One for the Welsh Jacobites amongst us?

The picture above is of a Fountain in Kennington Park, South London. This park is famous for an huge Chartist Rally held there in 1848, famous also as the first ever photograph of a peoples protest was taken there, of this event. However, I was not in the park after ''Jacobin'' Chartists but rather seeking a forgotten Welsh Jacobite, David Thomas Morgan of Quakers Yard, Merthyr. (See Celtic League Calender for write up). David Morgan, was a Welshman who was prepared to take to action for his cause, not just talk about it as many do today. David Morgan rallied to the support of ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' and went off to Manchester, to become one of the captains of the Manchester Jacobite Regiment. Upon meeting up with the Scottish ''New Pretender'' Prince, the Prince was talking of retreat but Morgan prevailed upon him to move the Jacobite Army into Wales to meet up with Welsh Jacobites. His idea being to see a united ''Celtic Jacobite Army'' marching out of Wales into England to dethrone the Hanovarian Dynasty, but ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' decided on retreat that led to the disaster of the 'Battle of Culloden 1745'. David Morgan however, decided not to venture into Scotland, saying he would ''rather hang in England than starve in Scotland''. Many a word is said in jest, one regrets, as would David Morgan, attempting to escape from England to the continent, he was captured at Stafford and taken prisoner to London.

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David Thomas Morgan was then on the 30 July 1746, taken with eight other captains of the Jacobite Manchester Regiment to the Surrey Gallows, then situated on the edge of the great Kennington Common, all were hung, drawn and quarterd, their heads stuck up at Temple Bar in London. David Morgans last words were, really calm in face of death, no great posing and posturing, he simply complained to the executioner, that ''the Coffee at breakfast was cold''. How stoic can one be, what a man, and a Taff to! Last year was the 260th anniversary of the brutal execution of the ''Manchester 9'', which included the former Lawyer David Morgan, there were no commemorations and there is no memorial. However, note that I am on the case and will have some news for you in the near future regards, that matter of a memorial, Stay close ok!

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In mean time perhaps some one in Southern Wales, could research out where exactly David Morgan was born/lived, I have two locations named; Quakers Yard and Pen y Graig, I think at the very least such a brave 'Cymro' is deserving of at least a plaque in his homeland in recognition of his courage and fortitude, it does not matter now if you would have believed in his cause or not. Perhaps our contemporay ''Kilted Welsh Jacobites'' will have some sympathy and be up for doing something?

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As for Commemorations? it would be good to hold one in London, in association with the Scots, particularly Scottish Jacobite Societies, so keep the 30 July to the fore of your mind. Meanwhile note the hotbed of ''Welsh Jacobites'' in Wales was in North East Wales, particularly in Wrecsam (Cambria Kilted Band note that?), the ''Welsh Jacobites'' were led by Sir Watcyn William Wyn (In an alternative Wales, he could have been our pretender?) and others who with him were members of the Jacobite 'Cycle of the White Rose', also see Pembrokeshires 'Society of Sea Sergeants'. Plenty of scope here for a Welsh Jacobite Re-Enactment Society with holding of, in main Welsh Jacobite Evenings (CB, note fund raising potential here). For Jacobite History, search Web, and note existence of a number of Jacobite Societies in Scotland and England, Northumbria in main. Much out there in the way of Jacbite Costumes and music, for those Welsh already in Kilts, one step forward and you can become a ''Welsh Jacobite'' and start to have some real fun. But first read 'Rob Roy' and 'Waverley' by Sir Walter Scot. Then return here in time, for a further article I am writting on these subject matters as related to Nationalism and Identity, plus I have more relevent news and photos on line.

Hwyl!

Gethin.