[3] The group courted publicity,[1] and its leaders attracted a great deal of media attention with extravagant claims of financial support from millionaires, "links with the IRA and Basque separatists," dogs trained to carry explosives, etc.

[4] Members wore home-made uniforms and marched in historic sites like Machynlleth, as well as carrying out manoeuvres with small arms and explosives in the Welsh countryside and claiming responsibility for many of Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru's bombings.

[6] However, against a backdrop of Welsh nationalist bombings and protests against the investiture of King Charles as Prince of Wales the FWA presented an appealing target to the government, and in 1969 nine members were arrested and charged with public order offences.

[8][9][10][11] Scott Millar, coauthor of a history of the OIRA, wrote that there was contact between the two groups (including FWA members training in Ireland)[12] but no large-scale transfer of arms took place.

Its symbol was Eryr Wen, a stylised white eagle mounted on dark green shield, with the flag of Wales at the top left hand corner.