BARRY at War Group, in partnership with Barry Tourist Railway, St Cyres School and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, presents the ‘Wartime Weekend’ living history and commemorative event in Barry this Saturday and Sunday (June 16 and 17).

The event will commemorate the 70th anniversary of US troops coming to the area as part of the build up for the liberation of Europe.

The event will feature an American encampment at Hood Road on Barry Waterfront, with Barry Island Railway Station being transformed into a WW2 British Home Guard and civilian home front living history area, complete with appropriate themed stalls and entertainment.

Local historian and St Cyres headteacher Dr Jonathan Hicks said: "Scores of military re-enactors will be setting up an authentic WW2 American camp with vehicles and troops. Barry Island Station will be transformed into a 1940s station, complete with wartime police and the Home Guard, to portray the Barry Home Front. A wartime housewife will teach people how to ‘make do and mend’, a skill so essential during wartime. Other educational living history displays will be housed at the station, along with an exhibition on the area during the Second World War.

"Barry Tourist Railway will be providing steam train rides from the Waterfront Halt to Barry Island Station. Barry Docks was a major supply port in the build up to D-Day and we hope to give the public a fascinating glimpse of our wartime past. There will be 1940s-style live entertainment and a live radio broadcast.

"The children from seven local primary schools in Barry and Penarth are to play the role of wartime evacuees. Dressed in 40s costumes, they will board a steam train from Barry Waterfront and be ‘evacuated’ to Barry Island Station where they will be given refreshments and view the various events due to take place on Barry Island Station before being transported back to their parents."

Ade Pitman of the Barry at War Group said, "We felt as a group that it was time to recall the service of these brave men and women who came across the Atlantic to help us in our fight against Nazi Germany. Many of them did not survive the war to return to the country of their birth. They had a huge impact on the people of the area and its economy."

Look out for the WW2 American military convoy which will pass through Barry on Friday afternoon - an amazing sight after 70 years!

There is no charge for admission and the gates open at 10am.

AT 11am on Friday, June 15, the Wartime Weekend will get off to a memorable start when a marble plaque dedicated to the American troops who were stationed in and around Barry during the Second World War will be unveiled on King Square.

Dr Jonathan Hicks, who has led the project, said: "We are very grateful to the Vale Council for granting permission for this plaque to be placed, and to A G Adams and Son for sponsoring and producing it. Without their assistance this unique event would not be taking place.

"Thousands of GIs were stationed in Barry and its adjoining localities during WW2 and we wanted to remember that fact with a permanent memorial. The plaque will be unveiled by the new County and Town Mayors during a ceremony carried out in the presence of representatives of the US Military.

"It will be a lasting reminder to those young men and women who made such an impact on the local community. We should never forget that many of them were never to return to the country of their birth."