Hall of Images
Polish Pahiatua Children in New Zealand
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Pahiatua Children 50th anniversary song |
Song about the Polish children of Pahiatua, New Zealand written in 1994 by Stefania Sondej for the 50th anniversary of the children's arrival in New Zealand on 1 Nov 1944. The english version follows the polish version and is a close translation of the Polish. Sang to the melody of "Karpacka Brygada by M.Hemara) Pieśn o polskich dzieciach z Obozu w Pahiatua, Nowa Zelandia, napisana na zjazd 50-cio lecia przyjazdu do Nowej Zealandii, 1-go listopada, 1944 roku. (Na melodie "Karpacka brygada" M.Hemara) |
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Logo of Polish Children’s 70th Reunion in New Zealand |
This logo was designed by Basia Smolnicki of Art and Architecture. Basia is a daughter of Eugenia Smolnicki, one of the Polish children who found refuge in New Zealand in 1944. Copyright: Basia Smolnicki. Permssion is required from Basia for reuse of this image. www.basiasmolnicki.com |
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Logo of 60th Anniversary of Polish Children to New Zealand |
Logo of 60th Anniversary of Polish Children to New Zealand |
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Logo of 50th Anniversary of Polish Children’s arrival in New Zealand |
Logo of 50th Anniversary of Polish Children’s arrival in New Zealand |
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Logo for 65th reunion of Polish children arrival in New Zealand |
Logo for 65th reunion of Polish children arrival in New Zealand |
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Celebrating 5 years of Polish Childrens Camp in Pahiatua |
Celebrating 5 years of Polish Childrens Camp in Pahiatua |
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Krystyna Skwarko |
Krystyna Skwarko (Pancewicz) was in charge of the boys school in Pahiatua. |
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Train journey from Wellington to Pahiatua |
On the 1st November 1944, the Polish Children and their cargivers were disembarked from the ship SRS General Randall and transported by train directly to the Pahiatua Polish Children's Camp. The map shows the route taken by the train. |
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Polish Mass at St Anne’s, Newtown, Wellington |
For many years in the 1950s and 1960s, Polish Mass was held at St Anne's in Newtown, Wellington. The church was always very full for Christmas and Easter services. After Mass there was always a buzz as families and old friends caught up with each other. |
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St Brigid’s church in Pahiatua receive a gift from the former Polish Children of Pahiatua |
This picture was given to the children at the Polish Camp just south of Pahiatua in 1944. It was painted by a Polish soldier of the 3rd Carparthian Brigade in Italy and presented to the Polish children in Pahiatua to remind them of their devotion to Our Lady of Czętochowa , the patron saint of Poland. The picture now resides in St Brigid's Church in Pahiatua. It was given as a gift to St Brigids on the 60th anniversary of the children's arrival in New Zealand. Józef and Stefania Zawada presented the picture to the parish. |
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Our Southern Poles |
Piece written by Sean Brosnahan for 'Otago Settlers News', June 2006, issue 89 about the Polish boarders of the catholic schools in Dunedin in 1947. Photo of Polish girl boarders at St Dominics 1947 from Hocken Collection: Stefania Manterys, Anna Manterys, Christina Czoba, Dioniza Gradzik, Irena Cwirko- Godyka, Roma Sokalska, Helena Chwieduk, Zofia Rombel. Photo of boy pupils at St Kevins - Frank Kubiak, Stanisław Manterys and Józef Zawda from Józef Zawada's private collection. Article published with permission from the Otago Settlers Association. |
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Ngaroma, Polish Girls Hostel in Lyall Bay, Wellington |
This is a postcard photo of the Polish Girls hostel that housed Polish girls and young women in Wellington. It was bought by the Catholic Church for the use of the Polish girls and was run by the Ursuline nuns in particular by Sister Alexandrowicz who came to New Zealand with the children. Today it houses the Nuncio of the Catholic Church. |
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Lt General Freyberg visits Polish Children’s Camp |
Lt General Freyberg chats with the camp commandant , Major E.F.C.Finney. |
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Lt General Freyberg visits Polish Children’s Camp |
Lt General Freyberg officially visited the 3rd Carpathian Brigade in Italy. Here he is visiting the Polish Children's camp in Pahiatua and is chatting to the Polish delegate, Mr Szczęsny Zalewski. Mrs Anne Jacques is in the background. She was an organiser of the Polish Army League in NZ which was formed to enable NZers to write and send gifts to Polish soldiers in Italy. |
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Our Lady of Częstochowa painted by Major Feliks Krzewinski |
This image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, under the appellation of Queen of Poland was painted by a Polish soldier, Sergeant Major Feliks Krzewinski, in Loreto, Italy, during the Italian Campaign of World War II. It was gifted to the children of the Polish Children's Camp, Pahiatua, by the soldiers of the Third Carpathian Division of the Polish Second Army Corps. |
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New Zealand School Journal Article |
