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.