CHARTISM 1848 - 2008: 160th Anniversary. Whose Legacy? Discussion & Debate For May.

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Adam Price Plaid MP kicked off a debate, of which you can read via this link > Grounds for Plaid to claim Chartist legacy - icWales Clearly Vincent and the other Chartists had not thought through in any detail the implications of what a Welsh republic would be like and how it could ...icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/.../2008/03/31/grounds-for-plaid-to-claim-chartist-legacy-91466-20695102/ - 41k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . I have already commented on this in a previous post in this blog, now in this post I am encouraging continued discussion and debate on this subject and related matters of Socialism and Nationalism, not least in a Welsh Historical and contemporary context.

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However, as important I hope this D&D will very much be a commemoration of Chartism in Wales on 160th anniversary of 1848. I can find very little going on in Wales re actual commemorative activity, nor for the 40th anniversary of 1968 - a year of revolt, not without connection back to 1848, in respect to all ''home countries'' of the British Isles and most of Europe. In a nutshell, Adam Price claimed Chartism as a Plaid legacy, hotly disputed by Labour Party in Wales. Adam raised up a Welsh Republican Flag as a Chartist Flag but in reality, a proposed Welsh Chartist Flag was Green, Blue and White, as picture below. This flag was designed by Hugh Williams, see my comments in Flags of the World Web site below. Note my mistaken reference to Hugh Williams being bueried at Llangennech, this is now corrected, he was bueried in the cemetery of St Ishmaels, near Ferryside. Go on a summers day and the road to the church gives you an absolutly fabulous view of the Towy estuary over to Llansteffan in Sir Gar. See pics below of the grave of Hugh Williams, not too hard to find, following entry to the Church turn left and go up the slope to side rear of the Church, close to trees at this back end of the cemetery, you will not miss it if you keep the fotos below in your mind's eye. If you have a family, Ferryside will make a great day out for the kids. Note you can get there by Bus and Train but will have a long walk to St Ishmaels if you have no car.

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I place before you this information on Hugh Williams, although do look up other Welsh Chartists as John Frost. I have picked on Hugh Williams as one man who lives through the period under consideration, personally touching on all the key episodes in this key period of Welsh History, a decade 1839 - 1848 that will shape and change Wales forever, prefoundly so and which makes of our country what it is today, in particular politically. 1848, is a cross roads, as much as 1839 was, although 1848, set much in stone and the story of Hugh Williams will very much present a picture of this. I have not had much opportunity to study the life of Hugh Williams other than in reading books as the classic The Rebecca Riots by David Williams, UWP Cardiff 1955.

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In Hugh Williams one sees a young radical but having read the inscriptions regards he and other family members, in English on the grave stone, I could be forgiven for believing much else. It appears that Hugh Williams was to become as many ''Young Radicals'' of the 1840's, the ''Hungry Forties'', in old age very much in the Welsh context a successful part of the rising Victorian middle classes. Here, I keep in mind what Proff Ifor Wilks has said about the 1839 Newport Rising, ''When the smoke of the Soldiers guns had cleared, the Welsh Middle Class were to realise which side of their bread was buttered''. At this point I draw attention to the infamous BLUE BOOKS of 1848, not alone in suggesting that this is more the legacy to which Welsh Nationalism, Plaid Cymru in particular owes much to, and not Chartism. Of course there is nothing wrong in a contemporay ''Plaid Left'' wishing to identify with Chartism and Vincents ''Welsh Republic'', this was siezed on my the Welsh Republicans of WRM I, not least by Harri Web and the later Proff Ifor Wilks. But historically, British Political Reformism and later Chartism is more a British - Welsh Legacy, myself whilst not rejecting this British - Welsh Political Reformism, nevertheless look back more to Lewis Lewis, Lewsyn yr Heliwr, and the struggle for popular liberty and natural justice began on 31 May 1831 with the rising up of the Red Flag on Hirwaun Common. Full information on, you will find in previous posts to this blog.

