#eryr wen

[llyfrenfys]

"Fascism and Welsh Nationalism", or "Stop Fawning over the FWA you cont"

This is inspired by things I've been noticing around Aberystwyth lately while out and about.

Some mfer is putting up Free Welsh Army (FWA) stickers and I have to keep on pulling them down. Why? You ask.

Fascism.

Because of the not so subtle links between the FWA and fascist movements (of which those links are quite frankly underdiscussed) this post is necessary.

So, starting with the stickers:

This is just one of three identical stickers I've pulled down this last week in Aberystwyth. They appear more to be car stickers than anything else and must have cost a pretty penny to print and/or purchase. They appear to have been bought directly from a website using FWA imagery and slogans - yet does not claim to be the FWA (that I can see, at least). I'm not going to link to it because they don't need any more web traffic. But we will get onto why this is significant in a bit.

Anyway, returning to the stickers - I pulled down the first one off of an electric box on North Road, opposite Vaynor St in late November. I pulled down the second (pictured) also in late November on Penglais Road off the bus stop near the hospital. And in early December I pulled down the third one off of a wall near the Spar at the end of Vaynor Street. Right off the bat we can assume the guy who wasted a lot of money on these stickers lives local to where the stickers I've found so far were. So they're lazy, for one - not venturing much further than their own front door by the looks of it.

Iconography:

I've written about the iconography of the FWA before here but it bears repeating that if fascists approve of your iconography, then that's a sign your movement is already overrun with fascists.

This is the sticker design which I've been noticing about town. Top to bottom we have "Cymru Rydd/Free Wales" which on its own is fine. No qualms with that. But between the Welsh and English text is a symbol. This one:

Now, this was the symbol of the Free Wales Army. Note that I say *was* because the FWA doesn't exist any more. Yet various actors have tried to resurrect its very unsuccessful corpse over the years. These stickers seem to belong to a new organisation which is the latest to try and capitalise on the ghost of the FWA. Now, if you're like me, you'll have already noticed this design is, for lack of a better word, a bit dogwhistley. The angled, blocky, swastika-like stylisation of what is supposedly an eagle, the black and white void of any other features and the very fact it *is* an eagle depicted all seem a bit *too* similar to the iconography of the Third Reich, don't you think?

Their design choice is no accident. It is a design which appeals to fascists while also has enough Welsh cultural reference for apologists to hide behind with a plausibly deniable reason for why their eagle Looks Like That. The white eagle is a reference to the 13th C. poem Mab Darogan, in which Myrddin prophesises that "a king shall come with heroism from among the Welsh people" and that "generous men shall be reborn of the lineage of the eagles of Snowdonia". The eagle could have literally been drawn in any way. But it rather specifically was drawn like this. That choice is not accidental.

Now this new organisation which is trying to reanimate the corpse of the FWA (we'll call them EW) has incorporated the FWA symbol into their sticker. An endorsement of the failed so-called 'paramilitary' organisation on their part, to be sure. EW also have included a different style of white eagle on their sticker as well - which is blatantly stolen from Wikipedia (the copyright is expired, but 0/10 artistic effort on their part even so). Also not to nitpick but the eagle on the sticker is grey not white so that's also a fail.

Artistic criticisms aside, the sticker is loaded with dogwhistley iconography all round. The Celtic knot border isn't necessarily problematic, however, fascists and/or neo-nazis love to slap Celtic knots onto things because they associate Celticity with whiteness. The colour scheme may also be a coincidence, but it does remind me of the fascist symbol which is the 'Flag of Kekistan" which uses the same colour scheme.

Why does this matter and who were the FWA?:

The FWA were a Welsh nationalist (supposedly 'paramilitary') outfit which formed in Lampeter in 1963 and disbanded in 1969 (just 6 years of activity). They took a lot of their cues from the IRA and were effectively fanboys of them. The group was never really considered a threat and mostly consisted of middle-aged men playing paramilitary dress-up. They did claim to be funded by the IRA and that they had dogs trained to carry explosives. Their claims remain unproven.

HOWEVER - and here's where things get sticky. A lot of the issues the FWA were publicly concerned with were and are actually valid issues (e.g. the drowning of Capel Celyn, the Aberfan Disaster etc.). The problem is that fascists or fanboys of fascists love to get their foot in the door by addressing genuine issues. But what happens is that invariably a minoritised group is blamed for the existence of said issue and naturally that leads to discrimination and violence.

The police started to get a bit antsy with the investiture of then-prince Charles as prince of Wales and the possibility of the FWA doing some terrorism. So some of the FWA's leaders were arrested just prior to this. The group officially ended in 1969.

