PATRIOTIC POLITICAL MAGAZINES 1970 - 1990.

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Not in chronological order, sorry I do not have time to detail contents but it will be done one day? In meantime maybe an enterprising publisher could get in touch, as I have the idea for a kind of 'Best of Book' with a selection of articles from the below, and others in my archive not illustrated in this post. It would be great to have such publication available by 2011 maybe? If interested do get in touch.

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MEIBION GLYNDWR and the Mewnlifiad Arson War 1979 - 1993. Meibion Glyndwr Colour Party.

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Sorry to disappoint you but no photos of Meibion Glyndwr's ''Arsonists'', but posted up here are two photos of the MG Colour Party at an Abergele Martyrs Commemoration. As far as I am aware there were no actual links between they and MG, they were a kind of tribute group, much like today's Balchder Cymru FWA Tribute Colour Party. No doubt the latter TCP will get as much hassled by the police as the earlier TCP sooner as later.

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I suggest patriots learn from our history of struggle especially with a 40th anniversary Abergele Martyrs Commemoration on the way being organised by BC and Cymru 1400? I have no doubt that the MI5 Wales/Cymru Squad based at Cardiff will have a keen interest in this event, so take care ok! DO NOT BE DAFT!!!

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My main purpose here with an MG/MGCP/Mewnlifiad post is in main as part of my Abergele Martyrs tribute this and next month , in a number of my blogs. It is also to note myself as much as you that in due course I shall be carrying out a 'look back' on the period of this 'Mewnlifiad Issue', and all associated with it including Cymdeithas Cyfamod. Not least regards 'Operation Tan' and it's particular targeting of Cofiwn the Cymric Consciousness Campaigning Movement.

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John Humphries in his book Freedom Fighters has given a good account of the MG 'Holiday Cottage Campaign' and there is no doubt that of all such secret underground campaigns, this was the most successful. The jury is still out as far as the FWA/MAC 'War', and their military campaigns against the 1969 Investiture puting off another Caernarfon Investiture? I say MG was ''successful'' in main because it's activists were for most part never caught, neither was it's leadership as in case of the FWA & MAC. However, it still remains a mystery as to why MG called off their campaign, and we may speculate as much as we like but perhaps we will never know the truth? As with the FWA & MAC however, we may assess what and if were the achievements of the MG ''Arson War'', indeed if it was successful or not?

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Today the 'Mewnlifiad' has become the 'M' word for Cultural Nationalists, it also appears as if terms as ''White Raj'' and ''White Settlers'' are no longer 'acceptable' in post Devolution 'Coalition one Wales WAG'. This is largely due to fact that those who opposed English Incomer 'Socio - Economic' Cultural Colonialism were often associated by their enemies with the Ku Klux Klan. It is interesting to note that Montana has also in contemporary times witnessed an 'Arson War', where it is believed 'White Supremacists' have been busy burning the properties of ethnic German 'Religious Settlers. Somewhat bizzare but true Montana for another reason came into the headlines in connection with the last 'Mewnlifiad Furore' that led to the birth of Cymuned and which the Welsh Independence Party foolishly got embroiled in, as foolish has it had been for Cymdeithas Cyfamod in the holiday cottage burning years of Meibion Glyndwr.
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Suffice to leave all this, at this point but it is an area I shall return too. I shall however, leave you with very relevant 'food for thought' mentioned on page 159 of Johm Humphries book but not seen in a more historical context. But a 'Welsh History Buff' as I am, I find it more than just a little interesting that the first cottage burnt in the MG 'Arson War' was near Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula. It was of course at Nefyn on and about 1 August 1284 that Edward I held his great victory 'Conquest Cymru' celebrations, and do note that 2009, is the 725 anniversary year of this event.

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SO WHY NOT COMMEMORATE FACT THAT WE FIGHT ON!

