Island Farm Guestbook

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June 14th 2025
03:46:51 PM
What is your name?  

Ethan Broadbent

Where are you from?  

Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

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Absolutely loved the place! Even though it was small it still gave us a really nice time, it was really fascinating seeing the actual escape tunnel those Germans dug in 1945! Really enjoyed the hut and the reenactors were so informative but not in the boring way! The props and old furniture really set the mood and i hope to return again! - Ethan

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June 14th 2025
01:14:00 PM
What is your name?  

R Jones

Where are you from?  

Cardiff

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I attended an open day this June and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very interesting to learn more about such local history and so lovely to see how passionate you all were. My Grandfather had told me about the escape when I was younger and took me to the hut, though it was closed at the time - he would have loved to visit Island Farm. I hope that the Preservation Group receives more support in the future and more people get to learn about this place!

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February 11th 2025
08:33:56 AM
What is your name?  

Terrell Hamilton

Where are you from?  

Biloxi, Mississippi USA

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Excellent site for me doing research on Germany Military History.

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July 30th 2024
02:06:58 AM
What is your name?  

Linda

Where are you from?  

Brighton and Hove. East Sussex

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Great website and so very informative about the prisoners of war.What would be great also would be about the women who looked after the prisoners.My mother was in the WRAF in Preston.She told me how the German and Italian prisoners were allowed to go to the cinema.:grinning:

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December 13th 2022
10:25:24 PM
What is your name?  

Bernd Saalfeld

Where are you from?  

Großbeuthen- Germany ( South of Berlin)

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Hallo Brett, hallo Wayne,

ich muss entschuldigen: My english ist very bad!

Ich war zusammen mit Frau Lehniger im November bei Euch in der „Islandfarm“
und ich möchte mich bei Euch auf diesem Wege für die sehr interessante , lustige und lebendige Führung durch die „Islandfarm“ bedanken.

Ich war wirklich überwältigt über die vielen Exponate, Geschichten und vor allem über Eure Mühe und Arbeit, um dieses Stück Geschichte zu bewahren.
Es war mir bis dahin völlig unbekannt und jedem , dem ich davon erzähle und auf Eure Internetseite verweise, geht es genauso.
Dieser Ort in Verbindung mit Eurer beider Arbeit ist so etwas wie „Goldstaub“ :
Ihr bewahrt nicht nur, sondern erfüllt das Wissen um diesen Ort ohne Einschränkung auf Nationalität mit Leben, ihr sammelt detailliert die Informationen, die einem Besucher wie mich das ganze Geschehen nachempfinden lassen.
Sehr viel Rätzel haben mir die aufbewahrten Wandmalereien gegeben. Es ist toll, daß sich die Mühe gemacht wurde, die schweren Betonteile herauszutrennen und aufzubewahren.
Ob schön oder nicht schön: Sie spiegeln die damalige Zeit wieder, je nach Kreativität des jeweiligen Künstlers. Sie sind einmalig.
Viel geschmunzelt haben wir über den Spruch: De Buup im Chot erhaltet was riitet und good! Und meine Übersetzung ins – lesbare- deutsche ist : Der Pup mit Kot enthält das was riecht und schmiert,
was ins englische soviel bedeuten würde: The fart with **** contains what is smelling and lubricating.
Sorry..

Ich bin fasziniert von Eurer Webseite: Die Fülle der Informationen ist unglaublich.
Ihr kümmert Euch um die vielen Exponate, beide Gebäude und die Erinnerung an diesen Ort, als seid ihr ein Teil davon und habt es selbst erlebt. Soetwas gibt es selten.
Umso mehr finde ich es traurig, daß ihr scheinbar nur wenig Unterstützung durch die Gemeinde erhaltet.
Ich wünsche Euch, daß es bald Strom und Toiletten geben wird, um diesen Ort angemessen, würdevoll darstellen zu können: Vor 80 Jahren war es auf „Islandfarm“ selbst für Kriegsgefangene komfortabler als heute.

Auch in Deutschland werden kleine Erinnerungsstätten oder Museen oftmals genauso sich selbst überlassen , die Erinnerung an die Vergangenheit schein selten wichtig zu sein. Es ist zwar kein Trost für Euch, aber ich weiß , wovon ich spreche. Meine Frau und Ich betreiben selbst einen kleinen Regionalen Heimatverein.

Es gibt den Spruch: man sieht sich immer zweimal im Leben, und so hoffe ich, daß mich mein Weg irgendwann nocheinmal zu „ Islandfarm“ führen wird, zusammen mit einem Besuch im wunderschönen Wales mit seinen wirklich netten Menschen.

Viele Grüße

Bernd Saalfeld,

Kleinbeuthen, Germany

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May 7th 2022
08:26:34 AM
What is your name?  

Tim O\'Hagan

Where are you from?  

Bridgend

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I was born in 1941 and brought up in the King’s Head Hotel, Nolton Street. Shortly after the war, perhaps 1946 or 1947, POWs were allowed out into the town. They often made small items to sell to locals. I remember having my foot drawn around by a POW who made me a pair of carpet slippers. One day I was sitting in the window with my mother and aunt who sent me down to ask a group of 3 POWs to come in for a cup of tea, which they did. They came to visit several times in the King’s Head. Their names were Albert, Theo and Elwin. I remember sitting in our living room with them and with my father, who had been badly wounded in Normandy, my uncle who fought from Normandy into Northern Germany, and my grandfather who had served in France in the First War. The atmosphere was very relaxed with plenty of conversation. They also came to visit us around Christmas, as I played on the carpet with my model soldiers! These are my memories of the POWs in Bridgend.
By the way, I served in the RAF and qualified as a German interpreter, so I would be willing to help if you need any translating done.

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June 8th 2021
09:16:33 AM
What is your name?  

Henner Kühne

Where are you from?  

Germany, Hamburg

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I am the grandson of Gen. Lt. Otto Kühne. It was very interesting to read about this part of my grandfather’s personal history. My father, the son of Otto Kühne still lives (age 93) in Hamburg and may be able to offer some further information.

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April 19th 2020
12:25:48 PM
What is your name?  

Richard Metcalf

Where are you from?  

Abingdon, Oxon

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In the late 1940\'s we used to pass Island Farm on the way from Cardiff to visit my Grandparents in Port Talbot. I can recall one trip when we passed a uniformed German officer [peaked cap, great coat] walking along the main road [A48] and escorted by an armed British soldier. From memory the soldier was adjacent to the camp fence and the officer at the kerb side of the pavement - stopping him pushing the soldier into the road ?! I believe some officers where allowed un-escorted into Bridgend - anyone any ideas who this officer may have been ?

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March 10th 2020
07:17:55 AM
What is your name?  

andy rees

Where are you from?  

wales now Canada

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great website very informative thank you

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March 7th 2020
02:43:29 PM
What is your name?  

David Powell

Where are you from?  

Maesycwmmer, near Blackwood, Gwent

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I am very interested in the story of Island Farm camp 198. My father told me about it when I was a child. I think of it every time we pass in the car on our way to Porthcawl. Is there a book written about it? Thanks

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