HANES STAMPIAU GLYNDŴR, Remember Azincourt & St David 1415, Remember Patriot Hero Henri Gwyn ,loyal to his Prince Owain Glyndwr to the very end.

See below illustration of new 'Dydd Gŵyl Dewi' Welsh stamps; not bad, but they forget to tell you that it was Henry V who commanded the Archbishop of Canterbury to make 'Dydd Gŵyl Dewi' a public holiday as thanks to all the Welsh who had deserted Owain Glyndŵr and Cymru to run off to France to fight for the English against our allies the French. So, I personally will not be observing St David's Day but, if you feel you must attend the 'Dydd Gŵyl Dewi' Parade in Caerdydd this Sunday, do also go and pay your respects to Owain Glyndŵr at his statue in City Hall and whilst at it, you could lay some ivy at the feet of the same statue in rememberence of Henri Gwyn, his son and others who fought for the French against the English at Azincourt in 1415.

Do also remember to take loads of 'Baneri Glyndŵr' on the parade through Cardiff, and make your way up to the front of the parade with them as the organisers do not recognise 'Baner Glyndŵr' as being important enough to fly alongside the 'Dewi Sant' and 'Tudur' flags. Reasons enough as to why I no longer support or attend this event and it's parade. In my opinion, it would serve a much worthier cause if patriots mobilised their efforts into parading in Machynlleth on 21 Mehefin 'Dydd y Senedd' annually to commemmorate Owain Glyndŵr's crowning as 'Tywysog Cymru' on that Mid - Summer day in 1404

.

• On 26 February 2009, the Post Office are issuing a set of stamps for 'Dydd Gŵyl Dewi', see the following web Link: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ei=nfikSY_9NeTGjAeBwZ2-BQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=ST+DAVID%27S+DAY+STAMP+FOR+WALES&spell=1 >
• Not a bad set of Stamps for those that collect 'all Welsh stamps issued' and, if you do want to demonstrate that Welsh commemmorative stamp sets are in demand, don't delay a trip to your post office to secure your set. They only issue a limited number of the sets to each post office and you usually have to know about them and ask for them and, don't forget to complain by letter to the Royal Mail if your P.0. hasn't got any! Shows they can issue Welsh stamps when they've a mind to, but still no Glyndŵr Stamp! However, the envelope has Harlech Castle illustrated which is "kind of" a remembering that this year is the 600th anniversary of the fall of the Castle into English hands and thus marks the end of the offensive war of Independence which from 1409 becomes more and more a defensive Guerrilla war. The long struggle does not conclude until Maredudd ab Owain Glyndŵr surrenders on 21 April 1421. The last Welsh rebel, as far as i'm aware, to be caught and executed was Robert ap Doe. Evidence suggests he was either hanged at Welshpool Castle or, hung, drawn & quartered at Shrewsbury. No doubt there were many more executed that we are not aware of, but do remember that the Gwerin Owain continued the struggle up to at least 1485 when most of them were conned into joining Henry Tudor's subsequent Bosworth Adventure - and we all know what followed that. Let's now take some inspiration from those "last ones standing" and continue with the struggle to get the G.P.O. to issue some 'Stampiau Glyndŵr'. But, for now, see the below stamp feature:

.
Stamp produced by Gwasg YLolfa.
.













.
A Glyndŵr Label used as a ''stamp''.
.













.
Below Stamps suggested by the Western Mail but it remained just wishful thinking. What about the two mistakes below, can you spot them?
.

There was a Post Office Glyndŵr stamp once upon a time but only in connection with an English History commemoration, see below:
.

THE FALL OF HARLECH CASTLE - FEB 1409: Its pay back time at the WALES V ENGLAND RUGBY INTERNATIONAL CAERDYDD 14 - 02 - 2009.

Owain Glyndŵr had captured Harlech Castle in 1404 and had made it his Citadel for almost five years until its fall in the winter of 1409. For further info, search the web. During those five years, Owain Glyndŵr was to hold two Parliaments but, following the fall of Aberystwyth Castle in 1408, the English armies focused all their efforts against Harlech Castle. This assault witnessed the use of cannon against which all Castles were to prove weak. The eventual fall of Harlech Castle, in many ways, brought the 'Glyndŵr War' to near conclusion as, from this point in time, the Welsh were not just on the defensive but inreasinly more in retreat, and all to sadly, 'Cenedl Glyndŵr' was to collapse like a house of cards. Nevertheless, the 'armed struggle' continued as a guerrilla war right up to 1416 under Owain Glyndŵr, and up to 1421 under the command of his son. History then records that the 'Gwerin Owain' outlaws continued a struggle up to 1485 until Henry Tudor gathered their ''rebel remnants" into his army bound for Bosworth and the seizing of the English Throne. What we must always remember is, that at this time, Wales had a population of about 500.000 compared to England's population of about 3 Million, so yes, it was a 'David v Goliath' struggle, largely fought by a peasant army against one of Europe's greatest feudal hosts - medieval military machines.

.
That took guts - and I know it takes guts for our Wales Rugby players to take to the field against England RU Team this coming St Valentine's Day to play a tough game - and hopefully WIN! - as sadly, the Cymry did not at Harlech in February 1409. You can help inspire our boys towards a great win by turning up at the Millenium Stadium waving'Baneri Glyndŵr' by the 100's (Am I being optimistic?) well at least a dozen or so (Im being real now!) If you haven't got a 'Baner Glyndŵr' you can buy one at Welsh Castle Crafts along with more Glyndŵr souveniers but also note, you can only obtain Glyndŵr patches and caps from myself at Embassy Glyndŵr (see previous posts for details) so, pop along to Welsh Castle Crafts before the game and then drop in at Tafarn Glyndŵr on the Hayes for a visual treat of Glyndŵr Memorabilia. This well named pub has draped the bar in Glyndŵr flags and bunting and has a 'Cleddyf y Genedl' in pride of place over the bar.

Whilst there, also see the marvellous painting (below) depicting the fall of Harlech in 1409 and, don't forget to raise a toast to our great hero.

No, yet again during this important commemmorative period, the Royal Mail did not see fit to provide us with a stamp to mark the 600th anniversary of the fall of Harlech - or to mark the fact that it had been held for five years by the Welsh. Neither have I heard if CADW intend to organise events at the Castle to mark the Seige??? nor, for that matter, if any local patriots are bothered enough to organise a commemoration - or a rally even? if I do hear anything, I will, of course, let you all know. In the meantime, see pics of Tafarn Owain Glyndŵr below, I wonder if Pobl Glyndŵr could be up for a 'Flashmob' of the Hayes this coming Saturday with as many 'Baneri Glyndŵr' flags as possible? Remember, the BBC are based there so, if there was a good turn out it would make a huge impression! Unfortunatly, I cannot make the match but do send in your pics - and especially any of 'Baneri Glyndwr' around Caerdydd on Saturday.

Hwyl am rwan!

Siân.