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My judgement of Hugh Williams does not give a complete picture of the man or of his radical beliefs and career, for more information, read aforementioned book also see outline in > The National Library of Wales :: Dictionary of Welsh Biography Hugh Williams is important because of his connections with the Chartist ... In 1836 he organised, at Carmarthen, the first radical meeting in South Wales. ...yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-WILL-HUG-1796.html - 18k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this also see > Modern Wales: A Concise History, C. 1485-1979 - Google Books Result by Gareth Elwyn Jones - 1984 - History - 376 pagesThe Unitarians, especially strong in Merthyr, added a particularly radical element. There were leaders of high calibre - Hugh Williams of Carmarthen, ...books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=0521469457... also see > Chartist Flags (United Kingdom) - 06:31 Designed by Hugh Williams, the Old Rebeccite, who I believe is buried in Llangenech. ... So maybe these Welsh blue / violet / red triband flags are actually ...www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/gb_chart.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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Do also consider other Chartists as Welsh Socialist, Republican and Nationalist Hero John Frost (Chartist) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Chartist movement in south east Wales was chaotic in this period, ... John Frost Square, in the centre of Newport, is named in his honour. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frost_(Chartist) - 28k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this also see other Chartists as Zephaniah Williams and William Jones, not least Dr William Price.

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A Welsh Nationalist Hero? Perhaps not so much today, although Newport Tories in a Welsh Heroes poll put forward his name, in main because he put down the workers in 1839, see link > Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council - Sir Thomas Phillips 22 Mar 2007 ... Sir Thomas Phillips was born at Ynys y Garth - the row of cottages ... active in local politics and, in 1838, was elected Mayor of Newport. ...www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/8032.asp - 19k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this Also See Lady Llanover and all related to the rise of Victorian Cultural Nationalism to rise of Political Nationalism as Michael D.Jones and Emrys ap Iwan et al to establishment the Welsh ''nationalist'' Cymru Fydd > Cymru Fydd - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The movement lost some of its impetus following the withdrawal of T. E. Ellis to join the Government in 1892, after which leadership of Cymru Fydd was taken ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymru_Fydd - 19k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this and later of Plaid Cymru > Plaid Cymru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Plaid Cymru (IPA: [plaɪd ˈkəmri]; English: The Party of Wales; often referred to simply as Plaid) is a political party in Wales. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaid_Cymru - 92k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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CHARTISM 1848 INFORMATION:

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Chartism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hyperlinked article about the movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century between 1838 and 1848. [Wikipedia]en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartism - 49k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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BBC - History - The Chartist Movement 1838 - 1848 A BBC History multimedia presentation of the Chartist movement; includes articles, links, and interactive content.www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/chartist_01.shtml - 25k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Chartist Ancestors: Chartism, the Chartists and the People's Charter Chartism, the Chartist movement and the People's Charter: Chartist history resourcs for family historians, social historians and political historians ...www.chartists.net/ - 37k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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The Procession of the 1848 Chartist Petition - 06:20 In April 1848 the final Chartist rally was held at Kennington Common, London, after which the Petition was taken to parliament in three Hackney cabs. ...www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/chartism/1848pet.htm - 14k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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chartists.net news :: Chartist riots in Trafalgar Square 6 Mar 2008 ... Henry Vincent and the 'Welsh republic' · Chartism and the Chartists in university ... Keywords: rising, petition, events, chartist, 1848 ...chartists.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/6/3562566.html - 33k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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CHARTISM IN WALES: I begin with link to the Scotch Cattle, as whilst much is known about Insurrection 1831 and of the later Rebecca Revolt not so much is known of the Scotch Cattle. As with Lewis Lewis, the leader of the Scotch Cattle Edward Morgan is as often as not kept in the shadows of Welsh History be it of the Labour or the PLAID kind, as to why? I suggest you all D&D as well.

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POPULAR REVOLTS WALES 1831 - 1839 - 1848. Between these years major revolts broke out in South East Wales and South West Wales, the one was a workers revolt and the other a small Farmers and Rural Labourers Revolt. Scotch Cattle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 06:53 Scotch Cattle was the name taken by bands of coal miners in South Wales, analogous to the Molly Maguires in Pennsylvania, who, in disguise, would visit the ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Cattle - 21k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . The Scotch Cattle were a violent secret underground movement whose story has not been as ''popularised'' as the Rebecca Revolt as you will see by viewing the following excellent Rebecca Country web site, if only the, as deserving Scotch Cattle had the same popular attention, and why not? > Bro Beca Mae straeon eraill am Becca’n gorfodi llanciau i briodi eu cariadon ar ôl i’r ... Cychwynnodd Bro Beca yn 2002 fel prosiect ar y cyd rhwng Rhwydwaith ...www.brobeca.co.uk/beca.html - 28k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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CHARTISM CONTINUED:

