The
Vanquished. A seemingly endless column of German prisoners are marched
under guard
ISLAND
FARM
German P.oW. CAMP 198
2nd
November 1944
The Americans weren't there
long before they departed for the invasion and once again the camp was empty,
but this time it wasn't for long. Soon large scores of German prisoners were
being taken and accommodation needed to be found to house them. Island Farm
was thought to be suitable and was given the name of Camp 198.
On 2nd November 1944 over 1,600 German
PoWs arrived at Bridgend railway station.
Finding that there was no transport
to take them the 2 miles to the camp and that they would have to carry their
own luggage, they stubbornly refused to move. It was then that the Stationmaster
arrived on the scene dressed in his official uniform, i.e. long coat, and gold
braided peaked camp. It is believed that the German PoWs mistook him for a high
ranking officer, perhaps even a general, because as soon he instructed them
to move they picked up their luggage, formed up and singing, they goose-stepped
all the way to Island Farm!
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The
Vanquished. A seemingly endless column of German prisoners are marched
under guard
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PoW Numbers
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Life In
The Camp
The noise from the camp was
very loud and had a very disquieting affect on the people of Bridgend. The singing
never seemed to cease and night after night the surrounding air would be filled
with singing which seemed to be full of defiance and hate. The noise from the
camp, even when there was no trouble, resembled that of a bad tempered football
crowd. Violence against prisoners who held doubts about Hitler's final victory
was commonplace and there was little the guards could do to prevent it.