Freedom fighters - John Humphries

"Freedom Fighters" covers a violent episode in recent Welsh history shunned or relegated to the sidelines by more conventional historians. By drawing together various sources, the author has produced a highly compelling narrative of a period when a group of Welshmen declared war on England with gelignite and fire bombs. Two died, others were jailed in this struggle for Welsh independence. Could it happen again? Or is yesterday's Welsh patriot doomed to become tomorrow's terrorist? "Freedom Fighters" provides a fascinating insight into Welsh patriotism on the extremist fringes. The principal focus of this book is the role of the two main protagonists of Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (MAC), the Movement for the Defence of Wales, Owen Williams and John Jenkins.Welsh consciousness is uncomfortable with the memory of the Sixties' sabotage campaign directed by this secret, extremist organisation at water pipelines, Government offices and the Prince of Wales. No matter what the authentic voice of democratic nationalism might think of these foot soldiers in Wales' forgotten war, they cannot be ignored.
This book tells the story of this remarkable campaign from its inception in 1963 up to the establishment of the Welsh Assembly and considers to what extent the direct action of the Sixties' picked up again by the holiday home arsonists a decade later, helped shape a political environment in which the governing class became more receptive to Welsh aspirations.