Hut 9 Preservation Group Page

23/04/2026

A great Father’s Day idea…The H9PG is pleased to announce that our next event will be on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st June 2026 (A great Father’s Day gift 😊)

Step back in time to the 1940s with The Hut 9 Preservation Group and our re-enactors who support us.

Embark on a journey through Bridgend's WWII past as we unveil the secrets of the massive ordnance factories, the American soldiers stationed at the camp, the German pow escape and the high ranking German officers who were later held there.

Although not suitable for children under 5 or people with mobility issues, this event offers an enriching and enjoyable experience for history enthusiasts of all ages.

To read more about the event and book tickets, please see:

www.islandfarm.wales/tickets

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11/03/2026

German escape from Island Farm:
This wasn't just a simple escape; it was a daring bid for freedom that saw escapees trekking across rugged terrain and navigating the Welsh landscape in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.

From the ingenious methods used to clear the perimeter to the dramatic stories of those who travelled miles before being intercepted, the scale of this event remains one of the most remarkable chapters of local history.

Discover the full list of those who made a break for it and the incredible accounts of their journey here:
https://www.islandfarm.wales/The_Escaped_German_Prisoners.htm

A researched list of the German PoWs who escaped from Island Farm Camp 198 in March 1945.

10/03/2026

Eighty-one years ago tonight, on the 10th and 11th of March 1945, one of the most audacious chapters of the Second World War unfolded in South Wales.

In the dead of night, seventy prisoners of war disappeared into the darkness, marking the largest mass escape of German POWs in Great Britain. This was no spur-of-the-moment act; it was the culmination of four months of secret, gruelling labour. Working from within the confines of Hut 9, the prisoners had painstakingly excavated a sophisticated tunnel that stretched beyond the perimeter fence and out toward freedom.

The scale of the operation stunned authorities and captured the attention of the nation. For a glimpse into the tension of that moment, you can listen to this original BBC news recording, read by the iconic voice of Alvar Lidell, as the news of the escape first broke. Listen to the original BBC News Recording here:

https://www.islandfarm.wales/BBC_News_Recording_Read_By_Alvar_Lidell.htm

The story of the tunnel remains a remarkable testament to the determination and ingenuity shown by those held behind the wire.

24/01/2026

Mystery solved at last !

I have spent years studying the group photographs of German officers held at Island Farm. Some faces have remained stubborn mysteries, refusing to be named despite hours of scrutiny.

For years, one particular officer had me stumped. But by cropping into the high-resolution original and zooming in, the truth was finally revealed. Looking past the significant weight loss he suffered during his time in captivity, I was able to discern a single, unmistakable clue: a very distinctive scar on his chin.

That one physical marker confirmed it. After all this time, I can finally put a name to the face.

Generalmajor Christoph Stengel.

Read the full profile and see the evidence here:

http://bit.ly/49GYvkA

20/09/2025

The H9PG is pleased to announce that our next event will be on Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th April 2026.

Step back in time to the 1940s with The Hut 9 Preservation Group and our re-enactors who support us.

Embark on a journey through Bridgend's WWII past as we unveil the secrets of the massive ordnance factories, the American soldiers stationed at the camp, the German pow escape and the high ranking German officers who were later held there.

Although not suitable for children under 5 or people with mobility issues, this event offers an enriching and enjoyable experience for history enthusiasts of all ages.

To read more about the event and book tickets, please see:

www.islandfarm.wales/tickets










Hut 9 Preservation Group Page