Island Farm Camp was originally built to house workers at the Bridgend munitions factory, however it remained empty until the arrival of American troops in 1943. The Americans stayed until D-Day when the camp was again deserted, only to refill with German prisoners of war.

In its new guise it was known as Prisoner of War Camp 198 and, from November 1944, the majority of its inmates were German officers. In 1945 72 of these officers escaped the camp via a tunnel, however, all were recaptured.

The end of the war did not see the end of Island Farm's service as a prisoner of war camp. It was re-opened as Special German Base Camp 11, being used to house Senior Officers including three Field Marshalls until its final closure and abandonment in 1948.

Source:
Hawthorne, S M (1989) Island Farm Special Camp 11 for Prisoners of War. Bridgend: Brynteg Comprehensive School.