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1839 in Wales - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to: navigation, search ... is about the particular significance of the year 1839 to Wales and its people. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1839_in_Wales - 24k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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BBC - Mid Wales Llanidloes - Chartist Revolt In 1839, Llanidloes was the scene of a major riot as Chartists clashed with police at the Trewythen Arms. Local historian Gay Roberts has written an article ...www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/llanidloes/pages/chartists.shtml - 32k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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1848 in Wales - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to: navigation, search ... is about the particular significance of the year 1848 to Wales and its people. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1848_in_Wales - 22k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Chartism after the Newport Rising Nantyglo and Blaina Charter ...... nantyglo and blaina charter group "the unenfranchised rally around your flag ... rising 1839 and kennington common chartist demonstration london 1848, ...chartistnetwork.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1439898%3ABlogPost%3A101 - 35k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Human Rights: 1815 - 1848 - Poster for a 'Chartist' public meeting ...Poster for a 'Chartist' public meeting at Merthyr Tydvil [ Merthyr Tydfil ]. Date: 20 March 1848. Catalogue reference: HO 45/2410 (5) folio 1001 ...www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/humanrights/1815-1848/doc-chartist-transcript.htm - 32k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Chartist Flags (United Kingdom) Events ranged from the Peterloo Massacre in 1819 to the last Chartist Petition of 1848, which took place at a time when revolutions were occurring all over ...www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/gb_chart.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Background History in General:

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TUC History Online Use our timeline to discover more about the history of the British trade union movement. Click on a time period to find out more. ...www.unionhistory.info/timeline/timeline.php - 10k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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History of socialism in Great Britain - Wikipedia, the free ...From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Redirected from History of British ..... The defining event of the 1980s for British socialists was the 1984-5 ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_British_socialism - 98k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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The Welsh Labour Party: History of the Welsh Labour Party - 10:37 Labour.org.uk. A brief history of the Welsh Labour Party by Professor Duncan Tanner, University of Wales, Bangor. The Labour party in Wales has a formidable ...www.welshlabour.org.uk/history_of_the_welsh_labour_party - 16k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Treachery of the Blue Books - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Saunders Lewis, in Tynged yr iaith, maintained that the Blue Books were for Welsh history "the most important nineteenth-century historical documents we ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treachery_of_the_Blue_Books - 21k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Welsh nationalism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Welsh nationalism is a political and cultural movement that emerged during the nineteenth century. It generally seeks independence from the United Kingdom ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_self-government - 51k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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History of Plaid Cymru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [99] Professor Laura McAllister, a Plaid Cymru history expert and former party candidate, said that unless the party shed its "pressure group past" it could ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Plaid_Cymru - 218k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Well that's it, hope you have found all that interesting but more hoping it sparks of a good D&D, and that it resolves much for the better? It is interesting to note that Chartist activity in Merthyr in 1848 witnesses a poster being published calling for a 'CHARTER FOR ENGLAND', hhhmmm!!! wonder where Wales fitted into the thinking here! This is how it was with Welsh Radicals, they were often politically of an ''English Mind''. In earlier times even ''Welsh Republicans'' as Iolo Morgannwg and Morgan John Rhys thought in ''Anglo'' Political terms and wished to see a 'Brtitish/English Republic' established. Welsh Radicals of these times were far from being as ''Nationally Minded'' as Irish Republicans or for that matter Irish Socialists. Whatever, maybe much of this could be discussed during MERTHYR RED WEEK 1831 - 2008 COMMEMORATION, unofficially or officially, if some one in Merthyr cares to organise a suitable meeting place for a ''live'' D&D Session on who has the right to claim the Chartist Legacy?

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Keep me posted.

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As it's still May remember, ''Beneath the Paving Stones, the beach! '' don't you just love it? Excellent feature on the World Service the other night, go check out BBC World Service, maybe you can down load it. I am geting ''Right On'' with my coming ''Red Week Outing'' to Paris in June, so will not be able to make Merthyr Rising 1831 events this year.

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Gethin.

PARIS MAY 1968 - 2008 COMMEMORATION: Beneath the paving stones, the beach!

