Lewis Valentine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewis Valentine
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Lewis Edward Valentine
1 June 1893 Llanddulas, Conwy, Wales
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| Died | 1 March 1986 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | Welsh |
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| Known for | Leader and founder of Plaid Cymru |
Lewis Edward Valentine (born June 1, 1893 – died March 1986) was a Welsh politician, a Baptist pastor, and a writer. He was also a strong supporter of the Welsh language. He became the very first leader of the Welsh political party called Plaid Cymru.
Contents
Lewis Valentine: A Welsh Leader
Lewis Valentine played a big part in Welsh history. He helped create a major political party and stood up for Welsh culture. He believed strongly in the Welsh language and the idea of Wales as its own nation.
Early Life and Studies
Lewis Valentine was born in a place called Llanddulas in Conwy, Wales. His father, Samuel Valentine, worked in a limestone quarry. Lewis started studying to become a minister for the Baptist church. He went to the University College of North Wales, Bangor. However, his studies were stopped because of the First World War.
Starting Plaid Cymru
His experiences during the First World War made him believe strongly in Welsh nationalism. This is the idea that Wales should be a strong nation with its own identity. He also felt sympathy for Ireland's fight for independence.
In 1925, Lewis Valentine met with other important Welsh people like Saunders Lewis and H. R. Jones. They met at the National Eisteddfod, a big Welsh festival, in Pwllheli. Their goal was to start "a Welsh party."
People had been talking about needing a Welsh political party since the 1800s. By 1924, many people in Wales wanted their Welsh identity to be the main focus of politics.
The main goal of this new party was to help Wales become a Welsh-speaking country. They agreed that all party meetings and business would be done in Welsh. Members also had to cut ties with other British political parties. Valentine and others insisted on these rules.
In 1911, about 43.5% of people in Wales spoke Welsh. This was a decrease from 1891, when 54.4% spoke Welsh. The party wanted to stop this decline.
Because of these strict rules, the party didn't attract many experienced politicians at first. However, the party members felt that just creating the party was a big success. It showed that Wales was unique and distinct.
Between the two World Wars, Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru (the party's original name) was more successful as a group that pushed for social and educational changes. It was less like a traditional political party then.
The Llŷn Fire Protest (Tân yn Llŷn)
Welsh nationalism grew stronger in 1936 because of a big event. The UK government decided to build a bombing school at Penyberth on the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd. This area was known for its strong Welsh culture.
The UK Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, refused to listen to protests against the bombing school in Wales. This was despite half a million Welsh people protesting. Saunders Lewis explained that the government wanted to turn a "home of Welsh culture" into a place for "barbaric warfare." Building the school started exactly 400 years after the first law that joined Wales with England.
On September 8, 1936, the bombing school building was set on fire. In the investigation, Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine, and D.J. Williams said they were responsible. Their first trial in Caernarfon couldn't decide on a verdict. So, the case was moved to the Old Bailey in London.
The "Three" were sentenced to nine months in prison. When they were released, fifteen thousand Welsh people greeted them as heroes in Caernarfon. Many Welsh people were angry because the judge seemed to disrespect the Welsh language. They were also upset that the trial was moved to London. This event showed that Wales was fighting back for its identity.
Wales and World War II
When the Second World War began, members of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru could choose how much they supported the war. The party officially stayed neutral. Valentine, Lewis, and other leaders saw this war as a continuation of the First World War.
Their neutrality policy meant that Wales, as a nation, had the right to decide its own view on war. They believed other nations shouldn't force Welsh people to join their armies. The party leaders hoped many Welshmen would refuse to join the British Army.
Lewis and other party members wanted to strengthen loyalty to the Welsh nation. They wanted this loyalty to be stronger than loyalty to the British State. Lewis argued that the Welsh nation exists if some people act as if it does.
Most party members who refused military service did so because of their moral or religious beliefs. Almost all of them were excused from service. About 24 party members refused only for political reasons. Twelve of these went to prison. For Lewis, those who objected proved that Wales was resisting being fully absorbed into Britain, even under great pressure.
A Pastor and Writer
Lewis Valentine also served as a Baptist pastor in north Wales. He was the editor of a Baptist magazine called Seren Gomer from 1951 to 1975. He wrote about his experiences in the war in a book called Dyddiadur milwr (A soldier's diary), published in 1988.
Valentine is also famous for writing the hymn Gweddi dros Gymru ("A prayer for Wales"). This hymn is often sung to the music of Jean Sibelius's Finlandia Hymn. Some people consider it to be the second Welsh national anthem. The popular Welsh singer Dafydd Iwan has recorded and performed it widely.
While he was a Baptist pastor in Llandudno, he translated some Psalms into Welsh. This collection was called Detholiad o'r Salmau and was published in 1936.
