# 1949 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held on 5 April 1949. It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed, by the 1952 election.

## Overview of the result

After steadily increasing their representation throughout the inter-war period, the Labour Party finally won a majority on the Council, and strengthened their hold by taking nine of the ten vacancies on the aldermanic bench. Labour victories included taking a seat in the Borough of Carmarthen for the first time.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

## Candidates

There were a number of unopposed returns, both in Labour held seats and in the western part of the county, which was described as still being 'traditionally Liberal in character'. Gwynfor Evans, President of Plaid Cymru, was returned for the Llangadog ward, having been defeated by one vote in 1946.
This was the second election held since a new rule requiring retiring aldermen to face the electorate was introduced. Much attention focused on the contest in the Llangendeirne ward where Alderman James Jenkins, leader of the Independent group, faced the sitting Labour member, the Rev. R.G. James. In Llanelli, Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, a member of the council since 1919, faced Labour opposition. Her fellow Independent, Daniel Roberts, retired and the decision of two Indepednent candidates to contest Ward One was described as 'unfortunate'. Three other Indepdendent aldermen stood down. At Llanarthney, David Stephens, who had last contested an election in 1931, did not challenge Labour member Edgar Lewis who was returned unopposed. David Davies (Abergwili) and Lewis Bowen (Trelech) chose not to opposed the sitting Independents in their former wards.

## Outcome

While there were more unopposed returns than in 1946, many wards were keenly contested and the result was a narrow Labour majority amongst the elected members. Electioneering reached a peak in Llanelli where an Independent association was formed to fight the elections as a united front against Labour. However, Labour won all but two seats in Llanelli town. The exceptions were Ward One, where the intervention of former councillor James Jones split the Independent vote and Ward Five, where Dame Gwendolone Trubsahw withstood a Labour challenge.
Retiring aldermen faced the electorate for the first time since 1937. In Llangyndeyrn, Alderman Rev. James Jenkins, a member of the Council since 1925, was defeated by the retiring Labour councilor. In Carmarthen, George V. Davies, a former borough councillor, narrowly defeated 82 year-old William Jones to secure the first Labour victory in the town.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Col. Grismond P. Philipps* | 631 |
| | Labour | David John Evans | 399 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Haydn Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.2

Boundary Change.
Ammanford No.2 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Harries* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Berwick

Berwick 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Sidney Bowen* | 1,172 |
| | Independent | William John Thomas | 743 |
| | Independent | Elvet Pugh | 155 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Burry Port

Burry Port 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis* | 1,525 |
| | Independent | Archibald Edgar Morgan | 714 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Caio

Caio 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Davies* | 685 |
| | Independent | Frank Wolsely Armitage | 271 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | George V. Davies | 769 |
| | Independent | William Jones* | 736 |
| | Independent Labour | D.W. Davies | 49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.O. Morgans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | J. Verdi Jenkins* | 700 |
| | Labour | W.D. Jones | 575 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.J. James Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.A. Owen* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.A. Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David John Stone* | 1,312 |
| | Independent | Sydney Phillip James | 393 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J. Amos Jones* | 869 |
| | Independent | David Phillips | 626 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Rev. Chancellor S.B. Williams* | 689 |
| | Labour | W.J. John | 497 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Bevan* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William John Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | James Morgan Davies* | 866 |
| | Labour | E. Gwyn Williams | 224 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Anthony H. Gower* | 564 |
| | Independent | James James | 412 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Hugh Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas William Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Griffith Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Rev David Penry Jones* | 1,016 |
| | Independent | Henry Richards | 764 |
| | Independent | James Jones | 222 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William T. Griffiths* | 976 |
| | Independent | John Zammit | 737 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | 631 |
| | Independent | David J. Edmunds | 313 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* | 1,115 |
| | Independent | Sidney Ellis | 955 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw** | 530 |
| | Labour | Ben Howells | 403 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | 815 |
| | Independent | William Hughes | 182 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans* | 762 |
| | Independent | Aneurin Thomas | 462 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | George M. McConkey | 868 |
| | Independent | Fred Howells* | 530 |
| | Communist | Martin H. Thomas | 17 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | A.H. Olive* | 987 |
| | Labour | John A. Palmer | 803 |
| | Communist | Brinley James | 80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.J. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Davies* | 789 |
| | Independent | William Harry | 211 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadog

Llangadog 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Daniel Griffiths | 908 |
| | Independent | John Evans | 812 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Rev R.G. James* | 1,012 |
| | Independent | Rev James Jenkins** | 666 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Bowen* | 815 |
| | Independent | John Rees | 369 |
| | Independent | Trefor Beasley | 101 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Parry Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanon

Llanon 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sidney Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Daniel Williams | 317 |
| | Independent | John Morgan* | 275 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Pembrey 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Watkin Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Joseph David Rees** | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris* | 685 |
| | Independent | William Anthony | 600 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Simon Owen Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Labour | Brinley Jenkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent Labour hold | Independent Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Westfa

Westfa 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Hughes Mathias* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 57 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected.
* W. Douglas Hughes, Labour
* Emrys Aubrey, Labour
* T.S. Bowen, Labour
* T.W. Morgan, Labour
* D.J. Jones, Labour
* W.W. Davies, Labour
* J. Amos Jones, Labour
* W.T. Griffiths, Labour
* J. Llewellyn Evans, Labour
* Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, Independent

## By-elections

Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held. In Llanelli, the Independents gained two seats but Labour won the seat vacated by Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw.

### Berwick by-election

Berwick by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William Isaac Daniel | 921 |
| | Independent Labour | Emrys Daniel Lewis | 873 |
| | Independent | Elvet Pugh | 22 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Kidwelly by-election

Kidwelly by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J.H. Williams | 999 |
| | Independent | W.G. Gilbert | 294 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanedy by-election

Llanedy by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwyn Howells | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 2 by-election

Llanelly Division 2 by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Zammit | 984 |
| | Labour | T.M. Price | 795 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5 by-election

Llanelly Division 5 by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Ben Howells | 454 |
| | Independent | Harry Richards | 307 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6 by-election

Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W.J. Davies | 666 |
| | Independent | Harry Beaton | 310 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7 by-election

Llanelly Division 7 by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Mrs Eleanor Thomas | 616 |
| | Labour | Miss Elsie Jones | 590 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Pontyberem by-election

Pontyberem by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Williams | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach by-election

Quarter Bach by-election 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Josiah Jones | 1,422 |
| | Independent | Owen A. Jenkins | 920 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Westfa by-election

Westfa 1949 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W.J.F. Thomas | 1,389 |
| | Independent | Archibald Ivor Bailey | 373 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |