Dai Dan Evans 1898-1974

Born Cae’rlan, Swansea Valley. Left school at fourteen to work in the pit as a collier’s assistant. He was a pacifist and conscientious objector during World War I and joined the Independent Labour Party in 1916 and the Communist Party in the early 1920s. After spending some time working in North America he was deported and returned to South Wales as the 1926 General Strike began.

He became active in trade unionism and helped revive the Amalgamated Anthracite Combine Committee in 1931. From 1934 he served as a member of the executive committee of the South Wales Miners’ Federation and became Miners Agent from 1937 to 1943. In 1943 he became Chief Administrative Officer for the National Union of Mineworkers and General Secretary, South Wales Area from 1958 to 1963.

He took a great interest in the educational and cultural development of the miners and mining areas and worked hard to improve educational opportunities. He was also instrumental in establishing the Miners’ Eisteddfod and the Miners’ Gala.

FURTHER READING:

Taliesyn, 2001 Cawr y glo carreg (Videocassette) Welsh language drama documentary about Dai Dan Evans, General Secretary of National Union of Mineworkers (South Wales Area) from 1958-1963. English subtitles.

Evans, D.D. The university of “hard knocks” (no date, Miners` Library Rare books)

All items listed in the further reading are available for consultation in either the South Wales Miners’ Library or the Library and Information Centre, University of Wales Swansea. Click here to link to the library catalogue.