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May 1968 in France - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Beneath the Paving Stones: Situationists and the Beach, May 68. Feenberg, Andrew and Jim Freedman. When Poetry Ruled the Streets. Ferlinghetti, Lawrence. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_1968 - 59k - Cached - Similar pages

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Slogans of May 1968 protests in France - Wikiquote Beneath the paving stones - the beach! Lisez moins, vivez plus. Read less, live more. L'ennui est contre-révolutionnaire. Boredom is counterrevolutionary. ...en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Slogans_of_May_1968_protests_in_France - 24k - Cached - Similar pages

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Barricades of May ’68 Still Divide the French - New York Times Students removed cobblestones from a street in Paris in May 1968. ... France Still Divided Over Lessons of 1968 Unrest (April 29, 2008) ...www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/world/europe/30france.html?ex=1367294400&en=5cea275029a9eca0&ei=5124... - Similar pages

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France enjoys nostalgia for May '68 - swissinfo PARIS (Reuters) - Forty years after May 1968, France is enjoying a wave of ... "All commemoration is stupid," Andre Glucksmann, another leading member of ...www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/France_enjoys_nostalgia_for_May_68.html?siteSect=143&sid=9037... - 41k - Cached - Similar pages

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eurotopics - 1968 - a European movement? May 1968 in Paris In France and Germany, on the other hand, there is plenty of writing and debating on about the events of 1968. "The commemoration of the ...www.eurotopics.net/en/magazin/achtundsechzig-2008-03/debatte-1968-2008-03/ - 42k - Cached - Similar pages

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May ‘68: France's politics of memory openDemocracy 29 Apr 2008 ... (1 February 2008) Todd Gitlin, "Rethinking the kinetics of 1968" ... The Paris barricades nurtured a wave of individualism that freed minds, ...www.opendemocracy.net/article/institutions/may_68_remember_or_forget - 55k - Cached - Similar pages

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History News Network The student riots of May 1968 radically shook an arch-conservative society ... there will no doubt be a moment when the 1968 commemoration becomes "real" to ...hnn.us/roundup/entries/49904.html - 28k - Cached - Similar pages

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G.

MAY DAY GREETINGS, Remember 31 May 1831, Our Other Red Flag Day In Wales.

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May Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia May Day occurs on May 1 and refers to any of several public holidays. [1] In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day - 55k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Red flag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The plain red flag is often used at communist or far-left rallies and has been used as temporary flags of nations that have had a socialist revolution. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag - 47k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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RED MAY REMINDER, on 28 May 1871 The Paris Commune falls, see previous post. Forty years previous workers in area of Pentre Penderyn and Hirwaun were about to rise up in what becomes known as the Merthyr Rising. On 31 May 1831, Merthyr Chartist Thomas Llywelyn comes to Hirwaun, the previous day he had spoke at an huge Chartist Rally at Twyn y Waun Common. He was hoping to hold a similar Chartist Reform rally on Hirwaun Common under a White Reform flag, however militant workers more concerned with ''natural justice'' than ''political reform'' had other ideas. The ''natural justice'' radicals as Lewis Lewis, Dic Penderyn and others however, had their own plans and after seizing the white reform flag, they sacrificed a calf (local tradition speaks of a lamb) and bathed the white Reform flag in it's blood. This Red Flag became their Flag of Liberty over tyranny and would lead them forward seeking ''natural justice'' from the oppression and exploitation of Iron Masters and their lackeys. By 1 June, the workers had established ''Armed Positions'' in the ''Barrios'' of Heolygerrig and Cefn Coed, by 2 June marching on Merthyr, the militant workers and their radical leaders soon raised up the populace in revolt - WELSH INSURRECTION 1831.

