On Saturday 15 October I had the pleasure of once again attending an open day held by the Hut 9 Preservation Group.
Island Farm Prisoner of War Camp, Bridgend, saw the biggest escape attempt by German POWs in Britain. 70 escaped but all were re-captured. The Camp was also used to house American troops prior to D-Day. The Hut 9 Preservation Group holds Open Weekends every 6 months. The open days are attended by many re-enactor volunteers.
The Hut 9 Preservation Group site: http://www.hut9.org.uk/
Huge web site resource maintained by Brett Exton: http://www.islandfarm.wales/
The Hut 9 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/108034282547714/?fref=ts
I took along my almost contemporary German folding camera, an Agfa Isolette – it’s a 1950s camera, rather than 1940s though.
Agfa Isolette, 1950s German folder
Unfortunately it was raining and the light was very poor so I didn’t get as many shots as I would have liked. Also, I took a more modern 35mm camera, a Contax G1, but the battery died after one shot, so I wasn’t able to take any more with that – something to be said for non battery cameras like the Isolette.
Anyway, the shots from the Isolette…
German POW re-enactors playing chess
(Agfa Isolette, Tri-X)
This interior shot was very tough to take in very poor light on a camera with a maximum aperture of f4.5 and scale focusing only (ie you have to guess the distance) and I was pleased with the way it came out in the circumstances.
And the exterior shots taken in the rain…
German POW re-enactors entering the compound.
The Watchtower
British troops
A shady looking character!
And the one and only shot I got with the G1…
Some of the regular re-enactors
(Contax G1, 45mm, XP2)
Many thanks to the Hut 9 Preservation Group and to all the re-enactors who do such a good job bringing history to life and provide some great photo opportunities.
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