PF in Media: News Cuttings

Patriotic Front Photo Gallery.

The Patriotic Front and the Free Wales Army.

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Much regards the Patriotic Front and the Free Wales Army has been given good attention in the book 'To Dream of Freedom', little attention however, has been given to a major disagreement between both organisations in November of 1968. There was a number of reasons for this disagreement to do with the way the Army was being run, but more importantly was the matter of 'Y Byddin' surrendering it's arms to the police, this to the PF appeared to be not just ''insane'' but an offence in any Army that would have led to a courts-martial. However, carrying out such we knew was an imposibility not least if punishments had been a neccessity, none of us was at that time prepared to go down that road, although such matters were discussed within PF-FWA circles. Instead PF took decision to continuing to work within the FWA but not particularly fully under FWA Command, more so we had considered useing the FWA as a means of drawing away Volunteers towards a ''PF Militia'' external to the FWA, but continue internally as PF-FWA Volunteers. The idea being in the main was to build on our experiences of Street Protest Agit - Prop to prepare our own PF Patriots for ''radical revolt'' in Caernarfon, around Wales on Investiture day and in days following, no chance of course! As already the English state and it's Welsh Colonial Collaborators had decided to ''Use an Hammer to Crack a Nut?''. Unfortunatly or not? A potential ''Welsh Version'' of the 1916 Dublin Easter Rebellion, although nothing on that scale was ever seriously considered or discussed as far as know? The PF had other more realistic radical ideas in area of militant protest demonstrations, not ''Armed Violance''. Whatever, such was not going to be, but instead Wales was to have a long the trial of nine officers and Volunteers of the Free Wales Army, three of whom were PF-FWA ''Militia Men''; Toni Lewis, Glyn Rowlands and Gethin ab Iestyn. More importantly these three were amongst the central radical figures in the Anti-Investiture Campaign leadership, whilst Dafydd y Dug another defendant in what became known as the F.W.A. trail was a member of Cymdeithas Llywelyn, another Anti-Investiture group. All were well known Anti - Investiture Activists, in particular Campaign Organusers, it is for this reason they were mainly arrested although the Abergwesyn Camp may have made the English Crown more than just a little concerned, that the FWA seemed to be geting it's ''Act Together''.

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Patriotic Front Militia - ''Minute Men?''. Knowing what I know now, having learnt from experience of history and politics, I would have focused more on ''embedding'' Patriotic Front Political Commisars within the Free Wales Army.

Illustration: Rough Sketch idea of PF Militia Man Uniform, it looks pretty dangerous stuff with the uniform and rifle, but how far we would have really gone is another matter? However, many ideas were being discussed which could have seen an esculation of extra - Radical Militantism by the Patriotic Front-FWA as conclusion to the anti-Investiture struggle. However, time and tide as well increased S.B/MI5/MI6 in ''Operation Cricket'' was making much very difficult, and it was indeed getting very heavy. On one occaision I was taken in to Bridgend Police HQ of South Wales Special Branch and with much ''Theatrics'' by Jock Wilson and his Special Squad Goons. In a semi darkened room, I was sat in a chair and given ''Field Interrogation'' and led to believe that a wire coming from a lamp may have been used to electrocute me, I did not fall for it but still as I said it was geting very heavy. Still it did not distract the Patriotic Front from continuing with it's plotting and planning to subvert and hopefully stop the Investiture planned for 1 July 1969.

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These were indeed dangerous times, where was all this coming from? these ideas that were actually leading us to the first ''armed Insurection'' since Newport 1839 and Merthyr 1831, or possibly something akin to Tonypandy 1910 or Llanelli 1911. Certainly, it was not the ''Norm Nationalism'' as found in ''official'' Cultural Nationalism which was persuing the pulling down of road signs. I have an idea apart from much else as a verity of inflences, the fact that most of the patriots involved in the PF and FWA were a ''Lumpen Proletariat Mix'' and largelly of urban working class background, though not exclusivelly so. Generally, this represented a small section of society not within historic ''community or cultural controls'', as would have been your typical ''petite bourgeouise'' students of Cymdeithas yr Iaith during the 60's. One sees in the PF simalarities with the Black Panthers and American Indian Movement, whilst the FWA had of course simalarities with a more ''working class'' IRA and ETA. On the other hand CyIG and the language struggle however, seems to have had more in common with post WWII ''baby boom'' causes and ''Red Brick University Student Revolts'' and Black Civil Rights, Womens Liberation and Gay Rights also Peoples Democracy in occupied northern Ireland. Plus of course in Cymru, drawing on the pacifist traditions of traditional Welsh Rural Dissidency. (I shall be exploring these themes in my blog http://redremembrancer.blogspot.com/ )