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The next day outside the Castle Hotel in centre of Merthyr, a large crowd had gathered and at about 12 Noon, Soldiers guarding a meeting of Iron Masters and Town Bourgeoisie opened fire. When the smoke had cleared some 28 people lay dead, this should be a date made more known and annually commemorated as the 3 Mehefin 1831 Merthyr Massacre. Over the years since, particularly in our own contemporary times there has been much focus on the matter of Dic Penderyn, a Martyr yes, but it is now more accepted that he did stab the Scots Soldier Donald Black. It has become a matter of a rather misguided ''Political Correctness'' to focus on Dic Penderyn and ignore Workers Hero, Lewsyn yr Heliwr who has been generally condemned to the shadows of Welsh History. Further, largelly ignored and forgotten is the heinous and murderous crime of the Merthyr Massacre that took place on 3 June 1831. See previous posts and note in particular my calling for fitting 31 May and 3 May memorials and annual commemorations. For reasons stated in previous post, I cannot do much myself this year but I hope others will, there are annual events in Merthyr organised by the Dic Penderyn Society, so it would only be a short step to also gather at site of the 3 June Massacre to say a few words in remembrance and lay flowers for the 28 people shot by the soldiers that day. Do note the terrible massacre of Communards following fall of Paris Commune of 1871, the French state carried out vicious revenge on the insurrectionists, excellent histories on web about these events. Idea/Suggestion: Why not have Merthyr link with Monmarte district of Paris which was main area of the Paris Commune of 1871, someone in Merthyr, why not suggest to your Town council. Do let me know if this idea moves forward, see link >>>Montmartre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, and also the name of the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre - 45k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Other than this I would like myself to focus more here on how to mark occasion of 31 May 1831, regards remembering rising up of the Red Flag on Hirwaun Common. I have said much about possibilities in this connection in previous posts. So here I am going to focus on another possibility, if there is no official commemorative gatherings. Quite simply but only if there has been a prolonged period of good sunny weather to dry the common. You could organise your own RED FLAG 1831 RAMBLES on Hirwaun Common, even have RED FLAG 1831 PICNICS at some suitable locations on the Common. Do consult maps on the web for foot paths, of which there are a few and they are marked, you may also want to contact the nearest Ramblers group or/and Tourism Information Office for further Information. Do dress for the occasion and wear good walking shoes, and take flasks of Soup and food of course. If your visiting Hirwaun, note it has a number of Inns plus a god cafe, I believe there are restaurants in the area too. If intending to organise a larger commemorative gathering, I have noted in previous posts best place to hold such with car parking space close by, if however those who wish to park in Hirwaun itself, note you can walk or march from the town to the common (see google maps). Hope that's helpful, have a good day with purpose to promote this important date and event in Welsh History.

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Below I make further tribute to the Hirwaun Red Flag, by posting up unpublished fotos of my attending closure of Tower Colliery earlier this year. Very windy day.
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Indirectly connected to above is later Chartist History, not least of 1839 Newport Rising and 1848 "Year of Liberty" aka "Spring of Nations", of which 2008 is 160th Anniversary. 1848 is also of course important in Welsh History regards the infamouse Blue Books which is very much connected to events of 1848 and 1839 in a number of ways. I shall be dealing with all these matters in a number of post features in The Welsh Patriot blog at http://welshpatriot.blogspot.com/ about mid May, certainly before I go over to France for the Paris Commune 1871 Commemoration 2008. At moment just want to touch on a recent controversy that came out of recent pre election PLAID (Cymru) conference in Newport. At this Conference PLAID M.P. Adam Price presented Plaid members with a ''Chartist Flag'', in fact it was a Green, Red and White Welsh Republican Flag, first used by the WRM 1949 - 1959, a version of which I have made for 1797 Garreg Wasted Commemorative purpose and occaisionally I have raised it at Anti - Monarchist protests. The Chartist flags, were either in first place (1830's) a white Flag and by 1848, they had adopted a Chartist Republican flag which was a Green, Blue and White Flag, as pictured above.

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Adam Price went on to claim that Chartism was a PLAID legacy, this caused Welsh Labour to respond by saying it was "their legacy", and I must agree with them, as to why see previous posts in this blog's earlier posts. Suffice to say here, that Chartism does lead to British constitutional reform, rise of British Trade Unionism and eventually the very British Labour Part.y. Adam Price went on to describe what his ''Chartist Tri-Colour'' meant, what the Green, Red and White stood for, I want argue with that description, sounds OK to me. But If anyone of a patriotic mind wants to lay claim to a true historical Welsh Flag of Liberty then it must be the 1831 RED FLAG.

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Same to regards these events of our 19th century history associated with both popular struggle and the the rise of what Proff Gwyn Alf called ''Primative Socialism'', then it is the event that took place on Hirwaun Common on 31 May 1831. Not least in this connection our Political Hero to lay claim to would be Lewis Lewis, Lewsyn yr Heliwr the ''Primative Rebel'' and Radical Revolutionary Worker hero and not Thomas Llywelyn, the Political Reformer. He, if I remember correctly did a ''runner'' during Merthyr's Red Week and took no part in this Welsh Insurrection.

