LIFE IN THE CAMP

Inspectors Report - 21st/25th June 1946
Inspection by: P. Rossiter
Commandant: Major D.P. Topham
Lagersprecher: (Camp Leader): General der Fleiger Hans-Georg von Seidel
Deputy Camp Leader: General Leutnant Kurt Weckmann
German Medical Officer: Generalarzt Dr. Med. Pilawka
Strength of the camp: 162 Officers - total strength 162

Inspectors Report - 21st/25th June 1946 Interesting account of detailing unrest in the camp between ORs and the generals

English Inspectors Report - 20th October 1946
Inspection by: Major T. Barry
Commandant: Major D.P. Topham
Lagersprecher: (Spokesperson): General der Fleiger Hans-Georg von Seidel
Strength of the camp: 181 Officers - total strength 181

English Inspectors Report - 20th October 1946

English Inspectors Report - 24/27th March 1947
Inspection by: Mr T.R Gibson
Commandant: Major D.P. Topham
Lagersprecher: (Camp Leader): General der Fleiger Hans-Georg von Seidel
Comments: Classes suspended due to fuel shortage

English Inspectors Report 24/27th March 1947 Page 1	English Inspectors Report 24/27th March 1947 Page 2

English Inspectors Report - 28/29 July 1947
Inspection by: Mr E.F. Peeler
Commandant: Major D.P. Topham
Lagersprecher: (Camp Leader): General der Fleiger Hans-Georg von Seidel
Strength of the camp: 155 Officers, 150 Other Ranks - total strength 305
Comments: Requesting better supply of newspaper and 15 copies of "Under the Red Robe" ( a book by Stanley Weyman published in 1894) and "Brass Bottle" ( a book by F. Anstey published in 1900)

English Inspectors Report - 28/29 July 1947

English Inspectors Report - 1st/2nd December 1947
Inspection by: Major T. Barry
Commandant: Major Clements (Note the change in camp Commandant)
Lagersprecher: (Camp Leader): General der Fleiger Hans-Georg von Seidel
Deputy Camp Leader: Konteradmiral Hans Voss
Teacher: Generalleutnant Harry Hoppe
Strength of the camp: 89 (Message from Brett - I think the figure quoted here does not include the OR - Other Ranks)

English Inspectors Report - 1st/2nd December 1947 Page 1	English Inspectors Report - 1st/2nd December 1947 Complaint about the temeperature in the class room Page 2

English Inspectors Report - 3/4th May 1948
Inspection by: C.M. Griffiths
Commandant: Major Clements (Note the change in camp Commandant)
Lagersprecher: (Camp Leader): General der Fleiger Hans-Georg von Seidel
In charge of education: Generalleutnant Kurt Kruse
Strength of the camp: 81 Officers, 153 Other ranks - total strength 234

English Inspectors Report - 3/4th May 1948 Page 1	English Inspectors Report - 3/4th May 1948 Disappointment that PoWs hadn't had the opportunity to sit English Exams before they are due to be repartiated on the 12th May 1948 Page 2

Many of the people around Bridgend thought that the life of a prisoner was an easy life, but this was far true.  Every morning at 6:00 am all prisoners were woken and then had to wash in what were very cramped and impersonal conditions. There were thirty to forty prisoners to each toilet facility.

They would then be marched to the canteen for breakfast & at exactly 9:00 am they had to parade in front of their huts in formation so that the British Officers could count them.  They were extremely vigilant to make sure that none of the prisoners dodged from one hut to another to stand in for any missing persons.

Until 5 pm the prisoners were made to be involved in carrying out various jobs. While the war was still on the prisoners were given jobs within the camp such as general maintenance, plumbing gardening or carpentry; cooking was considered to be the most sought after job !

After the war prisoners were allowed out of the camp to work. Under the Geneva Convention officer POWs could not be compelled to do manual labour, but they could volunteer to do so if they wished. Consequently, many worked on local farms where work was always available.

Gathering the 1946 Wheat Harvest Left To Right: RAD-Obergeneralarbeitsführer Martin Eisenbeck, Konteradmiral Erich Alfred Breuning, Generalmajor Werner von Boltenstern

Some of the prisoners went to work for the R.S.P.C.A. dog kennels in Bridgend and a large number were set to work helping clearing the beaches of anti tank traps which had been erected to fend off a possible German invasion.

The prisoners also proved helpful in times of trouble such as during heavy snow falls, clearing roads and paths etc.  In a nearby street to the camp (Mount Earl), the prisoners repaired roofs which got damaged in severe weather.

There was often mixed reactions by the local people to the prisoners and Mr Victor Davies, a guard at the camp, recalls trouble when prisoners were sent to Bridgend railway station to help clear the snow.

           "The station was such that the trains could not run because of the snow.  We took the German prisoners up there regardless of who they were or their rank. The Germans were made to clear the snow away by hand using shovels.  While they were clearing the snow, the people on the platform were throwing stones at them. We had our work cut out trying to stop them throwing the stones."

The prisoners were not paid any money for their work. They were actually paid with plastic disks which they could exchange at the camp store for items such as boot polish cigarettes, laces etc.

A lot of the prisoners were skilled work men. One of the prisoners was a saddler by trade and adapted his skills to make leather articles for the people of Bridgend. This proved extremely popular, especially his leather sandals.

Some of the prisoners got to know that a particular type of seaweed grew on Newton beach.  Using this they would dye army blankets and make fine items of clothing such as dressing gowns.

Between the hours of 6:00 pm and 10:30 pm, the prisoners were free to pursue what ever interest they wished.  There was a very large hall which they used for indoor tennis and for putting on shows and there was a large grassed area on which they played football using a football they made themselves.

A local man by the name of John Morgan of Laleston regards a wooden kangaroo made by a prisoner as a very cherished possession as he was personally given the carving. As a child he used to play in the garden of his home and would wave to a group of men who were prisoners being escorted past his home on their way to work.  One day a prisoner broke ranks and gave John the small wooden toy.

Actual Picture Of Wooden Kangaroo Given To John Morgan

Gen. Lt. Fritz Broich & Gen.Maj Carl Wahle	Oberst. Friedrich August von der Heydte & Gen.der.Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach

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