THE FREE WALES ARMY ARRESTS 26 - 02 - 1969, 40 years on some reflections and reassesment.

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40 years on and almost 'Last Man Standing' although these days more into 'Guerrilla Remembrancing' than considering Revolt & Rebellion and ''Armed Insurrection'', although in reality I was more PF Political than FWA Military Matters. Truly I never had a Uniform but I recently put one together for sake of this blog posting and not for thinking of going down the road of another 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol' ' Rebellion or even setting up an FWA Reenactment Society as similar for the South Wales Borders.

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HHHhhhmmm!!! No! Most definatley not, so SB, MI5 & MI6 et al, relax guys, I really am too old for revisiting in reality all that ''Sixties Stuff''. I suggest you hang on in there, lay back and enjoy by blog postings like every one else, as this year I relate my version of the FWA story. It was not all quite the farce as John Humphries makes out in his book, recently published FREEDOM FIGHTERS (a review to be published in my WELSH PATRIOT blog by Easter I hope?)

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The fotos here are dedicated to Cayo and Coslett, especially Coslett who used to really have a go at me for not wearing a FWA Uniform, I preferred my US Navy Reefer Jacket or US Army Combat Jacket on back of which I had stuck the letters RHYDDID I GYMRU. I was inspired to do that from seeing Quebec Patriots sporting sweaters with there on, QUEBEC LIBRE, I was not into this FWA Uniform thing although I designed one for them (see TDofF).

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In time I would make it clear to Cayo and Coslett that I would not wear a Uniform unless they started to organise 'Y Byddin' properly, they did not and I moved on with Toni Lewis to consider establishing a ''Street Fighting'' Patriotic Front Militia, which we never got around to. Never did though as in time we were all banged up, at least five of us for PF/Cymdeithas Llywelyn/Anti - Investiture Campaigning and not for FWA Activity. Although of course, the authorities had me and quite rightly I guess for the Uniform Design, FWA Organising Literature and not least helping to organise the Abergwesyn Training Camp.

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Authorities please note, I am not stock piling Uniforms, though I think FWA 'Bottle Green' will become very fashionable this year, have already seen and bought a 'Military Style' Sweater off a market stall. Maybe the Cap could become a fashion item and certainly that White Eagle Bandanna as fashion potential, I silk screened that myself, if you cannot S.S, then maybe S.S Instant Printers could do one for you.

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Last but not least, the foto above, it's me off course (the ''Nutter'' go see my Assyrian Rod blog) but in the ''Sixties'' I guess it would have been more up Cayo & Cosletts street, so in their memory, I salute you comrades but from here on in, I think that the PF history has been too much in the shade of the FWA & what became known as the FWA trial really should be described as the PF/FWA Anti - Investiture Conspiracy Trial. Then all who are confused as to why we were arrested, held so long and tried may more come to understand some truths, if not over coming months I will put you straight ok!

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Gethin 'Iestyn' ap Gruffydd.

CYMDEITHAS CYFAMOD, what happened - did it shoot itself in the foot? Such a good Patriotic initiative allowed to just die!

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Unfortunately that is how it is with Alternative Welsh Nationalism, Movements, Societies and groups, they arise and often sink without trace in the most mysterious of circumstances. Not least with regards to Cymdeithas Cyfamod and then the Welsh Independence Party another potential winner and great loss to the Alternative Nationalist Political Struggle. At least the Patriotic Front had to take the 'Big Hit' in 1969 for it's plots and plans to halt or disrupt the Investiture, more on that very shortly and through the year.

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Perhaps the biggest disappointment has been the failure of Welsh Republicanism and in latter years the pathetic ''Grouplets'' of Cymru Rhydd and Balchder Cymru is the best that Alternative Nationalism can throw up, sad but that looks as if it's how Alternative Nationalism will come to demise and end, with out much of a shout but more a weak whimper. Meanwhile PLAID (Far from red, Pink Left, this is not a ref to gays ok) Nationalism has become more or less a partner in a 'Coalition Conspiracy' that takes us no where near Independence as already under foot of the Lord Protector Dafydd Elis Thomas they even move away from a referendum on more powers for the Welsh Assembly.

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Here I have to remind one and all of Patriotic mind that DEVOLUTION is no more than efficient management of Wales as a Neo - Colony, for if we have no Parliamentary powers to make laws and raises taxes then it really is all a fraud and the BIG BRIT LIE. Publisher Terry Breverton of late, in a letter to the Western Mail, following on criticism of PLAID made a call for setting up of another 'CYMRU FYDD' or at least a ''common sense'' political party.

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Regards Cymru Fydd well we know where the previous version of that went, no where! As for Common Sense, since when have Welsh Nationalists had common sense, for most part it's driven by Cultural Nationalism and a miscellany of CND Pacifism and limp liberalism etc, etc in its main stream. Whilst sadly 'Alternative Nationalism' has for most of the time been driven by Knee Jerk Patriotism, that is apart from WIP and before that WSRM. Possibly, my bet for way forward goes in direction of progressive democrats establishing an INDEPENDENT WELSH LABOUR PARTY in about 2011, which gives you all time to read up on the IWLP of 1911. As for Cultural Nationalism, well unless it gets a grip on itself and returns to the ideas of Adfer and more so, the 'Back to the Land' politics of Plaid Cymru Cultural Nationalism (1925 - 1945) where Language and Culture were more associated with the land than associating it with a Welsh Language Industry, then I fear 'Yr Hen Iaith' is in deep trouble. Here, I think Cymuned and Llais Gwynedd need to get their act together in a 'ANTUR CUNEDDA', but more on that another time.

