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THE
REDOUBTABLE DAGGARS
A remarkable tale of an
extraordinary Abertillery family
Not long
after this site started a few years ago, there was a quiz in which one
of the questions was 'Who was George Daggar after which George Daggar
Avenue in the town is named'.
Sadly, not
many of the entries had the correct answer, reflecting perhaps how
little we know of the remarkable people from the town who shaped its
history and left an indelible mark. This tale was commissioned by
Abertillery Online from David Daggar, George's
great-nephew, who relates the history not only of the former,
well-respected Abertillery MP, but also his siblings, particularly Tom,
and his own grandfather David, whose stories also deserve and require
repeated telling. If you wish to contact David Daggar, please e-mail:
daggars@abertillery.net
A brief history of
the Daggars, a twentieth century Abertillery family: - by David Daggar
George Daggar JP MP
was without doubt a remarkable man. His standing in the community was
unparalleled, however he had brothers and sisters who were rather
overshadowed, and while not reaching his public prominence contributed
enormously to the betterment of life in Abertillery in the first half of
the twentieth century. Their father was Jesse Daggar.
Jesse Dagger [d.
7/6/18]
Jesse was married to
Elizabeth [Nee Russel]. The name seems to have changed its spelling from
the Dagger to Daggar at this time. Both spellings were used by the next
generation. It was a second marriage for both of them, she being a widow
and he a widower. They lived at 25 Princess Street, although originally
in High Street, and had five children, Emma, Agnes, Thomas, George and
David. Jesse came to Abertillery in the eighteen eighties from Somerset
via Cwmbran to work in the mines. Politically he was a liberal radical,
and had been active in the early trade union movement. He was victimized
for his activities, was denied work in some mines and may well have
spent some time in prison.
Emma
[d. 18/7/61] and Agnes [d.
14/3/72]
Two spinster ladies who lived at 25 Princess street and kept a
shop at the end of that street. The First World War probably finished
any chances of marriage for them as it did for many other women at that
time. Contemporaries remarked that at in a later age Agnes could well
have had a successful political career. In her old age and with failing
health she could still conduct very intelligent political arguments and
had a detailed knowledge of world affairs. Emma did not enjoy the best
of health, although she was a gymnast in her youth. She refused to admit
to growing old and according to her sister remained at seventy nine for
several years. This caused some embarrassment for the younger Agnes who
was rapidly catching her, but could not 'overtake'. There are no
photographs of these ladies. In 1971 with rapidly failing health Agnes
went to live in Devon with her nephew Arthur. With her death came the
end of that generation of the Daggar family.
David Daggar [d
3/4/48]
David, although he was almost always referred to as Dai, began
his working life in the mines and felt from an early age, along with his
brother George, that he was bound to do what he could do better the lot
of his community. He was a determined and uncompromising man who did not
suffer fools gladly. He, along with his father and brothers, had had
long political discussions on socialism, the emerging Labour and Trade
Union movements and how to improve life for the people of Abertillery.
Whereas George worked to that end via politics, David looked to more
practical and immediate ways. He was an important member of the team who
founded the local hospital and so it is not difficult to see how he came
to the conclusion that a family planning programme would also improve
the economic condition of many families. His role in that story is told
elsewhere and is not repeated here [See Tyleri
Tales - The Marie Stopes Connection] Although it must be added
that he was deeply disappointed and disillusioned at the failure of the
project. At times there were tensions between himself and his brother
George, who he felt could have added his undoubted influence more
enthusiastically than he did to his cause.
He married Ceinwen Morgan
d.25/11/69 and there was one child from this marriage, Arthur. He was
the only Daggar in the next generation and left Wales in the late 1930's
to go Birmingham to search for work. He later moved to Devon in 1947.
 David
had a long history of trade union work, and was once a delegate at the
Trade Union Congress. He was Chairman of Abertillery and District
Hospital in 1926, was elected to the Royal Gwent Hospital Workmen's Fund
in 1919, and became its Chairman in 1942.
Appointed a Director of
The Royal Gwent Hospital in 1921, he became a Vice-Chairman of the Board
of Management. In February 1947 the Executive Committee of the Royal
Gwent Hospital Workmen's Fund elected him as secretary of the fund in
succession to Mr. T A Jones who became Secretary-Superintendent of the
Hospital.