Article written about the Polish Children of Pahiatua for New Zealand School Children in June 1945 by the New Zealand Education Department. Citation: New Zealand School Journal. Wellington [N.Z.: New Zealand Education Dept.], 1937-Vol 39, No 5, Part III June 1945 Source: The Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. |
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Photo of Sister Monica Alexandrowicz |
Sister Monica Alexandrowicz, an Ursuline nun, herself deported from Poland in June 1941 - escaped USSR to Iran and came to New Zealand with the 733 Polish children. |
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Obituary – S. M. Monika Alexandrowicz |
Obituary in Polish written for Sister Monika by the Ursuline Nuns of Wilanów |
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United Nations’ Colours |
Article from the Evening Post, Wellington New Zealand published on 25 July 1950 showing the United Nations flag being hoisted by girls from the Lyall Bay Hostel, originally from the Pahiatua camp. Photo and article provided by Fairfax Media/EveningPost, New Zealand. |
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Dąbrowski family reunion 1948 |
The Dąbrowski family, mother, sister and brother meeting son and brother, Stanisław and daughter and sister, Marysia in Wellington, NZ at the end of November 1949. Stanisław's mother had not seen her daughter Marysia (11 years old) for 10 years. Marysia had been left behind in Poland with an aunt at the time of deportation. |
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Memorial Plaque to victims of the Strongman Mine Disaster 1967 |
Nineteen men were killed when an explosion ripped through the Strongman Mine at Runanga, near Greymouth, just after 10 a.m on 19 January 1967. Sourced from 'Strongman coal mine disaster memorial', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/strongman-coal-mine-disaster-memorial, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 15-Jul-2013. One of the victims included Jan Trukawka, a Pahiatua Polish Child. His name can be seen on the plaque. The spelling of the surname on the plaque is Trukawka. The spelling on the Wall of Names is Turkawka. “Image Source: www.nzhistory.net.nz, the NZHistory website of Manatū Taonga. Licensed by Manatū Taonga for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence.” |
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Jan Turkawka – Kresy-Siberia Survivor dies in Strongman Mine Disaster |
Jan Trukawka is mentioned on a memorial to those men who died in 1967 in the NZ Strongman Disaster on the West Coast, New Zealand. This is the photo of the memorial. On the memorial the surname is spelt Trukawka. On the lists of Pahiatua children, the name is spelt Turkawka. This Image can be used on site but must have the attribution below: “Source: www.nzhistory.net.nz, the NZHistory website of Manatū Taonga. Licensed by Manatū Taonga for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence.” |
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Our Southern Poles |
An article that appeared in the Otago Settlers News June 2006 edition Issue 89 featuring the children who went to St Dominics and St Kevins Catholic boarding schools in Dunedin. Permission From Otago Settlers Museum in New Zealand has been obtained to use some of this article by Sean Brosnahan for the NZ Gallery. Permission has been granted by email to Irena Lowe. Photos not included in permission. |
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Eugenia (Piotuch) Smolnicki and her daughters Basia and Irena |
Photo taken at wreath laying ceremony by the Polish Foriegn Minister Radosław Sikorski |
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Polish Foreign Minister with original Polish Children at the Polish Children’s Memorial plaque |
After the Polish Minister laid a wreath at the Polish Children's plaque at Wellington Wharf, a photo was taken of the minister with some of the original Polish children who attended the event. From left: Krystyna Tomaszyk, John Roy-Wojciechowski, (Beata Stoczyńska - Polish ambassador and Rodosław Sikorski - Polish Foreign minister) Zdzisław and Helena Lepionka, Maria Wypych and Eugenia Smolnicka |
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Polish Children’s plaque on the Wharf in Wellington |
This plaque was dedicated on the 60th anniversary of the Polish Children's arrival in New Zealand in 2004. It stands with other smaller plaques dedicated to New Zealand's marine history and immigration. It is in an area frequented by Wellingtonians and tourists on good days. I have seen many tourists stopping to read the dedication. |
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Laying of wreath at Polish Children’s Plaque in Wellington |
Marian Ceregra, John Roy-Wojchiechowski and his wife Valerie and Krystyna Tomaszek awaiting the arrival of Poland's Foreign minister Radosław Sikorski at the Polish Children's memorial placque in Wellington on 3 May 2013. |
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Surnames on arrival N-P |
The list of names in the file is an exerpt from: Appendix F of the Book 'New Zealand First Refugees, Pahiatua Polish Children. The complete list is available as a multi page PDF file in the Hall of Memories: ID = 23962 |
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The seven-a-side Bush Primary Cup, 1948 |
Back: Andy Nola, Teodor Poszeluk, Władysław Orawiec, Kazimierz Niedżwiecki, Frank Muller Front: Władysław Leszewicz, Michał Adamczyk, Zdzisław Wiltowski, Anatol Karpik |
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Station to station |