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I have wrote up on this in posts else where with related fotos of historic interest, I have also suggested to Gwladgarwyr Gwynedd what a great opportunity to hold at Nefyn a 'Gwyl Yma o Hyd' but there seems no interest from they in doing so. However, I appeal to all Gwladgarwyr Cymru to tour the area on and about 1 Awst 2009 to visit 'Cae Iorwerth' in Nefyn, also maybe climb atop Garn Boduon with flags of Welsh Freedom raised high over 'Edward's Field', now that's what I call a real Political Statement & Patriotic Gesture of DEFIANCE! YMA O HYD!
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I shall in due course return to these matters.

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G.ap Gruffydd.

Y FYDDIN: Byddin Rhyddid Cymru - THE END 1st JULY 1969. 'Surrender at Swansea Crown Court'.

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For a few years during the 1960's, a not so small band of mainly young Welsh Nationalists were to join together in an attempt to establish a 'Welsh Army'. An idea first put forward in the writings of the first Welsh Republican Movement that came into existence following WW II and demised in the late 1950's. However, it was not until the beginnings of the 'Tryweryn Troubles' that an actual 'organisation' came into existence in Gwynedd calling itself the WELSH FREEDOM ARMY.

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By 1963 the name had been changed to the FREE WALES ARMY and it's main area of existence at first was in West Wales, coming under command of horse breeder Julian Cayo Evans. 1963 was to be a key year in the history of the FWA, the opening of the Tryweryn Reservoir witnessed 'Commandant Cayo' leading a radical protest at this opening.

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From this point on the FWA was making the news 'big time' and loads of young Welsh patriots were 'joining up' but that's about all most of them ever did. Where the FWA was succeeding was simply in the fact that they 'made it' in the English Media which young Welsh People were more and more reading. Only an older generation and those who had a 'stake' in Wales or were into Rugby bought the Western Mail, so for many young Welsh people, the FWA in the English press made them more aware of Wales, and a Wales as a Nation than ever previous.

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Welsh Speaking 'Cymry' and it's youth may have been more tuned into the rise of their 'Sixties' Cultural Nationalism for a verity of reasons. However, in the South and working class areas of the West as Llanelli, the youth were more up for the FWA and would soon be out there Tramp! Tramp! Tramping with Commandants Cayo and Coslett. Myself had become a 'Young Nationalist' before all this, and it was more 'Cofia Dreweryn', Owen Williams and the two 'Boys from Gwent' that inspired me than the FWA.

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However, I was drawn toward the FWA by Toni Lewis, although as Toni was more of a political mind than Comandants Cayo and Coslett, we soon found the FWA to be lacking. This led to our forming the Anti - Sais Front and out of that was born the Patriotic Front and then Rali Cilmeri was founded, and within a year we were getting into the Anti - Investiture Campaign and all that!

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However, a first major step along the road to more military awareness for the FWA but more Political awareness for myself was the visit to Ireland in 1966 to attend the 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising. This commemoration attracted 100's of Celtic Nationalists and to many of us was crucial in learning of the struggles of our fellow Celts, I myself was already very interested in Quebec and Flemish Nationalist struggles.

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Later my interest would particularly look towards the Black Panthers and Native American Activism, although also like most with FWA associates we were interested in the Anti - Imperialist struggles against English Rule in Israel, Cyprus, Aden and Malaya. For the FWA the Irish visit would provide them with links with members of S.F. and of the IRA. All of which you may read up on in the book: To Dream of Freedom, details below.

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It is a truth that the FWA never really became an organised body let alone a 'Military Machine', what it did become was an international 'Propaganda Machine'. A role it was to serve well, much prompted by the Patriotic Front in direction of carrying out Anti - Investiture Propaganda in particular. For much of this time the Patriotic Front was attempting to make itself the 'Political Wing' of the FWA, this was largely being thwarted by Denis Coslett of Llanelli who had become FWA Western Command Commandant.

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Commandant Coslett wanted the FWA to remain Independent and follow a more militant 'IRA Style' path, but PF members disagreed seeing it much more preferable to let MAC get on with their undereground secret resistance 'Saboteurs War' whilst the FWA should, we hoped became more as an Home Defence Army as the Israeli 'Haganna'. But when it looked as if the FWA was not up for that, nor getting its act together otherwise, the PF disassociated itself from 'Y Fyddin' officially. However, we continued to push individual members to supporting our 'Chaos Caernarfon' plans, on which I will inform in further posts in due course.