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Another common denominator amongst both urban and rural PF/FWA people was the factor of National Service in the British Army. Here, I see similarities with young Algerian conscripts who had served in the French Army, as well of course Irish and militant Breton 'Perrot Unit' influences had come into play. In time I will explore ''Idelogical links'' between Irish and Breton Militancy on Radical Welsh Nationalism/Republicanism post WWII. In mean time catch up on the film, 'The Battle of Algiers', but look beyound the armed struggle toward the political message which is being expressed, a political message I would agree with today. The question begs to be asked and answered, what might we have done on Investiture day in Caernarfon and Wales in general? the PF was seeking ultimatly to prompt massive ''popular civil rebellion'' with a verity of disturbances involving ''passive resistance'' and what we called ''Constructive Vandalism'' (A strategy and Tactics adopted from a Swiss 'Citizen Army' manual, I had expropriated from Bridgend Library) over a wide an area as possible. To some degree this occured but only on a minor scale, but Gwynedd did rise to the occaision and some of the best examples of radical Anti - Investiture action came from within Gwynedd, in places as Blaenau Ffestiniog and Pwllheli.

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However, the authourities thwarted our plans for Caernarfon by massive use of state power, in house arrests involving 100's of police brought in from England. Further, 1000's of troops ringed Caernarfon and occupied the town, by ''I-Day'' it was almost impossible to get into the town, but a few patriotic stalwarts did to make protest, I salute in particular heroes Gareth ap Sion, Fred Francis and a few others who got through the ''Ring of Steel'' and did not bow to intimidation. Unfortunatly, what undermined a ''real revolt'' on the streets of Caernarfon, was those who organised a Rally at Cilmeri, shortly before the Investiture and put out the message ''That was it!'', in other words do not bother going to Caernarfon and demonstrate, this is the final protest here at Cilmeri, wonderful? There is of course more to this, than meets the eye, I had been told of other motives as to why certain people were keen to hold that rally at Cilmeri? Such was the view I was to hear when I eventually got out of prison and a few of us held our ''debriefing'' as to what went wrong and what was achieved. You dear patriot and history can decide on that, and at same time hope consider, plan & prepare how you might succeed where we ultimatly failed?

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Whatever, it was of course ''the times'', the ''Revolutionary Sixties'', of which 1968 was the year that marked a major turning point. The ''Prague Spring'' and Student - Workers revolts in European Cities of 1968 were echoes of the ''Spring of Nations'' of 1848. In Wales of 1848, a ''Son of Liberty'' threatened a third insurrection in Merthyr Tudful but it came to nought, and Welsh History of 1848 dwells on the ''Blue Books'' but Wales of 1968 was to prove a year of Political Violance, not witnessed since 1850, when the last Scotch Cattle Workers Resistance threw a bomb into a blacklegs home. Wales of 1968 would witness a number of bomb attacks, so making it neccessary for the authourities to take the action they did in February 1969.

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Thus the radical PF and Miltant FWA leadership of the Anti - Investiture conspiracy were ''Rounded up'', put on trial and three imprisoned, including myself. In due course many other activists were harrassed and on investiture day itself 100's put under a form of house arrest, so denying possibilty of mounting major protest as had been planned. How far would things have gone? if we had our way, well to be honest I do not think I could have shot anyone, not even an ''Enemy Soldier'' but setting up barricades and ''lobbing'' stones, bottles and smoke bombs, no problem! At best I knew 'Y Byddin' was not up to staging very much but a few ''Volunteers'' were ready to ''go in'' and cause as much chaos as possible in a verity of ways. Ultimatly, the main objective coming together was to sieze certain properties and prepare for a ''stand off'', much along the lines as later carried out by the American Indian Movement at Wounded Knee. This we were convinced would force the authorities to call off the Investiture, it could have worked but for a number of unseen factors. However, history is a process of learning, keeping in mind that if one does not know ones history, one is condemned to repeat it's mistakes. Take that which ever way you wish? as next time around it will be ''D=Discision Time'' for a future patriotic generation to make, I guess I will have long gone to my grave to join my old comrades in the ''Cave of Heroes'' with Cadwlader, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and Owain Glyndwr. Though these days, I would hope that our forgotten ''Revolutionary Hero'', Lewis Lewis - Lewsyn yr Heliwr also rests quietly therein, also awaiting a call maybe?