The Polish children on the train to Pahiatua look out the windows as the New Zealand children wave to them. |
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Portable altar |
The portable altar on the recreation hall's stage was a large wardrobe-like cabinet on wheels with folding doors. After Mass it would be shunted aside. It was built in Palmerston North, and eventually ruined by borer and thrown away. Note the Polish traditional Christmas crib on the left. |
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Gift of picture of Our lady of Czestochowa |
This picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa, a gift from the 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division to the Polish Children who found shelter in New Zealand during World war II and lived at the Polish Children's Camp, Pahiatua, is permanently displayed at the St. Brigid's Catholic Church at Pahiatua. |
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Pahiatua children and staff names |
The list of names in the file are from: Appendix F of the Book 'New Zealand First Refugees Pahiatua Polish Children. |
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High school end of year certificate awarded to Krystyna Skwarko (Tomaszyk) |
1945 Pahiatua, New Zealand |
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Poetry selection |
In 1944 as the Polish children were leaving Iran, each child was given several books to carry in their personal possession. Barely a few weeks after their arrival at Pahiatua, a library was opened. Most of these books had been printed during the war in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. They were also printed in the United States and given as donations from the Polish Americans. The stamps on the page of the book 'Wybór Poezji' show the journey of this book across the world. 1. Book published in Jerusalem in 1944 on route in effect back to Poland 2. Stamp 'Dyrekcji Państwowego Liceum i Gimnazjum w Isfanie 3. Stamp 'Inspektoratu Szkolnega w Isfahanie 4. Stamp " Delegatury Ministerstwa Pracy i Opieki Społecznej I Oświecenia Publicznego w Nowej Zelandii 5. Stamp Stowarzyszenia Polaków w Nowej Zelandii 6. Stamped as sold by Stowarzyszenia Polaków w Nowej Zelandii |
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A Gift to the Polish Children of the Polish Children’s Camp, Pahiatua. |
Picture painted in Loreto, Italy by Sergeant major Feliks Krzewiński on 15 August 1944. (Italian Campaign, WWII). |
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Transport Ship – USS General Randall |
This ship transported the Polish children from Mumbai to Wellington, New Zealand. |
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Sontay – cargo carrier |
The Sontay was a cargo ship which took the Polish refugees on a most uncomfortable journey from Iran to Mumbai, India in September 1944 on their way to New Zealand. |
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Ryszard Golebieski – reunited with his father |
In 1947, Ryszard Gołębiewski was reunited with his father, who arrived with a group of Polish ex-servicemen to claim their children. |
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Peter Fraser |
Peter Fraser, the New Zealand Prime Minister whose government offered refuge to the Polish Children of pahiatua. |
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Outside Boy’s Hostel |
Boys and girls outside the boys hostel at Island Bay. |
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Map of the Journey from Iran to New Zealand |
Map of the Journey from Iran to New Zealand |
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Girls Outside Hostel |
The Polish Girls Hostel "Ngaroma" in Lyall Bay, Wellington, 1950. It became a focal meeting place for the Polish boys and girls as they grew up. Many marriages resulted from this. |
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Children at play |
Taking a summer's dip in the Mangatainoka River. (l-r) Krystyna Zagrobelna, Romualda Karpik, Maria Antoniak, Teresa Szczapa, Maria Kośnik, Helena Milczarska, Józefa Aniecka, Weronika Połeć. |
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Boarding the train on the wharf in Wellington |
Once more into the unknown. Boys the train on the wharf in Wellington for the final part of the journey to Pahiatua. |
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Arriving in New Zealand |
Two boys sitting on the ship's torpedo. Stanisław Manterys (left) and Michał Petrus (right) upon the USS General Randall's arrival in Wellington. An American crewman looks on. Disk 34442 - Reference No.: F- 3632-1/42 Photographer: John Dobree Pascoe From the John Pascoe Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, N.Z. Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library must be obtained before any reuse of this image. |
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Aerial photograph of the camp |
A view of the camp with the girl's dormitories in front. |
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Test drive of play equipment at Pahiatua camp |
The youngest children test drive the seesaw built by the New Zealand soldiers at the Pahiatua Camp. |
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The First Polish House in Wellington: 25 Kenwyn Terrace, Newtown. |
A three bedroomed house to be used by all sub-groups of the Association, was bought in 1951. Many Poles sacrificed a whole week's wages to help pay for it. It was converted into a social hall and library. It was here that the Polish Saturday School for children was established. |