Further to my release of news on matter of historians and others at last getting their act together regards matters concerning Welsh Battlefields, the Western Mail carried a report on the same matter on the 8th August. Having campaigned for over more years than I can remember regards this cause and at least 5 years in more organised way through I'r Gad Welsh Battlefield Campaign, I can only be pleased with these developments. However, I am not so pleased by the response I have had from the so called Welsh Battlefield Society, in particular from one of their number who I had phoned to discuss the matter. This person responed in a most hysterical and somewhat threatening manner, I was left feeling he had been prior ''Wound Up'' by someone making the bullets for him to fire? I can not name this person as there was no witness to this phoned conversation, but there is one of their number who I can name and that is Brian Davies who I previously admired for his work regards Owain Lawgoch. Not anymore, for this character chose to make his oppinions known not only in a most aggressive manner toward Sian Ifans, my partner in much of the I'r Gad Campaign and whom also through Embassy Glyndwr's 'Tarian Glyndwr' campaign backs up by focusing on campaigning on behalf of Hanes Glyndwr Battlefields..
Sian began her Embassy Glyndwr Campaign at Mynydd Hyddgen, pictures shows supporters with Sian registering this Battle Site as worthy of official recognition, thence Protection, Preservation and Promotion. Threat to this Battlefield may come in form of a Windmill Farm. Photo is taken at memorial prompted by Malcolm Pryce with assistance of Cofiwn. Sian's Embassy Glyndwr campaign takes pro-active form of ''Registration'' to draw attention to Welsh Glyndwr Battlefields that need such good attention. Picture below shows Sian at Graig y Dorth Glyndwr battle site. So Brian Davies and anyone else associated with the so called ''Welsh Battlefield Society'' (aka Fforwm Hanes Cymru by another name) who cares to know, that as far as promoting this cause both Sian and I have been doing it with help of others not in your close circles, for quite some time. In other words we have been there and bought the T-shirt OK! So quit your over rightous indignation.
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So, we can well do without the likes of Brian Davies not only getting arrogant with Sian but doing so loudly in public on Stondyn Cymuned who had given her space to put up an exhibtion. Much more of this nonsense from the aforementioned crowd, then what goes around comes around, we are not ''hobbyist patriots'' but radical nationalists and do not have much time for your piddling about and on look out for grants and being at one with the Assembly of Appeas
ement and sell out of our Sovereignty. Meanwhile an official letter of complaint is on it's way to Dr John ''Rocks'' Davies (pic opposite) of Fforwm Hanes Cymru and now Research officer of the so called ''Welsh Battlefield Society''. This letter will point out much else too, that they take a good look through this blog and understand why their ''Dillettante Opportunism'' could do more harm than good. You see, it's not just a matter of drawing up a long list of Battlefields you want recognised and registered, then memorialised. Too many complications as you will find out as I did long ago and was prepared to accept on advice all three official bodies now concerned with Welsh Battlefields, read I'r Gad or contact they yourselves ok! I myself, repeat have accepted that hence fouth best advance be made by local Welsh Battlefield Research Groups working with the three aforementioned ''official bodies'', plus best then closely with the Welsh Section of the Battlefield Trust (See previous post). I shall continue with this Blog but in main as a provider of information and general subject matter of interest, see fourth coming list at end of this post.
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Further regards matters concerning the 10 Welsh Battlefield selected to focus on by aforementioned ''official bodies'' as their priority concerns:
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1: Twthill 1461, an English ''War of the Roses'' battle, I am more concerned with Twthill, Caernarfon 1401. Yes, a skirmish but the Scottish Battlefield Registration recognises skirmishes too. Embassy Glyndwr supporters placed plaque there in 2002, but soon after it was vandalised..
Taking a look at this map, I would say that Gwynedd looks quite bare of Battles, but we know this not to be so. For starters there is the Battle of Bryn Derwin 1255, that marks the rise to power of Llywelyn III this leads us to consider that this year marks the 725th Anniversary of his final struggle, would it not be appropriate then to focus on battles associated with the reign of this last prince of Gwynedd. Cofiwn in 1982 had placed near the Menai Straits a plaque to mark the Battle of Moel y Don 1282, the Battle of Coed Lathen 1257 is a battle associated with Hanes Llywelyn and for some years has focused the minds of patriots but not as much focused their effort on doing much else about this battle site other than talk about it a lot. The problem with this battle site, is that it is disputed. Some years back Cofiwn held a field trip to go over both suggested sites but then was none the wiser, also when we put out ''feelers'' locally we were told the local community council was not all that interested and that local farming interests might have been none to keen either? Maybe the times have changed, certainly worth looking into. Please note that regards this battle there is much on the web, if meeting is to be held local to in first instance establish a Battlefield Research Group I suggest you contact an Idris Davies of Swansea who has written up on this battle and might be of further aid and assistence. I shall myself dig out from Cofiwn archive other material on this battle, also note that this year is also the 725th anniversary of the Battle of Llandielo 17 June 1282. In 1982 Cofiwn organised a very successful commemoration in association with the 700th anniversary of this battle, I suggested similar was done to mark the 725th anniversary but no one was interested, not even it seems the future members of the ''Welsh Battlefield Society'', which may be an area where they could do some good and be of use, not duplicating the work already much done and taken care of by others. Yes! possibly there is a need for a patriotic WBS organising patriotic commemorations on anniversaries of battles. My own I'r Gad is not in position to do such, although I am considering next year to hold a few field trips, I will let you know if this becomes a sure thing or not?Fourthcoming in due course as and when I can:
The Lion of Flanders, it's place in Flemish Nationalism.
G.Gruffydd.