He and his family had
moved to Pontymister in the early 1930s. Just over a year after his
appointment to manage the Workman's Fund, at the age of 56, he died from
a lung disease, the result of his years as a miner. [as did so many]
David with his son Arthur c.1930
Thomas Daggar MC.
[d.11/8/68].
Thomas or Tom as he was universally known was the most charismatic and
extrovert member of the family. He was a keen sportsman and certainly
played rugby and cricket for Abertillery at the beginning of the
century. He is in the photograph of the 1904 team in the town museum. He
played against the Australians in 1908 and had a winner's medal when
Abertillery were Monmouthshire Champions in 1907-8. Later he was
President of the Rugby Football Club, but he was best remembered for his
war record.
 Much
of his war service was spent in the trenches at Ypres where he was a
tunneller, a role which was one of the most arduous and dangerous in
that war which even today surpasses most others in its horrors. He was
awarded the Military Cross, which is now in the Regimental Museum at
Brecon. He never spoke of the reason for his award saying such things as
"Well they had to give it to someone" although it is thought
it was given for rescuing injured soldiers behind enemy lines. There was
public recognition of this in Abertillery when at a dinner there were
many speeches and a presentation of an engraved gold cigarette case.
This presentation was reported in a local paper under the heading
Abertillery Hero Honoured, a copy of which is added below.
ABERTILLERY HERO
HONOURED
Interesting
Presentation There was a large
attendance at The Bush Hotel, Abertillery, on Thursday evening when one
of Abertillery's war heroes Lieut. Tom Dagger M.C. was made the
recipient of a beautiful gold cigarette case in recognition of the
magnificent services he rendered during the Great War. Dr T. B. Smith
presided at a concert following an excellent "spread" and
among those present were Lieuts Tom Dagger MC. John Phillips, Capt. A
Harrison, Lieut. H.C. Williams, Dr S Simons, Messrs Evan Davies, W
Jones, A Jenkins, W Britton, G Wessendorf, H Evans, A Patey, J Vaughan,
A Williams, J R Powell, G Challenger, W Phillips, H Lee and
others.
Dr Smith remarked they had met to honour a fellow townsman. They
were living in troublesome times, but they would smile and look
happy and keep going, no matter what changes might be introduced
outside. They all knew Lieut. Dagger and the work he had done
and they would hear more of it during the evening [Applause] The Presentation
The presentation of the
gold cigarette case was made by Mr Evan Davies. The case, a really
beautiful one, bore on the left corner the crest of the Royal Engineers,
and in the right that of the S W B, and was inscribed "Presented to
Lieut. Tom Dagger M C by his friends and admirers for the part he played
in the Great War, Abertillery Dec. 11 1919" Mr Davies remarked that
it was not necessary to eulogize Tom Dagger. They all knew his
qualities, they knew his past as far as his connection with sport was
concerned, and the part he had played in the business over the other
side. He joined up in August 1915 in the 13th SWB but in France was
transferred to the R E Tunnelling Co., being demobbed in June 1919. He
served overseas two and a half years. He received the MC in the King's
Birthday Honours on the 3rd of June 1919. On the first time he came home
on leave a gentleman in the room made the remark that no German bullet
had been made that could kill Tom Daggar, and in handing him a golden
sovereign said that the best thing he could do was to bring it back
safely. That he had done. Lieut. Dagger had the best wishes of a host of
friends for his future success and happiness. Lieut H C Williams
[Pontypool], who, as the chairman explained was one of the officers of
the 14th South Wales Borderers, a regiment largely composed of men from
that town, who had been associated with Capt. Ted Gill MC, and who had
been captured by the Germans and recaptured by the British, described
the guest of the evening as "a jolly good pal, and one of the
best" Work of Welsh Miners
Eulogistic speeches
were also made by Messrs. L Williams, T Crooks, W Jones, Capt. A
Harrison, Dr S Simons, the latter remarking that the work accomplished
by the tunnelling companies, composed of South Wales Miners was really
magnificent. Messrs. J Corbett, A Patey and Tom George also associated
themselves with the remarks made Lieut. Tom Dagger MC
made an appropriate and modest response. Words failed him when he
attempted to express his gratitude for the kindness extended him. He was
pleased to have done his part in bringing about a glorious victory for
the finest country on God's earth, a country worth fighting for and
worth dying for. [Applause] He thanked them all sincerely [Applause]
The artistes, the
host, the chairman and all connected with the presentation were thanked.