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Whatever, the outcome of all this, was eventually to lead to the so called FWA Trial during the summer of 1969, I will deal further with this trial and the Anti - Investiture Campaign in future posts to this blog. Suffice to say now, that shortly before sentences were handed out on 1 July 1969, the remaining defendants were all asked to sign a document. I never seen the exact wording as I refused to sign it straight away after by barrister informed me of it's basic contents.

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Essentially, it required that we signed a document stating: that we would never again rise up in such military ways against English Rule in Wales. All my co - defendants signed this document, including FWA Commandants Cayo and Coslett and so effectively they 'Surrendered', they had already given up their arms! Now they were 'Signing a Treaty', as I would quip to Cayo and Coslett, they had left me as the solitary anti - treaty force of 'one'. But I never let it become a bitter issue, as far as I was concerned much was over, much water had gone under the bridge, fin!

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Our ''Forgotten War'' was over, until recently remembered by John Humphries and maybe brought to your attention for the first time in his book Freedom Fighters - Wales's Forgotten 'War' 1963 - 1993? Not a bad book, to be fair very good in many ways, but for the opening and concluding chapters, and then made terrible by the most awful character assassination of Commandants Cayo and Coslett, rubbishing of the FWA and marginalising of the Patriotic Front and later Cofiwn.

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To move on, before the end of 1969, I was released from prison and before the year had ended I had decided to get out of treacherous grovelling 'Cymru Bach' and go into self imposed exile in Ireland for two years. Returning much more politically aware and to the left, in the years that have followed, I helped found Cofiwn as a Cymric Consciousness Cause and Campaign but Politically the way forward was with helping to found Cymru Goch I and not returning to a Patriotic Front or similar, untill I was to help found Cymdeithas Cyfamod.

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The latter movement I soon resigned from as soon as I saw it start to run off down the road of rural cultural nationalism, radical yes but nevertheless too rural for my liking. Plus, their becoming the political voice of Meibion Glyndwr and their 'Arson War' left me unsure on many counts regards the way things were going to end up. When a Meibion Glyndwr Colour Party was set up with it's attempts to link to Cymdeithas Cyfamod and MG, I just knew this would all end in disaster as nobody seems to have learned any lessons from 1969, at least politically. A later Welsh Independence Party would essentially shoot itself in the foot by again focusing too much in rural radical cultural nationalism areas and issues aka 'Mewnlifiad', although I am not quite sure why it exactly imploded, other than being aware of the same 'informer' accusations that plagued demise of 'Y Cyfamodwyr'. In passing it is pertinant to draw attention to the now, not so new 'Boyos on ther Block', in shape and form of 'Balchder Cymru'. Linked with they are a number of ever changing blogs, also what has been called ''extremist websites'' as CYMRU 1400 and various, possibly a number of internet MI5 'Sting Operations' for most part linking to FWA & Meibion Glyndwr interests? However, do note whilst I consider Balchder Cymru as not having learned very much from previous patriotic experience and are politically lacking in so many areas, at least they are identifiable to their founder Adam Phillips of Fflintshire. Plus, they are to move beyond their usual passive patriotism towards a more 'Adfywiadwyr Gwladgarol' Activist Radical Nationalism on 1 July 2009 with a Patriotic Protest against another Investiture of an Englishman as Prince of Wales, at the Gate of Caernarfon Castle. For further details see their Website & Blogs also my Adfywiad Gwladgarol blog. However, in all radical nationalist matters do heed the below:

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WARNING DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO CONTACT SUCH SITES NOR SIGN INTO THEIR FORUMS OR PETITIONS OK! IF THEY DO NOT GIVE REAL NAMES OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS I DO - TAKE CARE IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THEY ARE MI5 AGENTS OR THEIR LACKIES.