The nationalism advocated for by the FWA was of the 'blood-and-soil' type. Not just your common or garden nationalism (which still has issues but given context is perfectly able to exist in a non-fashy way). And that's why the idolisation of the FWA in years since is sus. It appeals to romanticised nationalist notions of brave men in uniforms helping free Wales - when in reality they did little terrorism and little to actually further the Welsh nationalist cause. In fact, the leadership of the FWA fell apart after they started to disagree on whether their actions were damaging the cause rather than helping it.

Julian Cayo-Evans founded the FWA and ran it with Dennis Coslett and Gethin ap Gruffydd. Gruffydd went on to found other youth nationalist organisations after he left the FWA due to disagreements with its direction - e.g. he founded the Patriotic Front in 1964 which was later outlawed by Plaid Cymru in 1966. It goes without saying names like 'Patriotic Front' are deliberate nods to other, similarly named fascist organisations like National Front.

Legacy and The Present:

FWA's only legacy is the sycophantic fanclub which ressurects the corpse of the FWA every few years to parade it around and relive the 'glory days' of paramilitary cosplay. But aside from functionally being useless, their iconography and politics are still very much under the fash umbrella and that must be resisted at every opportunity (hence why I'm tearing down their stickers - I don't want fascists to feel welcome here). Part of why people may turn a blind eye to the FWA/sympathise is that they may not be aware of the history of the FWA or see the dogwhistles laden in their work and symbols. Some may even just assume without any other context that they're just another Welsh-language preservation group and may even support them without realising the deeper nature of the organisation beyond just preserving the Welsh language.

Which brings me back to EW. I'm going to put the rest of this under a cut, I do encourage reading the rest though and reblogging to get the word out that

It is always morally okay to tear down fascist propaganda

If you see some in your town, don't hesitate to let fash know they aren't welcome here.

EW:

So, onto the latest in a long line of paramilitary wannabes who idolise a long-dead organisation from the 60s.

The EW website seems... sketch. Lots of banners and sections asking to 'donate now' and 'take action' (with money). So right off the bat this looks like a cash-grab.

Secondly, from their own 'About' section they claim that the Welsh Independence movement has "become inundated with authoritarian Marxist entryists who regard Welsh independence as merely a vehicle for furthering their own political agendas". Which is pretty bold stuff coming from an organisation trying to do The Exact Same. There's also a LOT of emphasis on youth involvement and youth nationalism.

There's also a lot of ahistorical claims in the About section too. E.g. on the prophecy of Myrddin "From this legend derives the very name of Cymru’s greatest mountains, with ‘Eryri’ meaning the ‘Seat of the Eagles’ in Cymraeg." - this is contested as there is no one agreed upon etymology of Eryri. To claim that this is The Etymology suggests that they picked this one just because it conveniently fits the version of the mythology they're presenting. They also claim that "Owain ap Gruffydd, would adopt three such eagles as his royal coat of arms" - this is blatantly incorrect as Owain ap Gruffydd lived before the Age of Heraldry and the three eagles are actually later attributed arms.

In EW's FAQ there's a section on supporting their organisation - with one paragraph saying that you can buy stickers instead "If you aren’t eligible or willing to commit to becoming an activist". Lol at 'if you aren't willing to fully commit to our FWA fanboy club you can put up some stickers instead'. Also the button to buy stickers suggests you pay via paypal "We’ll accept quick payments using PayPal and will have them shipped to you First Class" - which *totally* sounds legit (what do you bet they ask people to pay via 'friends and family instead of through business means?).

And... that's it. There's very little else on their website. It *looks* like they're trying to be a movement, but appear to lack substance (and money, judging from how many different Donate Now buttons are plastered all over the site). A hollow organisation blatantly bending history and mythology to fit their narrative, proudly using symbols designed to appeal to fascists while asking people to trust them with the future of Wales?

Dim diolch.

For further reading on why we should guard against fascism in Welsh language revival and independence, see my other post here.

Reblogs welcome for an antifascist independent Wales.

[montyshistoryblog]

I would like to point out that tonight's panic attack was finally stabilised by righteous anger upon seeing an eryr wen sticker.

I may be slightly broken but I'm not too fucked to get angry at fash.

[crynwr-drwg]

@ eryr wen shite, they're all so fuckin infantile too

This whole thread is pathetic lol

[urbanenemy]

ERYR WEN - Llais Cilmeri

[rvexillology]

Yr Eryr Wen/The White Eagle, Welsh nationalist flag from the 1960s

from /r/vexillology Top comment: Looks like a symbol fascists would use to be honest, especially the plain black and white. Owain Glyndwr’s battle standard was a golden dragon on a white field

[llyfrenfys]

Going nuts rn because I've gotten/remembered info about Eryr Wen

- only formed to oppose the Welsh Underground Network (Marxists)

- used to call for an ethno-state on their site before scrubbing it (I remembered this, but didn't know they scrubbed it)

- several key members and leaders are fascists (I've heard one refers to himself as a Mosely fascist?)

