FWA FASHION 2009: Bottle Green is in! so wear it with Patriotic Pride! in celebration of Adfywiad Gwladgarol 1963 - 69.

.
Here's where I get serious, and why not? If one can produce and buy Military Fashion wear in the shops, particularly camouflage men & women's wear on market stalls and in Primark, also Fancy Dress shops sell Girls Military Uniforms. Note my Bottle Green Jacket was off a Market Stall and I have bought Bottle Green T-Shirts from Primark, that's a good start. Other items one can pick up cheap in Tescos and other stores inc a good range of 'Castro Caps', all of which you will have to dye Bottle Green and this you will get from any number of stores.

.

Where did I get my interest in fashion? off my father he worked in the textile trade as a Sewing Machine Mechanic and so did I as an apprentice for a couple of years, but of course it's Commandant Cayo who put us in touch with what he considered to be best as a Bottle Green 'Castro Style' revolutionary uniform. I never had an FWA uniform in the ''Sixties'' much to the annoyance of FWA Commandant Denis Coslett who would often 'have a go' at me on this issue (reasons why I did not, I have informed of in other posts).

.

I have been motivated to move on this fwa fashion initiative this year to make a patriotic FWA fashion statement, seeing that 'Bois Bala' are producing FWA T-Shirts and 'Dragoninthehood' doing a 'Daffodil Warrior' T-Shirt in tribute to the FWA too. So I thought why not go the whole hog? If I keep the politics aside and do not stick FWA badges on, as I have done however in this foto shoot, then maybe I will get away with it? Note, I advise you do not to label up as FWA too much in public ok, but at same time the White Eagle badge is not particularly an FWA symbol, invented by Harri Web it is on whole simply iconic of Welsh Resistance down thru the ages and as of yet is not banned.

.

I might just get away with this rather Patriotic 'motivated madness', as in main a tribute to memory of 'Old Comrades' in this 40th anniversary year, particularly those who have passed over, to sit with Owain Glyndwr in the 'Cave of Heroes'. What do you think? a good idea? Anyone up for it, I have at long last made myself an ''FWA Uniform'', and this is in memory and tribute to Denis Coslett in particular. Hope it brings a smile to his sleeping face, at same time hopefully the authorities want get too annoyed and order the Police to bash down my door to confiscate my uniform, c'mon guys it's just for this year, after I will present it to St Fagan's so called National History Museum to add to their collection of costumes.
.
If you do not want to be too patriotically provocative then become a ''Closet Comrade'' and only wear the full kit at home, possibly in the bed room with your Girl Friend, Mistress or Wife even? Whilst in public, just wear one or two items at a time, after all some of this 'Bottle Green' fashion is sold to the general public. So go for it? Guys remember what they say about Girls liking guys in uniform and I am sure that the ladies will appreciate the fashion potential?

.

To conclude: Is it me or what? I seem to be seeing a lot of Cars in Bottle Green colours this year, is that for real? Not least thanks to my model for posing for the fotos, I know it will be no use asking you not to copy fotos but if doing so and reuseing then please credit source. Diolch!

.

I spose I had better make it very clear that despite not having signed the treaty of surrender at Swansea Court House on 1 July 1969. A statement to effect that those involved in the FWA would never rise again in such ways, I am no longer a supporter of radical militant armed insurrection or political violance against pipe lines, buildings or holiday cottages, whatever? Least of all would I support such 'Armed Action' that may endanger human life, I am not a pacifist by any means but I honestly see no need for fighting back in the ''Old Way'' in these dangerous times. All that ''Sixties stuff'' is best left there, no more ''Armed Action'' but certainly it's ok to do it the Patriotic Front 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol' way via Agit - Prop Action, that's ok!

.

PS:

fwa fasion beats all that Cluttered Cilted 'Tartan Taffery' that's for sure!

.

Now that was something different and unexpected, yes! Ok then who out there is up for the Bottle Green Challenge? Be great to see Bottle Green 'fwa fashion' really paraded around yr Maes Eisteddfod Genedlaethol this year, go on! go for it! Do'nt Bottle out, take pride in the 'wearing of the green', after all 'who fears to speak of '69?'

.

Hwyl!

.

Adfywiadwr Gethin Gruffydd.