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All of which will be further enlarged on in posts in this and other of my blogs during course of the year. Not least I will inform as why today I oppose Political Violence of the 'Old Ways' in Wales of the present and future. Plus what I think about any campaigning against another Investiture of another Englishman as Prince of Wales. Yes! I do consider Radical Protest preferable to Passive Petitioning, and I have already said much on this in my other blogs as The Welsh Patriot and Adfywiad Gwladgarol Cymru. So stay tuned in particular brand of militant Welsh Nationalism, devoid of all Cultural Romantic Nationalist sentiments and a fierce enemy of Knee Jerk & Pint Pot Patriotism, Devolution Dilettantism and Crachach Cronyism!

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Red Dragon Illustration above is taken from a carrier bag of the time which all of the Swansea Nine' signed.

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Adfywiadwr Gethin ap Gruffydd.

Archivist AWNM&S History Archive.

WELSH FREEDOM FIGHTERS REMEMBERED: Flowers placed at graves of FWA Commandants Cayo Evans and Denis Coslett by Old Comrade Gethin Gruffydd.

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I have to remind that I was only an FWA volunteer for a short time, I and others of the Patriotic Front had resigned from the Free Wales Army for reasons of discontent regards failure of 'Y Byddin' to organise effectively. FWA Commandants Cayo and Coslett, leading members of the Patriotic Front thought were too stuck in ideas of an Old IRA with it's rural guerrilla war fare of 'Flying Columns' and 'Active Service Units'. The PF knew that such was an impossible dream, no way was an FWA ever going to be able to take on the British Army and it's Welsh 'Quisling' Regiments and win such a war, that really was an impossible dream. Same regards Mudiad Amdiffyn Cymru, as a secret underground resistance, it was doubtful if it was ever to advance as a movement capable of sustaining and carrying out a long struggle to drive out the British as Freedom Movements had done in Israel, Cyprus and Aden. I doubt if the Welsh could have ever risen to the levels of brutal personal violance that such movements engaged in, and yet books about such struggles were being avidly read by us Welsh Militants.

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The best any of these elements, it was clear at least to the Patriotic Front was to have the short term objective of stopping the Investiture, in campaigns fought on a number of fronts, if successful this would have gone a long way toward undermining English Rule in Wales and have given the Welsh greater confidence to become more the political Nationalist Nation. I will deal again as to why this largely PF plotting did not quite pull it off, in main not due to its own failings. But for most part a lack of courage of a nationalist conviction and commitment within ranks of, for main part Plaid Cymru & Cymdeithas yr Iaith Cymraeg that made up a National Movement which at heart was a pacifist cultural Nationalist movement. This and a Secret Police reign of Terror by the Shrewsbury based 'Special Squad' plus Welsh cowardice and treachery were in the end to bring about defeat of the best laid plans of mice, men and the Patriotic Front.

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Suffice to say, that having left the FWA, the PF membership was to focus it's effort on attempting to create Cadres of Agit - Prop Activists, influenced by Commandant Cayo's attempting to encourage us to establish 'Flying Columns' and 'ASU's. However, while Cayo was influenced by Ireland, the PF was influenced by Nationalist campaigns in Flanders and Quebec in particular, and not least the street fighting tactics in the Paris and Prague Student Revolts. Thus we were more up to throwing Smoke, and maybe petrol bombs rather than the placing of time bombs, this we considered as the best means of dealing with the I - Day in Caernarfon 1969. Creating Chaos being the general order for the day, chaos by every means possible and some great ideas were rising to the surface in this direction with the Swiss Army book 'Total Resistance' as our protesters bible.

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As for Uniforms, the PF had been considering that it's ''Street Fighter'' should possibly be organised as a 'Militia' wearing Red Shirts, but later it was thought, that best our 'Adfywiadwyr Activists' be more as 'Fish in the Sea'. Ideally, such was later best seen as potentially a good guide, that in the form of Ian Bone's 'Class War' but this, at the time was not around as an option to copy. Too bad as possibly this 'Class War' may have taken on I - Day'69 better than any nationalist group at the time, since or in the future.