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In all this connection coming up in future posts, I shall explore further Welsh Chartism history and Rebecca's Rural Revolt, begging answers to the questions why do we remember Rebecca but tend to ignore the Scotch Cattle? then why do we remember Dic Penderyn as a Martyr but not Edward Morgan? Then what about Sir Thomas Phillpot, Lord Mayor of Newport in 1839, who ordered the Soldiers to fire on the workers, but in 1848 becomes defender of the Welsh against the ''Shame of the Blue Books''. Ironically, Sir Thomas Phillpot and the Llanover Circle as proto Political Cultural Nationalists are more of a PLAID Legacy, true? yes! In recent times, Newport Tories have declared Sir Thomas Phillpot their hero whilst condemning the Welsh Left's Chartist Leader John Frost. Then there's that "Man from the Alamo" and the matter of John Humphries disagreeing with Ifor Wilkes on their separate interpretations of the 1939 Newport Insurrection. Such are the many confusions, contradictions and convolutions of Welsh History, myself I say take what you like and run with it, if the shoe fits and why not. So Adam Price did nothing particularly mistaken or wrong, nor more so than most Politicians and even historians when it comes to interpreting history, I could give you loads of examples in any History not least our own.

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Next flag to rise up is the one of ''Peasants Rural Revolt'' on Mynydd Bach, Ceredigion on some suitable and appropriate anniversary date. I will keep you informed and provide information on posts on history of Peasant revolts and land wars, in the past and present, keep viewing this blog. Plus I got to get around to making this flag as well, no one else will? will you? The more the merrier for making good impact on Mynydd Bach, I spose it in a little way kind of as some contemporary present signifigance regards the Nationalist Rural Revolt in the North (& West?) mostly and ironically from within Plaid Cymru much due to the consequences of it's coalition with Labour in the Welsh Assembly. Such is Welsh Politics, getting as Confusing, Contradictary and Convoluting as Welsh History.

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G.Gruffydd.

PARIS COMMUNE 1871 COMMEMORATION 2008 Plus Information and memo re our own 1831 Commemoration 2008.

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I might miss out on any Insurrection Hirwaun/Merthyr 1831 Commemoration this year as I am hoping to go over to France for the annual Paris Commune 1871 Commemoration. I say hoping as all attempts thus far to get a good package deals are being stacked up against a cheap trip by ''supplements'' as evidently it's a busy period in Paris. I had been hoping to do it by train straight through to Paris but now it may be by bus/car and ferry?My purpose in going is one of treating myself to a break but also to do some history foto research for this blog plus study up on the commemoration. Whatever, any one else out there that wants to attend these commemorations note these travel problems and sort out your travel arrangements well in advance ok! Anyway, for further information on the commemoration, click this Paris Commune 1871 Commemoration Web Site link >>> L'actualité de la Commune - 09:45- [ Translate this page ] L’Association des Amis de la Commune de Paris-1871 a mis en place des commissions, comme l'avait .... Gilles Plas. 77470 Trilport. PAROLES DE MILITAIRE. ...lacomune.club.fr/pages/Actua2005B26/pageactua/page6.html - 52k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . It's excellent, in time we need same for a proposed major INSURRECTION 1831 COMMEMORATION ANNUAL FESTIVAL Web Site. However, do note that apart from my blog there exists a Dic Penderyn Society Web Site advancing information on Dic Penderyn, 1831 and an annual Merthyr Commemoration they have been organising for many years, see via this link >>> Dic Penderyn Society These were the last words of Dic Penderyn (real name Richard Lewis) who was one of 28 men and women tried on charges connected with the Merthyr Rising. ...www.alangeorge.co.uk/dicpenderynsociety.htm - 26k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this .My efforts in the main are to inform more on Lewsyn yr Heliwr - Lewis Lewis heroic leader of the Insurrection and promote commemorative activity at Pentre Penderyn and Hirwaun prior to the main Commemoration in Merthyr (Red Week) and at possibly Parc Cyfarthfa? This year with my planned trip to Paris on horizon, I cannot actually organise anything over at Pentre Penderyn or Hirwaun, so I advise make most of the Bank Holiday weekend. If it's sunny treat yourself to a ''Socialist'' day or two out in the country side, noting that The Lamb Pub has a Beer Garden, if weather's good this will be great for you and any children you take on a trip into some Welsh Socialist history. Whilst meandering about Pentre Penderyn think on the following idea, why not like minded people work towards establishing there something similar to the Appalacian Socialist HIIGHLANDER FOLK SCHOOL - Research & Education Centre, for further information, see via link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_Research_and_Education_Center . Seems to me a pretty good idea, what do you think? If interested in getting involved in setting up a working party to look into this initiative, contact me via g.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com . In meantime all views, opinions and your own ideas very welcome.

