.
1167 Rhys and Owain attacked southern Powys and besieged the Norman castle of Rhuddlan.
1168 Rhys destroyed the Norman Castle at Builth.
1169 At the request of Diarmait MacMurchada King of Leinster, Rhys released the Norman lord Robert Fitz-Stephen from his captivity to lead the vanguard of the Norman invasion of Ireland.
1169 - 1170 Rhys benefited from the Norman invasion of Ireland, as this distracted one of his main adversaries, Strongbow (Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke) along with the other Cambro - Norman lords of south Wales.
1170 The death of Owain Gwynedd left Rhys as the acknowledged leader of all the Welsh princes.
1171 Henry II now wished to make peace with Rhys and confirmed his possession of all the lands he had taken from Norman lords, in exchange for 300 horses and 4,000 cattle.
1171 They met again in October that year at Pembroke, as Henry waited to cross to Ireland. It was at this time that Henry made a pilgrimage to St David’s Cathedral. .
1172 Henry and Rhys met at Laugharne when Henry returned from Ireland and appointed Rhys "Justiciar for south Wales".
The 2nd October, holds special significance for the Labour Party in Wales as it was on this day in;
1900 - Keir Hardie became MP for Merthyr and Aberdare
1983 - Neil Kinnock became the leader of the Labour Party, the party that Hardie had been instrumental in founding.
The Welsh Air Service was the world's first regular passenger helicopter service. The service was started on 2nd October 1950 by British European Airways and operated between Cardiff, Wrexham and Liverpool.
Flying from the original Cardiff airport, on the shores of Pengam Moor near Splott, the Sikorsky S51 helicopters called at Plas Coch in Wrexham and reached Speake airport in Liverpool within two hours. The service operated from Monday to Friday and carried up to six passengers. However, passenger numbers were too low to make the service economic and it was terminated in 1951.
