A march will be held to call for the return of a famous Powys community which was requisitioned by the Army in the Second World War.

A march organised by Cymdeithas y Cymod and Heddwch ar Waith (Peace Action Wales) will call for Epynt to be given back to Wales after it was requisitioned by the ministry of defence in 1940.

The area which now is used as the Sennybridge Training area for the British Army has been a source of great controversy after it saw the removal of a large Welsh speaking population from the area.

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The march is set to take place this weekend (September 21) and in a statement online, organisers said: “With all that is going on in the world today, surely it is time to seek peace and reconciliation.

“Come therefore to show your support and to demand that the land is returned to the people of Wales, and restored for more peaceful use.

“Bring banners and placards! At the end of the event, everyone will be asked to form a line holding flags and placards and to stand in silence for 10 minutes.

“The placards will then be left to remind future visitors of the history of the area.”

At the time a number of Welsh MPs and leading figures spoke out against the acquisition which saw hundreds being ejected, with the army seizing an area of 30,000 acres.

The evictions, also known as Y Chwalfa (the clearing) in Welsh, have been described as "the death blow to Welsh-speaking Breconshire".

Training operations destroyed most of Mynydd Epynt, including chapels and their cemeteries.

There was even a local belief that one resident had "cried himself to death".


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In response to an enquiry from the County Times about he future of the site, an MOD spokesman said: "The sacrifice of those whose land was requisitioned in the Second World War to allow important training contributed to the Allies' victory.

"Soldiers since then have developed their military skills at Sennybridge Training Area which is required for operational commitments.

"The local community of Sennybridge continue to contribute to the management of the land through sheep grazing, wildlife and nature groups."