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G.Gruffydd.

WELSH SOCIALIST REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT: Political Trial.

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TY CENEDL ARCHIVE at National Library of Wales.

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Note to Historians, students and writers of history, be that Welsh, political or History in general the below Archive may be of interest to you. Do note that much of my present Archiving will end up in the Ty Cenedl Collection in Aberystwyth. I note that Bangor University has also began a collection of similar Welsh Nationalist Political Ephemera, perhaps it may be appropriate if Swansea University gets donated some PF/FWA 1969 Trial material when I have finished with it, by end of this year, I hope. Meanwhile, I am not up for it myself but I do consider it a good publishing venture to do a book based on this Archive work, if only such as the American Book 'BAMN!' regards American Radical Political Ephemera of the 1960 - 1970 period.
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So any one out there interested in such an endeavour do get in touch and convince me that you are the right person for the job, I would of course assist put it all together but what's really needed is an editor I guess. Further, I consider there is great scope and opportunity for a 40th Anniversary Adfywiad'69 Anti - Investiture Souvenir book, for publication this year. But again I am not up for the job other than assisting, again what's needed is an editor and of course publishers who would support and fund such publishing ventures. After all, as good as John Humphies book Freedom Fighters was, it kind of missed out the 'Civilian Resistance' aspects of the Adfywiad Gwladgarol Fawr 1962 - 69 and beyond, as often as not as important as the 'Armed Struggle' as I will inform of, in my review of aforementioned book in due course (to be posted in my Welsh Patriot blog).
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THE FWA & 'The Sixties' WILL BE REVISTED AGAIN SOON, with some more history on Adfywiad Gwladgarol 1962 - 69.

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2009 is of course 40 anniversary of Adfywiad'69 noting that toward end of last year came timely publication of Freedom Fighters by John Humphries to remind us of ADFYWIAD GWLADGAROL FAWR 1962 - 69. I have managed to, as busy as I am read the book but will reserve my most major comments to a review I am working on for a post in my WELSH PATRIOT blog. I also have to dive into my AWNM&S Archive to dig out material for some major posting work in this blog as from coming 26 February on subject of ''The Sixties'' and our most dramatic of Welsh Nationalist Revolts since that of Owain Glyndwr in the 15th century.
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Whatever, I have made a start on the Archive digging and came up with the below which I have not recorded previously, that is the death of the 'Brigadier', Ronald Williams, formerly Chief Petty Officer RN and in ''The Sixties'' an FWA Officer as most of the volunteers were. I was aware of Ron Williams and other Patriots that hung out at 'The Lamb' in Merthyr but I cannot remember if I ever had a pint there myself, nor can I remember ever meeting Ron Williams though I knew of him via the Patriotic grapevine. It's quite possible I had met Ron but so many people came in out of Nationalist ranks in those days of freedoms dreaming, that I cannot really say for sure I had.
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I unfortunately could not attend Rons' funeral but some one must have sent me an invite which I have posted below for record and posterity sake. However, last year I bought as a present for one of my daughters a Photographic Book of Merthyr Characters and Ron was therein. What surprised me most was not that he was therein or that it was actually mentioned he was an FWA Volunteer but rather it mentioned the fact that he was from Heolgerrig an old Working Class 19th century 'Barrio' Tai Un Nos Township on edge of Merthyr Tudful. My Mam's Mam came from Heolgerrig but on getting married moved into Merthyr itself, but for first five years of my life I lived in Merthyr and also visited family Friends who remained at Heolgerrig, of which there are photos in our Family Album,of what appears to be happy times in my early years playing about in some ones garden with girls too.
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So there you go interesting to me but perhaps not to you, as may be the knowledge that ''The Cobblers'', the Radical 'Sixties' Revolutionaries of Penybont hung out at The Ship Public House, and boy do I get doses of nostalgia about those times, when & where I became a ''Victim of the Sixties''. Whatever, more of the same plus to come through course of year on matters as the PF Plot to mess up the Investiture of an Englishman as Prince of Wales, some further truths about the FWA but not all as bad as John Humphries makes out in his book Freedom Fighters published last year.
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I will have a lot to say about the FWA Trial and put the record straight about a great deal , it most defiantly was not such the great farce as John Humphries makes out, against the background of even being novice revolutionaries and getting much wrong and then again much right. Not least there a number of facts set aside, ignored and unknown about the Anti - Investiture Struggle and how it was at the 11th Hour betrayed and then all but fully thwarted by the full power of the English State being brought to bear on true radical Adfywiadwyr Gwladgarol.
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It's one thing looking in on great events as an Editor of a News Paper but it's an entirely different matter trying to do some fast track revolutionary learning on the ground when one is also up against Welsh Apathy and the pacifism of 'Cultiural Nationalism', oh yes Cowardice and Treachery, as well as Informers, and full on Secret Service Agents. No it's not the easiest of things to motivate, plan and organise a 'Welsh Rebellion', yes it's time the Fat Lady began to sing a little! So stick with it and stay posted, spread the word that this is the Welsh Blog to watch this year, you will be far from being bored by the posts to come and just maybe it will inspire you all to get up and at it with another ADFYWIAD GWLADGAROL FAWR but not in the ''Old Way''. This time around I am not talking 'Armed Struggle', lets leave that in ''The Sixties'', this time around it must be more about AGIT - PROP ACTION OF THE PASSIVE RESISTANCE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PROTEST KIND ALONG WITH A LITTLE ''CONSTRUCTIVE VANDALISM'', all of which I will enlighten you on, in due course in a number of my other blogs, not here as this is strictly a ''Museum''.

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