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Did we fail? maybe so? but still it was not a bad try, certainly better than all the grovelling of 1911, but what of the the coming future anti - Investiture campaign, well for starters forget the violance as in the nature that had been advocated by the FWA & MAC. Today the State is super organised to thwart such in 100's of ways, and they have many laws to back them up plus a well trained Para - Military Police Militia themselves, that would mop up patriots before they had time to say ''fwa''. That does not mean, enevitable surrender to another English pretender being made an ''English Prince of Wales'', no! patriots will just have to get better organised to mount popular protests in Caernarfon and elsewhere, and then much depends on, next time around it's organised from within the town of Caernarfon, with Gwynedd rising early to occaision of calling for, and leading a struggle against any third Investiture. After all in 1282, Edward I had killed first and foremost a 'Tywysog Gwynedd' and brought down the Royal House of Aberffraw. I have considered the coming 'Third Investiture' over in my Adfywiad Gwladgarol Blog http://adfywiad.blogspot.com/ if you care to consider but do note, it is all theory and far from being put into practice. Before that can be done we must first make sure that the annual Rali Cilmeri remains a font and focus of opposition to the English Crown and patriotic resistance to all and any 'English Princes of Wales', full stop!

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Me? I think betime ''Lizzie'' gives up the throne and Charles is made King, with William then being lined up for a day out at Caernarfon, I will be possibly dead or too passed it to respond, even as a ''Grey Wolf''. I hate to be a ''defeatist'' but I think the battle could be already lost, face it! many of those who opposed the Investiture in 69 are now part of the ''Colonial Collaborationist Establishment'' and not least members of the 'Media Crachach' and it will not be lost on they, that 'Media Wales/Cymru' will make a lot of money out of an Investiture in these ''Celebrity Cymru'' times, which of course will be to the ''Crachach Newydd'' of great advantagous benefit. They of course control the means of information supply and are ''oppinion shapers'', so do not be suprised about great betrayals from amongst 'Y Crachach Newydd - England's Client Tribe in Cymru. You got to be pretty dumb if you do not realise that, for starters! So how you going to deal with that? Oh yes! by then, what you going to do about all those ''PLAID LORDS'' who with out doubt be scrambling for seats in Castell Caernarfon to see William of Wales get crowned 'Tywysog Cymru'.

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For further history of the Patriotic Front, Free Wales Army and Mudiad Amdifyn Cymru, the story of their struggle during the Great 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol Cymru 1962 - 1969'. Read To Dream of Freedom form Gwasg Lolfa, Talybont, Ceredigion.

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In Memory of Old Comrades.

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Free Wales Army Commandants

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Julian Cayo Evans, Dai Bonar Thomas and Denis Coslet as pictured above also Vivian Davies and A.H.Lewis.

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R.I.P.

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Gethin ap Gruffydd.

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PF/FWA Volnteer and Anti - Investiture Campaigner aka Conspirator?

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Ffrynt: Magazine of the Patriotic Front.

Not Completed/Next Posting: Patriotic Front and the Free Wales Army.

Patriotic Front Activities.

1: Anti - Dams Campaign.

2: Aberfan Campaign:

3: Anti - Anglo Left. (I will return to explain this in full)

Other Docs to follow for this post area but now move to next posting: The Investiture 1969.

Patriotic Front Philosophy and Theory: The Writtings of Toni Lewis.