- supported by Royston (jac o the north)

There was more but I don't have it to hand

Okay so I whacked their url into wayback machine and they 100% call for a Welsh ethnostate. Like, really really unambiguously - source here - snapshot from the 26th January 2023.

Point 2 explicitly calls for an ethnostate, with point 4 reinforcing that - point 9 makes a broader 'Celtic' ethnicity claim to boot. Point 10 is literally just ecofascism ('uncontrolled growth' as a dogwhistle for 'overpopulation' here methinks).

As of the 11th of May 2023 the '10 Principles' were the same as above. The snapshots of September and October won't load for me for some reason but presently their webpage says "2. Wales is an ancient Celtic nation with a right to self-determination and independence from the United Kingdom" instead of the ethnostate stuff.

Also your other points ring true as well, on their site they also complain about the Welsh independence movement being full of Marxists. And I'm not surprised they're self-confessed fascists either - especially Mosleyan,

What a bunch of conts.

I know of about 10 or so people now who are aware of the Eryr Wen stickers about town in Aberystwyth so I doubt any stickers will be up for long. Also, because some of the stickering has been taking place on campus, the Student Union will be concerned with removing those stickers too.

[urbanenemy]

ERYR WEN - Hwre 7" (1984/UK)

[urbanenemy]

7/24 新入荷リスト

021  The pop song / Aversion 23 JEWELS  Playing Bogart / You Don't Know Me AGNES STRANGE  Give Yourself A Chance / Clever Fool AMBER SQUAD  Can we go dancing ? / You should see ANDY FORD  Groovy Kind Of Love / No Love ANGELS  Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again / Round We Go ARROGANT ADAMS  I'm Good Looking / I'm Number One BADBEATS  One and one is two /  Tip of my tongue BAS MUYS  LENNON & McCARTNEY SONGS (NEVER ISSUED) LP BEATHOVEN  Shy girl / Does it matter as much to you BILLY MAX  200% Devotion / Sunshine BLITZKRIEG BOP  U.F.O. / Viva Bobby Joe BUZZ  The rock roller coaster / Come back baby CHERYL  Killer kiss / It's me CHOIR  Lost legions / Wait a minute CHRIS KIRTLEY  Lucy Elastic / Creole Woman / Room Of Nights CLIVE CULBERTSON  Kiss Me / The Night's No Friend Of Mine CRITICS  Town girl / Plastic valentine / Without you CYANIDE  I'm a boy / Do it DANSETTE DAMAGE  The only sound / NME DIODES  Red rubber ball (stereo) / Red rubber ball (mono) DOCENT DÖD  S/T LP EASY CURE  Meathook / Listen / Need myself / Want to be old ERYR WEN  Hwre / Llais cilmeri FILM  Kad Si Mlad / Zajedno FOREIGN PRESS  Downpour / Crossfire / Behind The Glass FRESHIES  Oh girl / No money FRINGE BENEFIT  All In Vain / Judas My Brother FRINGE BENEFIT  Darling (stereo) / Darling (mono) GANGSTERS  Best friend / Dub version GOD'S HEART ATTACK  Treat me like a doll / Ain't no hooker GRATIS  Downtown / Please Call My Number HAMMER  I'd Do It All Again / 'Cos I'm In Love HAWKS  Lonely Nights / Lonely Nights HEAVY METAL KIDS  Delirious / Docking In HI FI  Run run / Sole kitchen JAGS  Back of my hand / Double vision JEFF HILL BAND  Something's wrong with my baby / Whatever she wanted JETS  Tearaway / Impossible JOE PUBLIC  Anti CND / Champagne Charlie JOHNNY STORM  Let's Go , Let's Go / School Is Out For Summer JOHNNY STORM  Fast Eddie / Forgive Me KELLY GROUCUTT  Am I A Dreamer / Anything Goes With Me KEYS  I don't wanna cry / Listening in KNIFE EDGE  Favourite girl / Say you will KRAYOLAS  Sunny Day / Dorotht 12"LAUGHING DOGS  MEET THEIR MAKERS LP LIP SERVICE  Ruby / Jimmy brown LIQUID FIRE  Too Bad / Sailor LOCAL OPERATOR  Pressure zone / Untouchables LOCAL OPERATOR  PUSHING OUT THE POETS LP LOVELY BODIES  Swelter in the shelter / Come on too strong / Shark bites LYN TODD  S/T LP MABEL  The look in her eyes / For you and me MARTIAN SCHOOLGIRLS  Life in the 1980's / Lonely nights MARTIN AND THE BROWNSHIRTS  Taxi driver / Boring MICK FLINN BAND  Doin' it right / Do what you wanna do MIRRORS  Dark glasses / 999 MODULATORS  Girl trouble / Amplitude modulation MONKS  Nice legs shame about her face / You'll be death of me MOULIN ROUGE  Easy / Holding out NERVOUS EATERS  No Sleep Tonite (Mono) / No Sleep Tonite (Stereo) NICK LOWE  Heart of the city / I don't want the night to end NIGEL STONIER BAND  Still not over you / In the paperbacks P.F. COMMANDO  Rough Sound / TV / Nu Ska Vi Ha Kul PAUL CLEARY / BLADES  Dublin City Town (Paul Cleary) / Revelations Of Heartbreak (Blades) POP  Wait a minute / Love is still ours RAVE TO THE GRAVE  Be Mine Tonight / Even Old Men In Suits Wear Dr. Martens / Force Twelve To Zero / Country Boys REGINA RICHARDS AND RED HOT  Ton of bricks / Not lookin' for love REPUTATIONS  I believe you / Breaking comunications // All day and all of the night / They think I don't see them RESISTORS  Jeanie / Takeaway love / End of the line RIC GORDON  JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH 12" RICH KIDS  Rich Kids / Empty words RICHARD CLAPTON  I'm Travelling Down The Castlereagh / Girls On The Avenue RICK HALL  Fly To Miami / I'm Gonna Make You Mine RIKKI AND THE CUFFLINKS  She's crazy / Startin' line ROCKPILE  Teacher teacher / Fool too long RUBINOOS  I think we're alone now / As long as I'm with you RUDE KIDS  Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers / Charlie SAMSON  Telephone / Leavin' you SEX CLARK FIVE  Neita Grew Up Last Night / Red Shift / Alai / I Want You Mine SID SIDEBOARD  Little Women / Beefburger Rock SMOKIE  Needles And Pins / No One Could Ever Love You MoreSOFT BOYS  Wading through a ventilator / The face of death / Hear my brain SPONGETONES  Better Take It Easy / You're The One STIFF LITTLE FINGERS  Alternative ulster / 78 R.P.M. STIFFS  Inside out / Kids on the street STRAIGHT UP  Lucky Spin / Crazy Dream SYLVAIN SYLVAIN  Teenage News / Every Boy And Every Girl TECHTONES  That girl / The silencer TEENAGE HEAD  Frantic Romantic / I Can't Pretend TIM MOORE  Rock And Roll Love Letter / The Night We First Sailed Away TIMES  I HELPED PATRICK MCGOOHAN ESCAPE 12" UNCOOL DANCEBAND  Jacqueline / No.17 V2  Man in the box / When the world isn't there 12" WESTERN EYES  Sweet talk / Operator WICKED LADY  Plastic Queen / Play The Game WOLFGANG  Neeneeneenee / Jeugd YANCEY  Standing waiting / Woman YOUNG LORDS  Oh So Slow / Book Of Rules / 5 Feet Heroes / Big Burden ZOOM CLUB  I Can't Compete / It's Not Fair

