1917 South Monmouthshire by-election

[1] The Liberals chose Sir Garrod Thomas, then aged 63 years, a noted surgeon and newspaper proprietor as the Coalition candidate.

[2] The Conservative and Labour parties, being partners in the coalition, agreed to abide by the wartime electoral truce and not run candidates.

[3] Garrod Thomas was supported by a letter from the prime minister underlining the wartime nature of the contest and held a number of public meetings.

Cllr Thomas, perhaps intimidated by what was clearly a pro-war and patriotic atmosphere, failed to match his opponent in terms of public appearances.

[7] The electorate of South Monmouthshire seems to have been almost totally in tune with the coalition government's national appeal as they returned Garrod Thomas to Parliament with the largest ever majority achieved in the history of their constituency.