During the evening an excellent musical programme was
contributed to by Messrs. George Williams, R Gough and others. After the war he returned
to Abertillery to join the ranks of the many unemployed ex-soldiers. He
quickly became employed by the local labour exchange finding work for
his comrades. He claimed he was lucky, and got the job because he was
literate, many of the others were not. Later he moved to High Cross near
Newport where he worked at the labour exchange until his retirement. He
married a widow Laura Patey and there were no children. After the death
of his wife he returned to Abertillery to live at the family
home in Princess Street with his sister Agnes.
George Daggar JP
MP (d 14/10/50)
In the afternoon of Wednesday 18th October
1950, the Presbyterian Church, Six Bells, Abertillery was packed with
five hundred or more. Many tears were shed and others fought them back
as the first lines of the hymn "And did those feet in ancient
time" rose from the congregation. Thousands who had followed the
cortege from his long time home - 25 High Street waited outside, and
then followed to the new cemetery, Brynithel. Schools closed early to
allow teachers to attend, shops closed, miners changed shifts while
others lost shifts [and their pay] in order to pay their last respects.
There were hundreds of wreaths. Every organization and political party
in Abertillery were represented. Men ran from the pithead baths in order
to line the way. Newspapers praised George Daggar with many column
inches and headlines like; "MP's,
Clergy, Miners Bid Farewell to a Great Champion"
"A man of the people"
"He was one of us"
"Like the Mountains of Wales He Was Strong"
"The Magnificence of His Character was Equaled by the Magnificence
of His Principles"
These were exceptional
tributes from all quarters, unprecedented and unequalled since. So why
was he so special?
He was born at Cwmbran in
1879 to Jesse and Elizabeth and was brought to Abertillery when very
young. He attended the British School and then like so many boys in the
town went to work in the mines at the age of twelve. He would have been
of the generation who only saw daylight in the winter time on Sundays.
His first tasks below ground was most likely dragging tubs of coal. The
tub was linked to a waist harness by a chain which sorely chaffed the
young boys' legs. As he matured he was becoming more and more aware of
the injustice of the poverty which surrounded him. One wonders how he
fitted in underground. In what leisure time he had he was more
interested in reading economics or philosophy than playing sports as did
his brothers. But he was certainly not distant. He was "one
of the boys" and remained so throughout his life.
At sixteen he was a pit
boy at the Vivian Colliery and a few years later he became an Arael
Griffin miner where he became interested in Trade Union affairs. In 1911
he won a scholarship to the Central Labour College where he studied for
three years after which he returned to the Arrael Griffin, although it
must be said he had to return to the coal face in the holiday times too.
In 1915 he married Rachael [Peggy] Smith a dressmaker and the daughter
of a Yorkshire miner. It has been described as a "love match."
and "that married life meant everything to them" There is no
doubt that her support was an important factor in his achievements.
There were no children.
In 1921 he was appointed
miners' agent for the Western Valleys of Monmouthshire and also in that
year he succeeded Edward Gill as an executive member of the South Wales
Miners' Federation. During these few years events had moved quickly for
George. He had, in fact, entered public life when he was elected to the
Abertillery Council in 1919 and first showed that he held strong views
and was not afraid to express them. In his second monthly meeting he
opposed a motion recording the Council's appreciation of the War-Time
Premier Mr. Lloyd George. He thought;
"that all the
credit of prosecuting the war to a successful issue did not belong to
those who had charge of the negotiations after the cessation of
hostilities. There should be a recognition of those who had lost their
lives. Those who had remained at home and had assisted in maintaining
production".
At the same meeting he
opposed a proposal that the Council should support a project of erecting
a Regimental war Memorial at Abergavenny.
"All this talk
of memorials was misdirected energy. Some men would slave out their
lives to erect a memorial but would not move a finger an inch to
obtain some form of compensation in the shape of increased pensions
and gratuities, with decent homes to live in and a stake in the
country for the men who had been told to fight for it"
So in his first public
speeches George Daggar was expressing his sincere views without concern
for others' opinions. The honesty, the integrity and the
incorruptibility which became the hallmark of his political career were
already showing themselves.
