Tonypandy
Riots (1910)
Three
days of rioting in Tonypandy during a mining dispute resulted in
one death. Armed English troops and police reinforcements were
sent in by Winston Churchill to quell the trouble. Churchill's
name has been mud in South Wales ever since.
Cardiff
Seamen's dispute/anti-Chinese disturbances (1911)
English
police and troops had to be drafted into the city during a
seamen's dispute. Things took a turn for the worse when bosses
tried to introduce Chinese blackleg labour from Liverpool - the
result, every Chinese
laundry in Cardiff was attacked making it the most widespread
disturbance in the city's history.
Cardiff
Race Riot (1919)
A
race riot erupted at Cardiff Docks lasting 3 nights and resulting
in the deaths of 3 men. Similar shameful disturbances also broke
out at Barry and Newport.
Ammanford
Anthracite Strike (1925)
A
riot at Ammanford during a strike by anthracite miners saw
workers taking control of the town for 10 days. 200 Glamorgan
police were ambushed by strikers at Pontamman Bridge during the
so-called Battle of Ammanford.
Nine Mile
Point Colliery (1929)
More
than 700 people rioted at Cwmfelinfach, Gwent, over the
employment of blackleg labour at Nine Mile Point Colliery.
Maerdy
Riot (1931)
In 1931 a
disturbance broke out when miners attempted to prevent a family
from being evicted from a property in Maerdy. 29 men and 4 women were subsequently arrested and
sentenced to hard labour for unlawful assembly and incitement to
riot.
Bedlinog
Riot (1935)
A
riot at Bedlinog during a mining dispute in October 1935 lead to
Britain's largest ever mass trial at Cardiff in 1936. 53 men and
3 women were sentenced.
Anti-Fascist
Riot at Tonypandy (1936)
Over
2000 people turned up in Tonypandy to protest against a fascist
meeting held by Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts. The anti-fascist
demonstration turned violent with 6 men and 1 woman receiving
jail sentences.
Caerphilly
Youth Riot (1966)
Approximately
100 youths from Cardiff (including a large contingent of girls)
"invaded" Caerphilly seeking retribution for a remark
made at a youth club the previous week. The Cardiff mob were met
by approximately 200 Caerphilly/Valleys youths and an almighty
scrap ensued. There were only 27 arrests because the local police
didn't have the manpower to arrest any more - they also failed in
their attempt to seal off the town. Knuckledusters and pick axes
were used in the brawl.
Ely Bread
Riots (1991)
A
dispute between rival shopkeepers, the hot weather and youth
unemployment were said to be the underlying causes of four nights
of rioting in the Ely district of Cardiff. The infamous incident
is known locally as the Ely Bread Riots.