Draft note on the Human Republic, Toni's thoughts in development which were eventually published as an internal discussion document (see here), unfortunatly any attempt at some serious development of philosophy and theory give ground to increasing radical militant direct action against the Investiture. Time was catching up with us and the tide of need for protest overweamling us, there was very little time to sit down discussing politics as we more and more engaged in the politics of Agit - Prop Activism. Ultimatly of course this failiure was to doom us, as lack of a sound ''Alternative Nationalist'' philosophy and theory would doom, and cause demise of all attempts of founding successful ''Alternative Nationalist'' Movements up to the present. Thus 40 years on, we have something called 'Cymru Rydd' aka Welsh Republican Party practising ''Romantic Republicanism'' and a 'Balchder Cymru' practising ''Retro Republicanism'' aka ''Supa Knee Jerk Patriotism'', but perhaps I am too hard, as they are involved in some action as the Hafod Rubbish Dump Protest. Maybe I am hard on them because they remind me of the Patriotic Front, but where we had no time to learn lessons, they do? Essentially, at this moment in time the AWNM&S is in a shambolic state, for the greater part in demise, even the ''Ultra - Nationalist'' journal 'Ein Gwald Journal' seems to have shut shop, for one reason or another? Ironically, it seems that in place of any resemblance of a sound ''Alternative Nationalism'', since collapse of the Welsh Independence Party, the ''gap in the political market'', outside the ''fringe'' of aforementioned ''grouplets'' has been filled, ironicaly by 'The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint David'(and it's appendage of ''Tartan Taffery'') co founded in the Autumn of 2001 by my old comrade and fellow 60's Adfywiadwr Toni Lewis, along with ''New Boys on the Block'', Mark Roberts, Marcher Lord of Trelleck and Henry Jones Davies Publisher Editor of Cambria Magazine also other ''Knights of Saint David'' and of the ''Anglican'' Yellow Cross of Redemption, imposed on the Cathars of the Languedoc in the middle ages. Over the past 40 years there has existed some sound representations of ''Alternative Nationalism'' as Welsh Socialist Vanguard, Independent Welsh Labour Party, Cymru Goch I & II, the Welsh Socialist Republican Movement, Welsh Republican Movement II. To be followed in time by Cymdeithas Cyfamod and the Welsh Independence Party but now it very much looks as if ''the party is over'' for Alternative Welsh Nationalism, Movement and Struggle? Even the annual Cilmeri Rally seems to have ''lost the plot'' and become a pointless exercise in posing, posturing and parading for film makers as in 2006?. However, the ''Good Ole Boys'' Politics of Pint Pot Peripheralism still thrives but it's the ''Knights of Saint David'' who will go marching on, unless there is another ''Adfywiad Gwladgarol Cymru?'' http://adfywiad.blogspot.com If so, I hope it gets the Patriotic philosophy and theory sorted or otherwist it will only repeat the same mistaked made by the Patriotic Front during the great 'Adfwiad Gwladgarol Cymru 1962 - 69'. Now read on, regards our attempts to get it right!

1: Introduction to the Human Republic: Patriotic Front Philosophy and Theory, Discussion Document, Cover and pages 1 to 5.

2: What is the Patriotic Front? Draft Leaflet. (written by Toni Lewis).

3: Extra - Political Activity: The theory of Patriotic Front Radical 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol Agit - Prop Action', as good today as it was then, to bad it never got published as a action guide for all Patriotic Fronters?

NB: More documents to follow in this posting area but move on now to next posting: Patriotic Front Activities.

National Patriotic Front.

1: Envolope Heading.

2: Supporters Registration Form.

3a: Patriotic Enterprizes Funds Token - Attempted PF Banking, an idea of Toni Lewis to raise funds for the Patriotic Front, and other wise means toward self - sufficiency.

3b: Notes on PF - PE Banking.

4: What are the aims of the P.F. Questions and Answers. (Toni Lewis)

5: Statement making Patriotic Front case of opposition to Plaid Cymru, this really annoyed Plaid Cymru at the time. Worse has been said since by many, so what do they expect with their ''sell out'' of Nationalism and meek ways reagards struggle for Independence.

NB: Other documents to follow in this section, but for now see next posting on Toni's Patriotic Front Political Philosophy and Theory in written drafts and otherwise.