During the 1920's he
continued with his union work and also with his lecturing. He had been
appointed by the Western Valleys Miners' Council to lecture in economics
and industrial history. Several of his students won scholarships to
Ruskin College, Oxford or to the Central Labour College. In 1929 he was
the obvious candidate to succeed George Barker as Member of Parliament
for Abertillery
 As
a Parliamentarian he soon began to create his own individual style. From
the back benches he spoke mainly on issues of mining accidents and
safety, unemployment, the Means Test and South Wales as a Depressed
Area. The economic and social background from which he spoke is well
described in The Blaina Riots by Martyn Thomas [Tyleri
Tales] George Daggar spoke passionately and from the heart on
these matters, of which he had personal experience, but he always backed
them by well thought out economics and statistics, of which he was a
master. In some ways he did not fit the picture of what some expected
from a miner's MP. He was always immaculately dressed and wore colourful
bow ties. He has been described as the Commons' Smartest Man, while
another writer said he was "one of Wales's most flamboyant
politicians, smartly suited and bow tie wearing" He had a charisma
which was attractive to the most elevated but he never abandoned his
roots.
He was always true to his
main aim which was to act for the betterment of his community and not to
gain personal advancement. He was an excellent constituency MP, much
loved and respected. Between 1942 and 1944 he was a member of the
administrative committee of the Parliamentary Labour Party. In 1947 he
was on the Turner Select Committee investigating mining subsidence. For
a time he was chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary Party and in December
1948 he became vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party. And
would certainly have become chairman if failing health had not prevented
it. High Office can come to a man in many ways - but there is only one
way in which a man can become Vice-Chairman of his Party in the House of
Commons. He must win the respect of his fellow Members of Parliament.
Often he would not toe the Party line when he felt it conflicted with
the interests of his community. Even in war time he argued that the war
should not be used as an excuse for not helping the needy. He spoke
particularly about coal nationalisation and postwar planning. A typical
extract is below.
Whatever is done by
the Government, whatever planning is done and whatever proposal is
submitted for discussion by this House, you cannot efficiently plan
the property of other people. You must have control. Those who own
property now will agree with that. They cannot plan or control
property which does not belong to them. It has always failed to solve
the problems to which I referred in the miserable period 1919 -
1939.... I have never claimed to speak on behalf of people other than
those I have the honour to represent, and on behalf of thousands of
people such as miners who, after being idle for years, secured
employment with improved wages in factories and who have now gone back
to the mines in order to produce the coal which is necessary for the
war effort, I say we desire a new order, a new Britain and a new
world. They desire, as I do, a new order free from Nazism,
Imperialism, exploitation, want and misery. I want a new order as a
monument to the memory of those men and women who have given their
lives."
On another occasion he
wrote
"Our political
movement is the only effective opposition to those who want things to
remain as they are. We want a change; an opportunity to be happy, to
be free; to live; to live better".
In 1929 he entered
Parliament with a majority of 11,000 and at the last election he fought
it was 25,000 and he was Vice-Chairman of his Party. This was the man
who as a half educated boy went down the pits at the age of twelve. But
his speeches, his economic statistics and his grasp of detail can only
be part of his story. There was something else much more difficult to
define. We can only get glimpses of it by reading the contemporary
accounts from his friends [and opponents too]
One contemporary account
below puts a human face on his work
"On Friday
evenings it was a common sight to see a queue forming at the bus stop
waiting for George to come home for the weekend, to deal with pensions
and other problems. His clinic started then, and as he dealt with them
one by one they would fall out, while the rest would take turns to get
his attention as he walked slowly homewards. He still lived in his
small terraced miner's house which was at most 300 yards from the bus
stop, and this journey often lasted an hour or so."
Ron Robins a former editor
of the "South Wales Gazette" wrote;
"Men who were
proud to appoint him their guide and counsellor gave their lives to
wrest coal from Nature's grudging hands. He gave his life to wrest
from the grudging hands of Government the recognition of the worth of
those who hew and sweat to bring forth light and warmth from darkness
and danger. He began by toiling with them and then he earned the
privilege of toiling for them. That was the measure of the man; he
never forgot that it was his privilege to serve. He never lost sight
of the fact that he had been chosen by them to right their wrongs and
to urge the justice of their claims............Year after year he was
in the forefront of the list of members who never missed a division.
