Gwenallt was born in Pontardawe in 1899 then moved to Alltwen. He was educated at Ystalyfera County School.
In 1917 when he was only 19 years old he was sentenced to imprisonment firstly at Wormwood Scrubs and then at Dartmoor for being a conscientious objector.
His father was killed in a dreadful accident at the local tin works. This affected Gwenallt for life. He believed that the industrial capitalistic system was cruel, and this became a major theme in his work.
Although he was brought up in an industrial community, he was also influenced by the area of Rhydcymerau and it's rural setting. As a boy he often visited his relatives in this agricultural area.
In 1926 his poem Y Mynach won the chair at the National Eisteddfod. In 1927 at the Treorchy National Eisteddfod his unconventional poem Y Sant caused a literary scandal. He won the Chair once again in 1931.
Gwenallt is an important national poet basing his works on rural and industrial Wales, Welsh Socialism and Christianity.
© 2012 S4C
O Gymru / Made in Wales