Anti - Sais Front: National Union of South Wales Separatists

A.H.Lewis aka Toni Lewis, co - founder of ASF & NPF, Toni was very much the political thinker and motivator. Toni when I met him first, was certainly more aware of Welsh Politics and Welsh Nationalism than I, his politics were, right of centre but he was certainly no ''fascist'' as some called him. He was also far to clever and creative to be just a ''Knee Jerking Supa Patriot''. Our politics then were inspired by influences from a number of sources but least of all from, at that time the prevailing pacifist ''conservitave'' cultural nationalism of Plaid Cymru aka ''Welsh Nationalist Party''. Myself in these early years as Toni was being influenced by, at home members of the demised WRM I and from abroad the separatist nationalism of Quebec and Flanders. We were also of course influenced my the anti - colonial struggles in Palestine, Malaya, Cyprus and Aden, in main because patriots as Toni, Cayo, Coslett and others had done their National Service in these times. It was Britains Colonial problems which caught our attention, as well as revolts in Egypt, Hungary and later in Chechoslavakia 68. Liberation struggles in Algeria and Viet Nam did not catch my interest untill a much later date. Although, the militant struggles of Native and Black Americans were drawing my attention towards end of the 1960's, of course the history of Ireland and it's struggles, particulary 1916 Easter Rebellion was in time to have a crucial influnce on many of us 'Adfywiadwyr Gwladgarol' of the 1960's. It was the 50th anniversary of the Dublin Easter Rebellion Commemoration in 1966, to which many young radical nationalists attended, that had the biggest influence on our politics and patriotic struggle. Following this commemoration, we became much more radically militant, some 'Adywiadwyr Gwladgarol' went more into the FWA, while Toni and I stuck to the Patriotic Front. Soon however by 1967, the P.F. was focusing it's attention into motivating and organising the Anti - Investiture Struggle with PF Militants, taking to the streets and carrying out radical direction action protests that would lead to our arrests as photos here show, above of Toni being arrested and below myself being arrested, both of us for disturbing the peace and myself for ''assaulting'' a Police Officer? he stood on my toes and I pushed him off, that was it dragged off, booked and later fined. this brief introduction to the beginnings of the ASF/NPF and briefly showing where we were heading by 1967, into 1968 - 1969 will provide you with some background.

An History of the ASF & NPF 1964 - 1969:

I guess, I will have to type this out again?

ASF - NUSWS Membership Card with our Separatist aims:

Constitution of the Anti - Sais Front NUSWS.

The Patriots Rest Club, Cwmbran.

Sex, Dope, Rock and Roll? well that's the way the ''horrified'' members of local Plaid Cymru branch saw the ''infamouse'' Patriots Rest Club, a den of iniquity in which a wild bunch of patriots engaged in ''notorious activities''. Ok! Yes! Sex! (us younger elements anyway) but dope? maybe the occaisional ''joint'' but ''Rock and Roll?'', come off it! we were a very cultural lot, into folk music not trash Anglo - American stuff, I lie of course. I was well into Black Soul Music and even the Beach Boys but not the Beatles. It was Toni who was the Folk Music Fan and remained so throughout his life, he hated ''Rock and Roll'' but did have a liking for German Marching and Classical Music? Toni in later life became a very creative crafts person and capable folk musician whilst I went into catering as Grill Chef and Kitchen Porter (as Ho Chi Min).However, apart from the ''wild stuff'' mostly the product of Plaid Cymru immagination, we did do a lot of politics, believe it or not. Not least, it was out of this club that the annual Cilmeri Rally was born, when Toni organised a bus of ASF/PF members and supporters to go to Cilmeri - The rest is history, of which you can read much about in the Cilmeri 40th Anniversary Commemoration Tribute Blog 1966 - 2006 http://anturysbrydcofiwn.blogspot.com

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The Young Patriots League, was also a product of the Patriots Rest.

Above is but a sample of ASF - NUSWS material in my AWNM&S Hist Archive, but not much as it was not long before the ASF became the National Patriotic Front, mainly known as the Patriotic Front. Information on which will be contained in the next posting published to this blog. FOOTNOTE: Do note that much of the material published by the ASF/NPF was done on old fashioned typewritters and duplicated with, at first a table top 'Half Drum Stencil Duplicator'. Later we advanced to an Adana 5X4 and later again an Adana 8&5 hand printers, the big advance in our propaganda out put was a Gestetner 360, that machine initiated the Anti - Investiture Struggle and later carried Cofiwn into existance and great success and many achievements. In the early days we even used a kids ''John Bull Printers Set'', yes! this took a lot of enthusiasm and hard work plus kept our pockets empty. Toni and I were too busy funding all this, to ever become ''Pint Pot Patriots'', odd as it may be, we probably achieved more with this antiquated printing machinary, than many ''Patriot Grouplets'' to day with all this hi - tech at their disposal? That's no slurr on their ideals and enthusiasm but rather the patrioticaly bankrupt times we live in, but I do think many so called ''radical'' patriots could do more militant protesting rather that posturing and parading. NB: The ASF by the way was not an Anti - English ''racist'' style body, but stood more opposed to anglicisation, as is made clear in much of it's literature.

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Gethin ap Gruffydd.

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Co - Founder of the ASF & NPF with Toni Lewis.