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I would go so far as to say that the recent 'Storm the City' demonstrations provide a good example for a 'Storm the Castle' Anti - Investiture III Demonstration in Caernarfon some where, possibly not so far down the road? But not as long as the present best form of radical patriotism is such as the 'Balchderiaid' poseurs and 'Cambrianista Petitioners', and as for counting on former 'Cyfamodwyr' Cream Crackers or 'Romantic Republicans' forget it! Well passed their sell by date!
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Personally I think that next time around there will be even less opposition to a third Investiture in Caernarfon, I think already the Brits have it in the bag! The rural Cymry will welcome it as a wonderful opportunity for tourism whilst all the 'Crachach Newydd' are now so well bought out by Brit Grants that no way would they consider endangering their financial future. As for good old fashioned PLAID cultural pacifist nationalism, they will convince themselves its a winner to welcome the Investiture as they did in 1969, as for radical language groups as Llais Gwynedd and Cymuned, somehow I just think they will duck out of sight and avoid any issue that might divide Cymraeg Speakers, or otherwise they will have long demised.

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Sadly, the likes of Cayo and Coslett, Owen Williams and John Jenkins and Glyn Rowlands, Toni Lewis and myself will be long dead, in care homes or just maybe imprisoned again? As for replacing such revolutionaries, no! its not going to happen, as I believe that it's the times maketh the man, the Radical Revolutionary Nationalist that arose in the ''Sixties'' will never arise again! If such did, I am half way thinking that next time around forget fighting an Investiture III in the 'Old Ways' as we did, or as it might appear I am suggesting above. Just remember recent 'Storm the City' in London, and just how clever the Cops are, and how much violence they are prepared to use. So do not listen to me, I think it's better I buzzed off and let the future take care of itself?

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One things for sure, if the Humphries book is any thing to go by, be sure that his TV documentary will go down the same road as the book in attempting to demolish not only Freedom Fighters as Cayo & Coslett but undermine the best true way fast forward in dealing with Investiture III. That is by means of popular mass peoples action, as plans of PF and its Anti -Investiture Campaign are also being marginalised and diminished in this book, which also perpetuates 'Black Propaganda' and 'Character Assassination'.

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Why? because both Coslett and Cayo, in particular were capable of mobilising youth whilst Cayo no doubt at all, had the potential to be a great charismatic leader. Mr Humphries however, suggests that MAC might return, forget it, that will never happen and such violent campaigns has it carried out are best not considered anymore, full stop!

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So, why now the FWA Uniform in so many posts this month, across my blogs? Well I am just making the point, that if Cayo & Coslett had organised the FWA properly, I might have returned to its ranks. But in the main, I have been wearing this uniform recently, here and there quite simply to show my solidarity with the, in face of attacks upon them by John Humphries in his book 'Freedom Fighters'.

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What ever, the faults and failings of Cayo and Coslet, they were patriots and did their best, they tried where others did not, they risked much where others did not. They were my comrades, and my fellow political prisoners, I have thus been wearing this FWA Uniform not just as a protest but also in tribute to their memory. However, it is time for me to put this uniform away, donate it to the so called National History Museum of Wales, or maybe just bury or burn it? I have made my point, if I go on wearing it, the spirits of Cayo and Coslett may take me over, and I will want to begin where they left off on 1 July 1969. I dare say I would bore one and all to death by going on about all this, or the Police are going to come and take me away and I do not want that to happen, as I still have too much to say before 1 July 2009.

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To conclude Comrades Cayo and Coslett we remember you with pride in your patriotism, and respect you for trying were others failed to rise to the occasion, you at least did not just dream of freedom but attempted to win it! Whilst others condemn you, we shall remember your sacrifice in struggle against imposition of another Investiture of another Englishman as Prince of Wales......and just what did you do in the 'forgotten war' Mr Humphries?

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Gethin Gruffydd, for a short time an FWA Volunteer but always one in spirit!
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PS: Now it's the turn of someone else to go and be seen 'Wearing the Green', well at least a T-Shirt or pull over jumper. Note former on sale at Primark and latter on market stalls.

FREE WALES ARMY REVISTED 40 Years On, and still going strong? No not really!

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If one was to believe all written about the FWA in the book FREEDOM FIGHTERS Wales's Forgotten 'War', 1969 - 1993 by John Humphries, one may be forgiven if coming to the opinion that the FWA was nought but a Pint Pot Patriotic Army? However, this is not quite the whole truth, and of course there is no history that ever does record the complete truth, not least when such is about a 'Secret War', and wars of 'Underground Resistance' or of National Liberation.

