SS and U-boat (Unterseeboot) crews could be sent to camps in particularly remote locations such as the Scottish Highlands. The complex was accessed from the A689 public highway via a single-track concrete road. The prisoners' compound occupied a large square of land and contained approximately 41 huts including kitchens, adjacent grocery and produce store, two interconnecting dining huts, ablution and latrine blocks, the camp reception station (or medical facility), a number of accommodation huts, one hut that was converted into a chapel, another which became a theatre and a carpenter's hut. Shortly after completion of the construction of the camp and Italy's capitulation, (which was signed on 3 September and publicly declared on 8 September 1943); the Italians were largely relocated to other PoW camps pending repatriation. Some stayed as PoWs incarcerated at Consett (a Camp 93 satellite) and remained employed as local labour. German PoWs were transported to Harperley, primarily after D-Day (6 June 1944), by various means, to replace its complement of Italian PoWs who were previously an invaluable contribution to the local labour force. Guards' Compound The Guards' compound consisted of a group of approximately 16 huts. The maingate entrance and Guard Room was manned by British military personnel controlling the movements of everything in and out of the camp area, including personnel, prisoners and vehicles. Directly opposite the Guard Room at the main entrance was an Alarm Bell installed for any emergency, such as fire, escape attempts or PoW disturbances. It never seems to have been used other than as a highly polished and decorative addition to the well kept surrounding gardens. Immediately to the right of the entrance were the Durham County War Agricultural Committee (D.W.A.C. or WARAG) office buildings and staffed by Durham County Council WARAG employees. These officers would negotiate with local farmers and landowners short and long term contracts for employing PoWs on a daily basis. Each morning the PoWs were transported to their respective locations and returned each evening by the same method. Occasionally, farmers and landowners would request to billet a PoW, taking responsibility for their general welfare and employment for a particular period. Prisoners' Compound General Description Harperley held approximately 800 to 1,500 PoWs, all Junior Ranks and Senior NCOs; they were utilised extensively as manpower to work on agriculture, dam, forestry and many other local labour-intensive projects. Six days a week, Monday to Saturday from 0700 hrs to