Who Am I ?
A lot of
people have over the months, that this site has been available, asked me how
did I come to host such a web site as this i.e. where did the idea come from,
so:
My name is Brett Exton, I am 44 years old (in April 2011) and I live on the
outskirts of Bridgend town, approximately 4-5 miles from where Island Farm
used to be.
I work in the field of Information Technology and in 2000 I was looking for
a theme, to use for an experimental web site, so that I could educate myself
as to what web site hosting was all about.
During this period my younger brother went on a day trip to Colditz Castle
and came home full of enthusiasm and tales about the various escapes attempts.
From his visit he learnt that there was a web site devoted to Colditz Castle
and we went on to the internet so that he could show me all about his trip.
It was whilst looking at this site, that I remembered Island Farm and it's
successful POW escape and my brother and I tried looking for information about
it and were quite dismayed when there was nothing to be found. NOTE: The books
mentioned below were already in existence though out of print with some containing
the errors I have also mentioned).
...Hence the idea was born…
Thank you
for visiting my web site. I hope you found it as interesting to read as I
did putting it together. Please come back in the future because this site
is far from finished and hopefully will be added to with more information
and more pictures as I locate them.
If you have enjoyed the visit then I would be grateful if you would either
sign the guest
book or send me an email
and let me know your thoughts on the web site.
Thanks & best wishes,
Disclaimer
This web
site is a totally non political German POW / military history research site
and any suggestion that I am a Nazi sympathiser is categorically
unfounded and completely rejected.
SPECIAL THANKS:
My partner
& two sons
For
their on going patience when I spend the small hours updating and researching
this web site !
Shawn Bohannon
Not
long after this web site went on-line, back in April 2000, I had the good
fortune to make "cyber" friends with Shawn Bohannon,
who is a "dedicated World War II enthusiast".
He
has contributed
a tremendous amount to this web site, carrying out research and putting together
POW profiles etc.
Mrs
Anne Hewinson and her daughter Mrs Stella Pigott
It was Mrs Hewinson whose husband
worked on the POW repatriation and gave me a copy of the repatriation list.
It was this list which gave me many of the names of the POWs
held at Island Farm.
Heinrich & Doris Behrends
Hinrich is the son of SS-Gruppenführer
und Generalleutnant der Polizei
Hermann Behrends.
I was extremely fortunate to be able to meet him and his wife in June 2001
and he
gave
me the photos
of his father which appear on his profile pages.
Clyde Davis
For sending me a photocopy of a 50th
birthday card sent to the camp vicar (Gruber) which was signed by POWs. This
photocopy gave me additional POW names to research.
He
also sent me
of
the photos of the POWs holding their POW number boards.
Pamela Taylor
She managed to get me a copy
of the BBC documentary made about Island Farm and the escape called "Come
Out" televised in September 1976. She also has a web site & a
book about
Friendships
with German POWs: "Enemies Become Friends".
Robert Jackon
Who wrote an excellent book published
in 1964 called A Taste Of Freedom which is an account of life in some of the
other POW camps, as well as Island Farm, and some of
the
escape attempts.
Eden Camp Museum (Camp 83 - Former POW Camp in Yorkshire)
For their support and web link to
this web site from theirs
The camp has been converted to a
fascinating museum. See: http://www.edencamp.co.uk)
Stefan Schlemmer
Provided a few profiles on some
of the Admirals
Mr Ian
Sayer
Provided the photos
of General der Gebirgstruppe Franz Böhme and documents related to his War
Crimes Trial.
Mr Nevin
Williams / Ian Davies
Nevin provided
the photos of Island Farm taken prior to it's demolition and Ian translated
some German documents.
Mike
Jones
Provided images taken from the hut walls prior to demolition.
Francisco de Asís Romero y Medina
Provided
some great additional photos to some of the profiles.
Mark
Lamerton
Very kindly donated
to me a signed copy of his excellent book: "Liberated By Force 135"
which is about the liberation of the Channel Islands in May 1945.
Jeanette Iskat & Family
Providing photos
and information which appear on Otto Iskat's profile page
Hilary Powell
Provided personal photos and letters sent to Auntie and Uncle after
the from Generalmajor Walther Hillert
Further Reading:
Herbert Williams
I used this book as an initial
lead in my research in 2000, however it soon became apparent that the book
has suggested dialogue that took place between people i.e. open drama and
has many mistakes e.g. suggesting 67 pows escaped when it easily known that
the true figure was 70. Consequently, I would never recommend the book as
a source of factual research on the Island Farm topic.
Susan
Hawthorne
Who, with the pupils of Brynteg Comprehensive,
wrote a book about Island Farm. Given that the book was written in the 1980's,
when the internet wasn't available, it is a very
good
account of Island
Farm. However, I must mention that there are a few inaccuracies in the book....for
example: