Free Wales Army facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Free Wales Army (Byddin Rhyddid Cymru)
Flag of the Free Wales Army
Active	1963–1969
Ideology	Welsh independence
Leader	Julian Cayo-Evans
Headquarters	Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales
Area of operations	Wales

The Free Wales Army (FWA; Welsh: Byddin Rhyddid Cymru) was a Welsh nationalist group formed in Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales in 1963. It was started by Julian Cayo-Evans. This group aimed to create an independent Welsh republic, meaning Wales would be its own country, separate from the United Kingdom.

History of the Free Wales Army

How the FWA Started and Grew

The Free Wales Army first appeared in public in 1965. This was during a protest against building the Llyn Celyn reservoir. This reservoir would flood a Welsh-speaking village. In 1966, members of the FWA marched in Dublin, Ireland. They were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. This was an important event in Irish history for independence.

A TV interview in 1967 with David Frost made the group more widely known. The FWA leaders liked getting attention from the media. They made big claims, like having money from rich people. They also claimed to have links with other groups fighting for independence. They even said they had dogs trained to carry explosives!

Members of the FWA wore uniforms they made themselves. They marched in historic places like Machynlleth. They also practiced with small weapons and explosives in the Welsh countryside. The group also supported families affected by the Aberfan disaster. They marched and worked to help these families get fair compensation.

Challenges and Public Attention

Many people in the media did not take the Free Wales Army very seriously. A government note even suggested not to take their activities too seriously. It said that giving them too much attention would make them seem more important than they were.

However, at the time, there were other Welsh nationalist protests. There were also protests against the investiture of King Charles as Prince of Wales. Because of this, the FWA became a target for the government. In 1969, nine members were arrested. They were charged with breaking public order laws.

Their trial took place in Swansea and lasted 53 days. It ended on the same day as the investiture. On the first day of the trial, people in the public gallery sang the Welsh national anthem, "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau". Most of the evidence against the FWA came from journalists. These journalists had reported on the group's claims. Julian Cayo-Evans, his second-in-command Dennis Coslett, and four other members were found guilty. Cayo-Evans and Coslett spent 15 months in jail.

Symbols and Beliefs

The motto of the Free Wales Army was "Fe godwn ni eto". This is Welsh for "We will rise again". Their symbol was Eryr Wen, a white eagle on a dark green shield. The flag of Wales was in the top left corner. The eagle represents the eagle of Eryri. In Welsh mythology, this eagle is said to protect Wales. It is mentioned in an old poem called Mab Darogan. This poem from the 13th century says that a king will come from the Welsh people. It also says that brave men will be reborn from the family line of the eagles of Snowdonia. The modern symbol was designed by Harri Webb. He was a Welsh republican poet.

There were rumors that the FWA received weapons from another group, the Official IRA (OIRA). However, Cayo-Evans later said this was not true. Some believed the OIRA had given weapons to the FWA. This was said to be part of the OIRA moving away from violence. But a historian named Scott Millar said there was contact between the groups. FWA members even trained in Ireland. However, he said there was no large transfer of weapons.

In 2005, the Western Mail newspaper shared information from The National Archives. This information suggested that Cayo-Evans was not fully mature in his thinking. In 2009, photos of the group's training exercises were put on display in a museum. These photos were taken by undercover police officers. They were used as evidence in the 1969 trial.

See also

• Meibion Glyndŵr
• Gethin ap Gruffydd