# 1919 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1919. It was preceded by the 1913 election and followed by the 1922 election.

## Overview of the result

The elections were less politicised than in the pre-war era, with more candidates being elected without any declared political affiliations. The non-political nature of the contests was emphasized by the traditionally Conservative Carmarthen Journal, which had long opposed the politicized nature of local authority elections. Other publications, however, included political affiliations in their coverage of the results.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

## Unopposed returns

22 of the 53 divisions were uncontested, with the majority of the unopposed returns being in the rural parts of the county.

## Contested elections

A greater proportion of the sitting members were challenged than had been the case in most pre-war contests and a number of prominent members were defeated including Mervyn Peel, former Conservative candidate for East Carmarthenshire, at Llangadog. In Carmarthen, the Rev. Andrew Fuller Mills was defeated by an ex-serviceman.
In Llanelli, D.C. Parry, a Liberal member of the Council since its formation, was defeated by Gwendoline Trubshaw, who received the support of the Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers' and Sailors' Association.
Other contests in Llanelli town and in the surrounding areas saw significant support for the Labour party, which captured a number of seats, building on the strong result achieved by Dr J.H. Williams at the General Election the previous year.
In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below in relation to individual ward contests where relevant.

## Retiring aldermen

The aldermen who retired at the election were

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Griffiths* | 321 |
| | Conservative | William Williams | 305 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Ammanford

Ammanford 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Progressive | John Griffiths | 969 |
| | Labour | Thomas Evans | 432 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Bettws

Bettws 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Tom Morris* | unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Folland | 285 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Williams | 142 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 218 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Caio

Caio 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | | M. Davies | 294 |
| | | Isaac Williams | 255 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Denzil Harries* | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ex-Soldier | Percy James Williams | 375 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Fuller-Mills* | 341 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Ex-Soldier gain from Liberal | Ex-Soldier gain from Liberal | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | H.S. Holmes* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lewis | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.C. Lloyd | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ivor Elystan Campbell-Davys | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Alfred Stephens* | 574 |
| | Labour | William Lewis Williams | 277 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | T.S.K. Morse | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W. Jones Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie

Llandebie 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | 808 |
| | Labour | John Davies | 601 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | L.N. Powell* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Lord Dynevor captured the seat previously held by J. Towyn Jones MP.
Llandilo Urban 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Lord Dynevor | 440 |
| | Liberal | John Stephens | 186 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Harry Vaughan Watkins | 363 |
| | Independent | J.C. Vaughan Pryse-Rice* | 191 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent | Liberal gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | T.J. Parry-Jones | 591 |
| | Independent | David Evans | 367 |
| | Independent | John White | 230 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Delme Davies-Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Lady Howard* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William David* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J.R. Jones | 311 |
| | Conservative | T.P. Jones* | 228 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Thomas* | 472 |
| | Labour | Tom Charles | 390 |
| | Independent | Brinley Jones | 162 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Gwen Trubshaw | 434 |
| | Liberal | D.C. Parry* | 189 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

In pre-war contests, Joseph Roberts had stood as a Labour candidate.
Llanelly Division 6 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | T. Williams | 423 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Roberts* | 416 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | H.W. Bowen | 429 |
| | Liberal | D.W. Jones | 248 |
| | Independent | Alicia Phillips | 49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Harry* | 589 |
| | Labour | Thomas Jenkins | 272 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 317 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David John* | 392 |
| | Labour | Joseph Howells | 338 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William Jones | 383 |
| | Independent | David John Lloyd | 214 |
| | Independent | J. Rees Humphries | 163 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Thomas Thomas received the support of the Trades and Labour Council. However, he was regarded as a Liberal candidate in most quarters.
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Thomas Thomas | 340 |
| | Liberal | William Harris* | 250 |
| | | J.T. Stephens | 72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rees Jones | 389 |
| | Liberal | T. Lloyd Jones | 314 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Walter Tudor Lewis | 488 |
| | Conservative | Mervyn Lloyd Peel* | 248 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Henry Davies | 570 |
| | Liberal | Edward Teilo Owen | 567 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | R.H. Jones | 368 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones | 344 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | D.J. Jones* | 481 |
| | Labour | Philip Foster Owen | 327 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | James Richards | 287 |
| | Liberal | T. Howell Davies* | 275 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William Greville* | 621 |
| | Labour | Rees Morgan | 607 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Hamlyn Williams Drummond* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | G. Barrett Evans* | 390 |
| | Liberal | J.J. Bowen | 229 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones | 334 |
| | Liberal | Dr E. Jones | 240 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Mothvey

Mothvey 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | | William Rogers | 520 |
| | | E.T. Davies | 368 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 152 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Pembrey South

Pembrey South 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Henry Williams | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Griffith Williams* | 661 |
| | Liberal | Gomer Harris | 463 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | D.E. Davies | 234 |
| | Liberal | R.L. Evans | 230 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### St Clears

St Clears 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W.R. Rogers* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Jones | 304 |
| | Liberal | Evan Bowen* | 208 |
| | Conservative | Robert B. Elliott | 164 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Philip Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1919 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William Thomas* | 502 |
| | | Peter Howells | 137 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 53 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term.
The following aldermen stood down at the election. None of them stood at the election and were re-elected at the statutory meeting. Labour councillor Dr J.H. Williams gave notice that he would propose that, in future, all aldermen should seek re-election to the Council before retaining their seats on the aldermanic bench.
* Rev William Davies, Llandeilo
* David Evans, Whitland
* William Griffiths, Llanelli
* Thomas Jones, Llanelli
* W.N. Jones, Ammanford
* Rev E.B. Lloyd, Bwlchnewydd
* John Lloyd, Abegwili
* James Phillips, St Clears
* J. Lloyd Thomas, Feryside