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Usually it is the victor who writes the history or a particular class that might win a war of Independence or Revolutionary Struggle which writes up their account. After all how many of you have read any account of America's 'Whiskey Rebellion?' or of the Canudos Revolt in Brazil and there are a great many small wars and revolts that are in the shadows and dark corners of history, placed there usually for class reasons or otherwise.

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Case in point is how our own history makes the so called martyrdom of Dic Penderyn more important than the revolutionary leader Lewis Lewis in the aftermath of the 1831 Merthyr Insurrection. Same why as it is of the Scotch Cattle who are generally ignored but Rebecca Struggle gets preferential treatment, that is something to do with our very own rural rooted 'Cymraeg Crachach' and 'Brit Anglicised' Chartist to Labour traditionalists. Although very interesting in case of the Rebecca Struggle, in the fullest account by David Williams, two working class Rebeccites are labeled as part of a ''Lunatic Fringe'', in particular Dai'r Cantwr and Shoni Sgubor Fawr.

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Of course FWA Commandants Cayo and Coslett were labeled as the ''Lunatic Fringe'' of the Nationalist Movement during the 60's, and it may surprise you to learn that Rhys ap Gruffydd and his wife Gwenllian were labeled ''Imbeciles'' by the medieval crachach for wanting to revolt against the Normans. I will leave you to ponder on all this, as well as why someone who describes himself as a ''patriot'' as John Humphries does, should so rubbish the FWA, and I guess the Patriotic Front and the radical militant Anti - Investiture campaig in passing too? Sadly, what was otherwise a much needed book and excellent for the most part has left a lot to be desired in it's account of the Adfywiad Gwladgarol Fawr 1963 - 1969.

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How Humphries can some how give an account of FWA and MAC without taking aboard more fully the political organisation being developed by the PF, and also the civilian protest movement being put in place in the shape of the Anti- Investiture Campaign and Struggle defeats me. This kind of undermines the Western Mail calling Mr Humphries an expert on the Secret Underground Army and 'patriotic war' being fought in the 'sixties' on a number of fronts. As for the terrible attack on Denis Coslett, now passed away I find just unbelievable to say the least, and generally undeserving of such vindictiveness which just undermines the whole general good worthy sentiments in the book aforementioned.

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Over the coming months I shall write a more balanced account of the FWA, and give full account of what the PF was up to, in general but in particular regards the radical Anti - Investiture Campaign for which I and four others were rounded up and put on trial with others of the 'Swansea Nine'. Suffice to say now, regards foto above, I have already pointed out that I was never part of this whole FWA ''Uniformed Scene'', for reasons already stated. I have been teasing and winding up the 'powers that be', our own treacherous Welsh establishment and 'Crachach Cowards' in particular, suggesting that I am setting up a FWA Living History & Military Re-enactment Society with purpose of marching on Caernarfon in July, to 'Storm the Castle'. Of course, this is not true, I would have to be totally mad to attempt such, no I am wearing the FWA Uniform here, there and where ever from time to time this year, to in main make tribute to the FWA, and in particular it's Commandants and Volunteers who have passed away.

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Why foto by a beer bar at a Living History Festival, well to make the point that it seems many of our Welsh struggles, inc the FWA had a ''Pub Scene'' but he FWA was not a 'Pint Pot Army'. If anything it was the ''Hangers On'' who turned up at events, as much for the beer then as they do now. Check them out at the annual Rali Cilmeri and Dydd Dewi Parade in Cardiff, in the 'sixties' they were sometimes young Plaid Cymru members or styled themselves as ''Republicans''. It was often as not their lack of serious commitment to struggle that would tarnish the FWA as anything else, sadly Denis Coslett did lend himself in this direction too, but that is no good reason for a full on very personal bitter attack on his memory by John Humphries.

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Gorchfygwn! Maybe?

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Fe Godwn Ni Eto? Sadly No!

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G.Gruffydd Archivist.