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Gethin.

RED STAR OVER HIRWAUN.

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Wales gets its first Communist councillor since 1970s - icWales
It may not rank alongside storming the Winter Palace in St Petersburg but gaining a foothold on Hirwaun and Penderyn Community Council is being hailed as a ...icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/.../2008/04/15/wales-gets-its-first-communist-councillor-since-1970s-91466-20764172/ - 44k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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Communist Party, Wales.
THE end of mining at Tower Colliery, Hirwaun, saw the media in all its ... TO CONTEST 11 SEATS IN WELSH ELECTIONS · WELSH COMMUNISTS GATHER TO PLAN COUNCIL ...www.welshcommunists.org/index.php?id=122 - 24k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Local council election candidates - urban75 forums
4 Nov 2008 ... 11 CP in Swansea, RCT, Merthyr (where they have one seat), .... has got in unopposed on Hirwaun Community Council for the Communist Party. ...www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=7358843 - 131k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Local election round-up: April 16 Politics Guardian Unlimited
16 Apr 2008 ... The Conservatives have one seat on Manchester city council - their ... 48, was elected to Hirwaun and Penderyn community council as a member ...blogs.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/04/local_election_roundup_1.html - 61k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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Lotta Continua!

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If you think Class War is dead, your wrong! Ian Bone is alive and well and still bashing it out to the rich, link to below>>>>

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www.ianbone.wordpress.com

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TIME FOR RETURN OF CLASS WAR CYMRU = CRACHWAR!

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IMPORTANT NOTE BELOW EVENT - LOOKS WORTH MAKING EFFORT TO ATTEND, ESPECIALLY HAS NOTHING SIMILAR IN WALES LOOKS LIKE HAPPENING, ALTHOUGH THE CRACHACH HAVE TIPPED THEIR TINY TOES INTO THEIR MEMORIES OF '68. YES PEACE MARCHES, CIVIL RIGHTS AND CyIG TEARING DOWN SIGN POSTS, not particularly revolutionary but as sure as hell, got good jobs for a great many of them in a future Welsh Establishment? For further information look into Ian's web site above or click on to links below>>>

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An international conference and bookfair to celebrate the hopes and dreams of May 1968 - forty years after 1968 and All That / Be Realistic! Demand the Impossible! Saturday, 10 May 2008, 10am - 10pmConway HallRed Lion SquareLondon WC1 Talks Films Food Art Debates Books Speakers from France, USA, Russia, Germany, Eastern Europe and Britain. Free registration in advance: just e-mail us your name. This event is listed on Facebook where you can make contact with others coming to this happening. There are a small number of stall places now left for the Book Fair. The cost is £75 if booked before the end of March. Please let us know if you would like to arrange a talk or show a film - there will be facilities for both. If you have a question or would like to register or book a stall, please e-mail: 1968@andrewburgin.com. Books about 1968 are available on-line through AndrewBurgin.com

"Sous les pavés, la plage."

St Athens Miltary Academy Demonstration, Cardiff 26 April.

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UK Indymedia - Curiouser and Curiouser: St Athan Military Academy ...7 July at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff to plan a campaign against the building of a new military academy at St Athan. The vast, privately-owned training ...www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/07/375464.html - 36k - Cached - Similar pages

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Cardiff Permanent Revolution Cardiff Permanent Revolution. socialism unlimited ..... All socialists should reject the dead-end of class collaboration represented by the so-called ‘party ...cardiffpr.wordpress.com/ - 67k - Cached - Similar pages

PRIVELLEGED POLITICIANS POSH NOSHING: If Ever One Photo Could Move Us To Reviving Class War Cymru - This Is it?

