december february later life welsh trade labour politician member parliament described transition south wales miners politics socialism fully representative morgan encouraged miners enlist army following outbreak world war appointed commander order british empire efforts initially served lieutenant colonel morgan awarded bravery battle earning nickname early life born wales thomas educated age began work pit boy helping miners work manning ventilation doors age seventeen employed coal newly opened responsible position involved weight coal extracted reached surface time took evening classes mining engineer practised qualified knowledge gained useful role leader rescues gave practical knowledge informed later political life trade rose position district miners agent member labour followed political began speaking meetings seat fell vacant seen viable candidate liberal labour surprisingly defeated election local timber merchant year declined stand election miners district committee refused time agent duties seat won colleague died age leaving opening occasion permitted advance labour candidate returned unopposed talked possible candidate south wales parliamentary constituency joined inception pushing greater political role organisation federation making great substantially improving conditions miners time agent district secretary moderate leader worked alongside resolve combine dispute men radical miners leaders opposing affiliation labour_party joined radical sat board governors military service august enlisted private 10th battalion 1st service battalions formed commissioned lieutenant 17th battalion 1st october promoted captain january initially sent france instead strong voice recruitment men british_army took recruitment campaigns welsh language regularly known opposition peace insulting boys proud march committee figures presented morgan mark contribution recruiting named victory transferred promoted major november went serve france works battalions absorbed forerunner times mentioned despatches awarded leading pioneer unit counter attack german forces breaking british lines citation award published july read conspicuous gallantry devotion duty camp heavily shelled men turned dug outs temporary dressing station assisted wounded vicinity rendered position brought men good order displayed great resource armistice commanded station work received letter thanks king despite reporting promoted lieutenant colonel march retirement forces london gazette entry describes major early june described times major later month changed lieutenant colonel march appointed commander order british empire services connection recruiting member parliament february selected labour candidate newly formed constituency patriotic miners leaders coalition run candidate elected seat unopposed evidence wished run liberal candidate came maiden speech house_of_commons april special interests housing addressed house state shortage housing welsh chief cause industrial unrest people reason unrest district present regular speaker house work committees dealing mainly gas electricity river pollution despite work private bills friendly relationship prime minister considered office election forced contest seat time challenged clear defend interests servicemen injured industry opposed demand local veto close result election lost votes election different affair defeating conservative candidate nearly votes socialist trade strong anti communist opposed local men moscow trade embraced communism saw election main rival known local liberal biggest interest came communist challenger months year attend day demonstration discovered sharing platform communist_party great_britain members left stage joined crowd speech floor described blood stained russia working break democratic government organization country little cause concern elected majority smaller turnout election absence liberal candidate led making considerable advance number votes polled majority remained substantial death forced election won personal life married twice strong miners rights group agents wives promoted provision bathing areas miners surface outspoken views supported political rival husband party forcing public apology keen enjoyed playing golf member organisations including friendly societies president district methodist local place worship died home february office survived wife sons daughters thousands people lined route funeral passed way burial cemetery local shops businesses closed mark respect
David Watts Morgan