THREE FEATHERS etc - Shooting Ourselves In The Foot!

.

Welsh Republican Sue Davies Western Mail Letter of 25/03/09 The Three Feathers were imposed on us: Much of what Sue Davies has to say, I absolutely agree with, not least regards the Tudors who used the Red Dragon of Cadwladr to mislead the Welsh, so they could get to the English throne. The Tudors not soon after were to execute the possible last potential Prince of Wales, Rhys ap Gruffydd of Dinefwr in 1529. About this time they sent in to Cymru Fawr (Wales & Marches) the hanging judge Rowland Lee 1534 to sort out the ‘’Bandit problem’’ aka ‘pacify the last remnants of Patriotic Resistance maybe? Then after bludgeoning the ‘’Bandits’’ and common people into submission ‘Annexed’ Wales as ever part of England, end story of Wales.

Unfortunately as for having the Three Feathers imposed on us this, is not the truth. The fact of the matter is that the Welsh or at least some London Welsh ‘Cambrians’ took it upon themselves to adopt these German/English Three Feather as a symbol of their loyalty to the English Crown at time of the first Scottish Jaccobite Rebellion of 1715. These ‘’Timid Taffies’’ quickly established the very ‘ Loyal’ Society of Ancient Britons to prove they were not traitors as the Scots were deemed to be at the time. Later more or less the same ‘Brood of Bradwyr’ - the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion founded in 1745, again at time of a second Jaccobite Rebellion also adopted those ‘Three Feathers’, Loyal Toasts to English Monarchs and Leek Eating. Yes many of Wales’ symbols may be borrowed, but the central issue is, what they represent and what and how they may speak to us, and where our sympathies and allegiances should lay. CERTAINLY NOT WITH THOSE ‘THREE FEATHERS’.

As example, the ‘Three Feathers’ speaks of, not just of Crecy and Azincourt but also of our conquest and colonisation and later becomes greatly associated with ‘Old Cambrian’ connection with the expanding English Empire and in time Welsh Victorian Capitalism. As early as the American War of Independence, in fact almost on eve of that war the RWF a ‘three feathered’ Welsh - British Regiment were eating leeks and toasting the English Crown in New York on Saint David’s day. The English and their Welsh ‘’Uncle Taffies’, that is the ‘Crachach’ and ‘Taffia’ of our long enduring post Tudor Colonial Establishment’ have made sure that the Welsh Military and Police display this icon of English Imperialism. The problem is, from the American War of Independence to putting down Irish Rebellions this three feather ‘Symbol of Servitude’ has really marked us out, indeed stamped on us our subservience to English rule.

Of course as we all know by know these feathers are associated with the Battle of Crecy and the English Princes of Wales, and a previous WM letter writer stated they as much belonged to the Welsh, but Welshmen also fought on the side of the French too at Crecy and later at Azincourt, so perhaps we should adopt the Royal Fleur de Lys of France as a more patriotic Welsh gesture of defiance to English rule? It is further ironic that even our Dydd Dewi as a festival day owes it’s connection to another English Prince of Wales, then as Henry V who following the Battle of Azincourt had 1st March declared a day of celebration much observed by the ‘Ancient Britons’ of London and later the ‘Cambrians’ of 19th Century Victorian Capitalist Wales, much influenced by ‘Y Cymmrodorian’ would continue to lift the ‘Dewi Day’ glasses in loyal toast to the English Crown and their Princes of Wales, particularly following our own revolutionary years 1816 – 1848. Cofiwch: 1831, 1839, 1848 down to 1910 and of course 1911 and beyond to our own present times Cofiwch 1953 and 1969. Of course to prove they were not radical revolutionaries but more so as loyal to the English Crown as they had been since Tudor times.

I am told that London Welsh of the ‘Brit Loyal’ ilk still do tug their ‘Uncle Taffy’ forelocks, be they ‘Crachach’ or ‘Taffia’, and no doubt all those of such ‘Old Cambrian’ bent who inhabit Wales still do. Sadly and sickenly so too 1000’s of our fellow Countrymen and Women now that those ‘Three Feathers’ have been so ‘commoditised’ and made a commercial success story by the WRU. That’s the big problem but then it’s a matter of choice, I see the three feathers as a ‘Symbol of our Subservience’ to the English Crown, thus I and other pobl Glyndwr have adopted Owain Glyndwr’s Golden Dragon and four lions rampant rather than the ‘Tudor Pennant’ based flag, resurrected as a flag for the 1911 Investiture, as was then the Daffodil invented as a Welsh symbol too. However, when I want to be really ‘Bolshie’ I take my 1831 Red Flag out of the closet and give that a revolutionary airing from time, as I will in 2010 and 2011 to mark anniversaries of the great Cambrian Miners Strike and Tonypandy riots, and 1911 Llanelli Workers Insurrection.