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Amidst all the D&D about Assembly A.M's Wage Hike, the below photo and associated feature turns up on front of the WM TV Mag 8 - 3 - 2008. Essentially the feature is about how much English Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas likes to stuff his face at least once a week with posh nosh curry. This feature is about a bit of publicity for the Cardiff Indian Food Week, so we are entertained by a number of photos of 'Dic Sion Dafydd' and other Crachach ''Tikka Taffs'' with their snouts in the trough , so to speak! The Cardiff Indian Food Fesival is by the way organised by a Berwyn Rowlands, surely this is not the same BR as BR of Aberystwyth, then Cardiff Welsh Film Festival Fame, is it? some one let me know ok!. Whatever, or rather whom ever, this BR co - owns THE FESTIVALS COMPANY, a Cardiff based events management company. So it's not Mr Producer ''Stiffone Parry'' this time, then?

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After reading three pages of posh nosh shite we finnaly get to find out some hot facts about Mr Machiavelli Cymru 'Dic Sion Dafydd'. But I don't think you really care, the important news is where the ''Scumbag'' likes to feed his face; The North Bali House in Llanwrst, South Bengal Brassiere and Mango House in Caerdydd. OK! now you know where to get some good ''Crachach Curries'', and please, if you eating there and 'Dic Sion Dafydd' turns up, remember the Curry House Plot, remind him? A little bird tells me that after he has eat is ''Tikka Taff Crachach Curry'', there is nothing the old swinger (from left to right) likes better than hanging around the Cameo Club, THE CAMEO CLUB It’s the most exciting location in Cardiff for business or relaxation with ... THE CAMEO CLUB > 2 PONTCANNA STREET > CARDIFF > CF11 9HQ T 029 2022 0466 F ...www.cameoclub.co.uk/onecardiff.htm - 28k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this .

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You will find the Cameo Club in the Crachach Colony of their Patria Pontcanna Patagonia aka Cymru Bach beyound Wales? Much hated by Red Revolutionary Class Warrior Udo Erasmus, who last I heard was advocating an Ian Bone type Class War march on ''The Colony'' (by way have you seen the film Zardoz, beats Marx for lessons in up and at it Workers Action against the bosses). Whatever, I do not know if Udo will organise and lead this Class War Invasion of the Pontcanna Patagonia, after all his Anti - Dewi Day Parade never came off did it, then he said it was only a wind up? So I think all we are likly to get out of Udo is his slogan and call to Workers Action>>>>>>STOP THE GENTRIFICATION OF PONTCANNA BY THE MEDIA SET! >>>>> If it is ever likely to come off, let me know.

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Myself, I am more in favour of a March on the Assembly, but mindful of the steps there, I think we better take a look at the film The Battle Ship Pontemkin. Pay attention to the ''Steps Scene'', the film is great but I also read a great book on this significant piece of Peoples history but cannot remember the name of it. I am sure you will find plenty to read on the web about these events, what has always stuck in my mind was reading of the conviction and commitment of the Communist agitators to win over the sailors to the Revolution, we need more of that in Wales. Courage of Conviction and Commitment!

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Coming your way soon, call for Red Ramble on Hirwaun Common on 31 May 2008 to commemorate 31 May 1831 Rising of Red Flag. But only if the weather has been very good as the common can get boggy. However, there is an easy access location you may go to rise up your Red Flags. Details in fourth coming posts. In mean time some interesting stuff for you to read via following links:
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Hirwaun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 11:14 uring the Merthyr Rising of 1831 the red flag that later came to represent socialism was raised on Hirwaun Common for the first time. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirwaun - 25k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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MerthyrRising his is presented in the ‘natural justice’ protest on Hirwaun common, such radicalism prior and since is seen as representing a long history of Welsh ...merthyrrising.blogspirit.com/ - 39k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this blogspot.com/ - Similar pages - Note this

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froing’ on Aberdare Blog the Merthyr Rising of 1831 starving ironworkers captured a calf on Hirwaun Common, butchered it and it was from this that the first red flag was ever ...www.aberdareblog.co.uk/?s=froing - 25k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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Your chance to shape Britain's radical heritage Newsblog ... raised the red flag dipped in lamb's blood above Hirwaun common and thus instigated the challenge to reactionary repression; many paid with their life. ...blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/07/your_chance_to.html - 81k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this.

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Lotta Continua!

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Gethin Gruffydd.