[urbanenemy]

11/30 新入荷リスト

AIL SYMUDIAD  SEFYLL AR Y SGWAR LP BATS  HOW POP CAN YOU GET ? LP DIALS  Maxine / Hey Denise DILDO'S  Help Me Loving You / Sweet Revenge DON KRISS  Let's Do Something Tonight / One Mistake DON KRISS  Too much traffic / Vanessa / Out on my own END  The One For Me / Fade Away ERYR WEN  Hwre / Llais cilmeri EVERREADY'S  Don't do it again / Martian girl FAST CARS  The kids just wanna dance / You're so funny FIRST STEPS  The beat is back / She ain't in love / Let's go cuboids GANGSTERS  S/T LP GAS  EMOTIONAL WARFARE LP GENTS  Get out of my bed / Tearing away HEARTBEATS  PULSATOR LP JERKS  Come Back Bogart / Are You Strong Enough ? / The Strangest Man Of All KICKS  Get off the telephone / Big boys don't cry LAUGHING APPLE  Participate ! / Wouldn't you ? LEFTHANDS  Office Girl / Consumer Tumor MONKS  Drugs in my pocket  / Love in stereo MONKS  Drugs in my pocket  / Love in stereo NAUTYCULTURE  Someday Sunday / T.B.A. PENCILS  S/T LP POP DETECTIVES  Rocks in the sea / Twist RANCID X  VOICES LP RIPTIDES  S/T LP ROKKA  Come Back / Touch And Go V/A  EAST LP V/A  STABS IN THE DARK LP V/A  OWT FER NOWT LP