Unfortunately again in body and mind centuries of cerebral colonialism has induced historical amnesia amongst the majority of Welsh people, not least in our Welsh Establishment; Political and Cultural, Left, Right or Centre, English or Welsh Speaking. After all was it not an ‘’Old Cambrian’’ of much lauded status as a ‘Cultural Nationalist’, none other than Sir Owen M. Edwards who said in conclusion to his history of Wales to 1282: Wales in the Story of Nations – ‘’The motto of Wales is to be that of its prince – ‘Ich Dien’….’’. He was of course referring to the English Princes of Wales and no doubt he considered the Three Feathers worthy for the Welsh to wear. That’s the problem, no one forces them anymore to wear this awful symbol of our subjection and servitude’, not least in our times, made popular since it was adopted by the WRU at time they were founded. Thanks to they it is now more popular than ever as a ‘Commoditised’ great commercial success story.

I have in this post wrote on some ‘home truths’ but the truth of the matter is, that the majority of Welsh People do choose the ‘Symbol of Subjection and Subservience’ that is the ‘three feathers’. But then if they had been made more aware of the Battle of Irfon Bridge 1282 and Bryn Glas 1402 than the Battles of Crecy and Azincourt then this sad story might be different. Unfortunately centuries of ‘Cerebral Colonialism’ has promoted past and present by a collaborationist Welsh Colonial Establishment well practised in their own self induced ‘Historical Amnesia’, it is then little wonder we also so willingly accept English Princes of Wales and welcome their visits to Wales . I guess my main point is, lets not blame ‘’the English’’ all the time, certainly not today , we have choices.

So the choice is with the Welsh People themselves whether or not they wish to continue to wear the ‘Three Feathers‘ symbols of subjection and subservience or will they awake and arise and wear the symbols of a Nation seeking to be restored as that Cenedl Glyndwr, Owain IV ‘Tywysog Cymru’ dreamed of. Or perhaps rising up the Red Flag of Merthyr’s ‘’Red Commune 1831’’ for a Welsh Socialist Republic or perhaps a Chartist flag for that Silurian Republic of the South some thought possible in 1839. Whatever, anything’s better than the Union Jack, even with a Croes Dewi on it. Nor am I keen on that Tudor Dragon, the 1911 Daffodils or even ‘Dydd Dewi’, and all that leek eating not least because by now, all such are so tarnished by association with English Imperialism and our Colonial history. I feel it is necessary to throw them aside and take up the flags and symbols of a nation born again not one still paddling around in a pond of pathetic patriotism that means little when push comes to shove. As the need for getting off fences and crossing a line of loyalty, as seems to arise at times of Investitures or on anniversary of such, as this year 2009.

Sue Davies letter really touches on a wider subject, it is the one that begs the question, is Wales now with an Assembly, potentially Post – Colonial/Postcolonial seeing ourselves more as an Independent People and Nation. Do we see a nation that is prepared to be one that may be described as Postcolonial/Post Colonial or will we ever exist in the limbo land of semi – colonialism and ever the neo – colony and afraid to cut John Bulls apron strings. For in any nation that strives towards National Independence, it is important we recognise the place of iconic symbols in our struggle for Welsh Freedom. At this moment in time going by recent Western Mail reports it looks as if the Welsh people are not even up to a Welsh Assembly with more powers let alone Independence. Whatever, the lesson to be learnt is this, its not good enough just to talk about symbols if one does to truly adopt them. Then wear them and fly them but more importantly use them in our struggle, in our campaigns, protests and demonstrations as at Caernarfon Castle on or about the 1st – 4th July 2009, maybe?

G.ap Gruffydd.

Welsh Remembrancer & Adfywiad Gwladgarwr.

18 Mawrth 2009.