DAI COLLIER: Rhondda's Forgotten Hero

by Phil Rowlands

David John Collier lived through the most turbulent years of Rhondda’s history. A haulier at the Glamorgan Colliery, Llwynypia, he found himself in the eye of the storm that broke over Mid Rhondda when coalowner D. A. Thomas (Lord Rhondda) locked out the workforce at the Ely Pit in the Naval Colliery, Penygraig. The ensuing violent confrontations between striking miners, police and the military gave rise to the looting of Tonypandy and the death of a striker.
When the strike ended in bitterness and defeat, David, a talented sportsman, signed for Mid Rhondda Athletic, ‘the Mushrooms’, who were determined to become a rising force in the burgeoning game of Association Football. Yet dreams and aspirations were shattered when war clouds gathered over Europe. David enlisted in the Cardiff Battalion and soon found himself in France on a journey that would take him to the horror that was Mametz Wood.
This is the inspirational story of a man who would not be denied his dream whatever obstacles fate threw in his path.

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2025

About the author

I am a retired head teacher who now indulges his passion for writing full time.
My blog http://kindleauthors.blogspot.com
aims to support and showcase the talents of Indie authors. If you want to be featured please let me know. Unfortunately I never undertake reviews as I am too busy writing! A free copy of Google+ eXplosion is available from my blog and was written to help new and aspiring Indie authors get to grips with promoting their books.

I am currently engaged on writing a paranormal adventure for children of all ages entitled BILLY: Family Secrets. Another joint venture that is absorbing much of my time is the creation of a magazine for Indie authors who are Welsh, live in Wales, have Welsh connections or whose work is somehow related to Wales.

My last book was an adaptation of Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ entitled ‘A Christmas Carol Revisited’. As the story is set in Manhattan I was delighted to learn that the Entertainment Committee of the City Bar Association of New York are planning a staged reading in the City Bar Association Building Manhattan on the 19th December.

Again, if you want a mention on my blog please let me know.