Time after time he put the miners' cause before his health."
"He was no
sycophant pursuing office and aggrandisement. In London, as in Wales
he spoke what he knew to be true. Truth is not always as popular as it
might be with politicians"
" He did not carry on box of tricks to hold an audience of MP's and
another box of tricks to charm a score of miners at a lodge meeting.
He was neither a political juggler nor a smooth tongued careerist. He
was a crusader with a crusader's zeal and sincerity."
His friend the Rev.
Llewelyn Williams conducted the funeral service and in his address said
the only word in the English language to describe George was
"integrity".
"When one got
close to him it was not only the strength one noticed but also an
intrinsic tenderness. He could be as a lion or as gentle as a
lamb".
Mr. Anthony Greenwood MP
speaking on behalf of the Parliamentary Labour Party said
"that he and his
colleagues would soon be returning to the House of Commons, which
would be bleaker and sadder without George Daggar. He had stood up in
the House of Commons against the most powerful men in the country
fighting for what he believed in".
The political writer of
the time for the "South Wales Gazette", Brinley Evans, who
wrote under the name "Arael" concluded his lengthy obituary
with these words
"I have been told by
his intimate friends that during the last few days of his life, when
his illness prevented any other means of communication, the Member for
Abertillery scribbled notes which he handed to those who were
privileged to minister to his needs, and gave instructions that
appeals from the aged and the poor which had been sent to him should
be acknowledged. Let that last picture of a devoted representative of
the people be placed in every home in the Abertillery constituency for
remembrance. Let us place our garlands upon it - and standing before
it say humbly, and thankfully -
Well done, George. Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Perhaps the most
compelling tribute came from Bryn Jenkins the acting miners' agent who
said;
"George Daggar was
one of us. A man of the pits who went to Parliament to speak for
us.......... a Member of Parliament who will always be remembered in
the pits as a true, and brilliant friend of his fellow workers".
In July 1976, George's
wife aged ninety one gave his library of over 1,500 books to the South
Wales Miners' Library at the University of Swansea where it was to be
kept in the "George Daggar Room". References:
The
Times 16th Oct. 1950
Western Mail 16th Oct. 1950
South Wales Argus 20th Oct 1950
South Wales Gazette 20th Oct. 1950
The Dictionary of Labour Biography
TYLERI TALES
Contents:
 THE
HORROR OF 1921 - THE HAROLD JONES MURDERS
THE
FOUNDING FATHER OF DRUG METABOLISM - the story of Professor RT
Williams, FRS
THE
BLAINA RIOTS OF 1935 - Desperation and unrest in the Ebbw Fach
valley (by Martyn Thomas)
THE
MODEST, HARD MAN - Jim Webb, Wales rugby star of the Golden era
THE
MAN WHO BOWLED W. G. GRACE FOR A DUCK - Abertillery cricket
memories of the 1890s
THE
WAR HERO WHO TESTED THE BRITISH H-BOMB - Air Vice Marshall
Wilfred Oulton
THE
MARIE STOPES CONNECTION - Britain's first-ever hospital birth
control clinic opens at Abertillery
THE
REDOUBTABLE DAGGARS - A remarkable tale of an extraordinary
Abertillery family (by David Daggar)
THE
ABERBEEG GHOST
HEROES
OF WORLD WAR ONE
THE
"LIB" CLUB - BRITAIN'S BEST SNOOKER TEAM
(by Graham Bennett)
CAMERA'S
GREATEST MAGICIAN - the humble beginnings of Angus McBean
Coming
soon:
THE
TRAGEDY OF SIX BELLS - the terrible pit disaster of 1960
A
CHARITABLE ACCIDENT - Eddie Price, founder of the Tenovus
charity
THREE
LIONS IN THE SHIRT - Pask, Morgan, and Lewis, stars of the Green
& Whites
THE
MEN WHO BECAME SAINTS
THE
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
AHEAD
OF HER TIME - The extraordinary story of Beatrice Green
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