January 1 – The New Year passed like all the other grey days. Yet one more year of war outside my native country. And the end is still not in sight. Hopes are that this “Polka” finally comes to an end this year–but predictions aren’t lacking that it could still stretch into next year.

January 4 – We finally change our bloody position and relieve 3 PAL near Casa Fornall. It’s some 3 kilometers past our old position but still near Brisighella. Our location is quite advantageous as there’s hardly any shooting in the whole area and it’s is not too bad in the matter of housing. Almost the whole battery is under a roof. Everybody made themselves little stoves and somehow we thus managed to live. For several days snow has been falling and stays on the ground thanks to the frost. For a month I’ve been PO Battery Commander–in other words nothing concerns me now and I work at a permanent site. I haven’t fully assumed my duties as PO so I’m not doing anything.

January 10 – Today Pilichowski and Balusza left for 8 PAL as well as Antoniak from the battery. Bartoszewicz and Filipczuk left from other divisions. Steadily fewer and fewer of us remain in our regiment–if a few more leave then everybody will be off in newly-organizing regiments.

February 12 – Furlough in the town of Fiumana.

March 6 – New position near the city of Faenza. Twice I was at PO. I receive my promotion to Lieutenant as of January 1, 1945.

April 9 – I haven’t written much since January. The whole time (December, January, February, March) we were defending our positions in the area of Faenza and Saladino along the Senio River. We were here right up to Easter and the offensive on Bologna. Our reserve time near Saladino passed calmly, almost a vacation.

April 9 – We’ve begun the offensive. In succession we take Solarolo, Mordano, il Ponte, and finally we are near Bologna.

April 21 – Bologna is taken! And the end of the war for us as shortly the German Army in Italy capitulates.

May 8 – THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE! We’re now waiting for a long time near Bologna in a lousy place that’s like a desert. We were to travel to the Adriatic but our dreams were called back at the last moment. I’m going to a course in Benevento starting on May 21.

May 21 – June 14 – Our course is in Fragneto Monforte about 20 kms from Benevento. We lived quite comfortably in a little palace that even had a swimming pool–admittedly small but you could go for a swim. Every Saturday and Sunday we visited Sorrento, Naples and Capri. At the course I met Jurek and Miet and so we always had a great time. An unforgettable memory remains with me of the road to Sorrento: beautiful scenery on the road winding along a mountainside–then a panoramic view of Golfo di Napoli. Returning from the course I stopped over at Rome for 8 days. I finally find where Anna was living: Marshalu 8-16. Anna looks pretty damn good–she’s lost some weight!

June 15 – I return from the course to a new position at Racanika/Predappio Alto for one day and then we move out to the Cesena region.

June 27 – July 3 – Seven days in Rome. Return to a new position between the cities of Ascoli Piceno and S. Benedetto. We’re living in a palace with a stupendous view–all very comfortable and pleasant.

August 7 – September 20 – We’re transferred to a firing range in Contea 30 kms from Florence. We shoot till 3 or 4 in the afternoon and then off to Florence in a Jeep. All week the four of us: Romek, Zygmunt, Bogus and me. Our regular program here: dinner in the club, movies or a show and then billiards…lots of billiards. The next week they leave and I’m alone. A great deal of time has passed and I haven’t written anything. I returned from Florence and of course stayed the night in Faenza. The overnight program as usual.

August 30 – Bogus and I set off for a vacation in Como. Along the way we naturally stop off at Faenza. Como is great–the two weeks here pass by too quickly. An excellent place for holidays: the program is all set and the conditions are great. Trips by car to Como and to the lakes of Lago di Como, Lago di Lugano and Lago Maggiore. We were near the Swiss border. “Dancing” three times weekly and plenty of women–both ours and Italian. I meet a few from the AK [Home Army]: Zoska, Milana, Kalina and from the PCK [Polish Red Cross] Halina and Genia. A great time but unfortunately too short.

September 21 Saturday – At 23:40 hours we set off from Milano to Napoli. The journey is quite interesting but I couldn’t enjoy it as my teeth started to ache.

September 22 Sunday – My teeth ache like hell. I drank a whole bottle almost by myself

September 23 Monday – 22:00 hours. At last we arrived in Napoli. Tomorrow we’re supposed to load on a ship. At last I’ll be in transit

September 24 Tuesday – 14:00 hours. We arrive at the port. I wrote the last and sent… 17:00 hours we’re loaded on the ship. A ship of 27,000 tons, the Andes. I’m in Cabin 335. Tomorrow we depart.

September 25 Wednesday – Sitting in port. Around noon a party of women with children arrived from [Tra ?]. The company is pleasant. Damn teeth hurting. At 1600 hours we drank.

September 26 Thursday – Today we sail to Gibraltar.

September 27 – At 1400 we arrived at Gibraltar. Dock in the bay. There’s plenty of vendors selling [….] and other things. At 15:15 we sail out of the bay.

April 17 – Jacek z pierogami [with dumplings] reported to this world at 4 in the morning at Paddington Hospital. Weight: 6 lbs 6 ounces. When they laid him next to his mother, he sneezed and she wished him Na Zdrowie! [To your Health!]. Then he let out three bubbles from his mouth as a sign that he spits on the world and everything.

November 20 Tuesday – Time 12:30. Finally we set off for that Canada. The Canberra an 11,000 ton ship. The crew almost all Germans. The passengers are a gathering of all nationalities. The […] dominates. The cabins aren’t too wonderful. Janka and Jacek are placed in cabin 373 where there are 3 women with children. I’m in cabin 361.

November 21 Wednesday – The second day of the trip under the sign of Riga. Janka is feeling good but [?]. Considering her state [pregnant with daughter Wanda] she’s keeping pretty good. The food is good–I’m eating all I can.

November 22 Thursday – The weather without change. Everything is rolling. Stop at Cherbourg. During the night […] immigrants French.

November 23 Friday – We eat, sleep, smoke.

November 24 – 25 – [Wife Janka’s handwriting] Saturday & Sunday. No change, conditions terrible, lack of proper care for the children. Jacek can’t sleep and is agitated and crying.

November 26 Monday – Steadily colder. In the night horrible rolling, everybody’s sick, we’re holding on.

November 27 Tuesday – Jacek has a sick tummy and a cold.

November 28 Wednesday – The sea is calm while we sail into the bay of the St. Lawrence River. A Costume Ball.

November 29 Thursday – We can see land. Sea gulls are circling the ship. Snow, then sunshine.

November 30 Friday – We’re sailing up the river. On either side the shore is covered in snow and ice. That evening we dock. At 2300 by train to Toronto.

DEFENCE MEDAL (British)
STAR for the WAR 1939-45 (British)
ITALIAN STAR (British)
STAR of MONTE CASSINO (Polish)
ODZNAKA PAMIATKOWA 5 KDP (Polish)