Gallery – Lest we forget

Tadeusz Sroka, Polish Navy. He survived the sinking of both ORP Grom and ORP Orkan. This photograph was taken in Gdynia. After the war Tadek was a prominent member of the Polish commuinity in Plymouth. He was also associated with the Federation of Plymouth and District Ex-Services Association; the 10th Destroyer Flotilla Association; the Plymouth-Gdynia Twinning Panel and the Anglo-Polish Krakowia Cultural Society.

Richard Sroka

After WWII

Poland

Gdynia

Polish navy

Polish Navy Medal for War 1939-1945 (Medal Morski za Wojne 1939-1945) Instituted on July 3, 1945 by decree of President of the Republic in Exile in London. Conferred in a single grade on all members of the Navy, irrespective their rank, for at least 6 months of meritorious service on a ship engaged in military operations against an enemy, or a year service on another ship. The medal could be conferred up to four times; for a subsequent award the period of service was doubled. Badge: silver medal 36 mm of diameter. Obverse: an armored hand - the symbol of the Polish Navy in a laurel wreath.Reverse: the inscription POLSKA / SWEMU / OBRONCY (Poland to Her defender) and a small oak leaf above and below. Ribbon: 37 mm navy blue with narrow white side stripes. Each subsequent award is denoted by a silver bar with oak leaves attached to the ribbon.

Richard Sroka

After WWII

Poland

Gdynia

Polish navy

Tadeusz Sroka, Polish Navy medal: R.P. 1939 1-17th September WRZESIEN: Cross of September Campaign 1939 (Krzyz Kampanii Wrzesniowej 1939) Instituted: by decree of President of the Republic in Exile of September 1, 1984, to commemorate the struggle against nazi Germany and soviet Russia in September and October of 1939. Conferred on soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces and other people who took part in the fight or who aided them. Badge: silver Greek cross 39 x 39 mm. Obverse: a crowned eagle sitting on the Amazon shield, surrounded by a laurel spray with a semicircular inscription WRZESIEN (September) and the year 1939 below. On the left arm there is a date 1.IX (beginning of the German aggression), on the right - 17.IX (beginning of the Russian aggression) and the letters RP on the lower one. Reverse: plain with the place for a recipient's name. Ribbon: 38 mm, white with a broad red stripe in the center, flanked by red pinstripes, and with narrow red edges.

Richard Sroka

After WWII

Poland

Polish navy

Tadeusz Sroka, Polish Navy. He survived the sinking of both ORP Grom and ORP Orkan. This photograph was taken in Gdynia. After the war Tadek was a prominent member of the Polish commuinity in Plymouth. He was also associated with the Federation of Plymouth and District Ex-Services Association; the 10th Destroyer Flotilla Association; the Plymouth-Gdynia Twinning Panel and the Anglo-Polish Krakowia Cultural Society.

Richard Sroka

After WWII

Poland

Gdynia

Polish navy

From the album of Captain Mieczysław Wozniak (1918-1972) who was a a Polish cadet of the class of 1938 and served in the Polish Navy for the duration of WW2. Following a service at the Catholic Church in Plymouth, he had a traditional naval burial at sea from the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Caprice.

Martin Hazell

After WWII

United Kingdom

Plymouth

Polish navy

From the album of Captain Mieczysław Wozniak (1918-1972) who was a a Polish cadet of the class of 1938 and served in the Polish Navy for the duration of WW2. He received the British DSC (Distinguished Service Cross) for valour during the Africa campaign; the British Atlantic Star, Africa Star and the 1939-45 Star. He received the Polish Field of Honour Cross 1920 and also was the youngest recipient of the French Chevalier Legion d'Honneur for heroism saving French sailors in Casablanca.

Martin Hazell

After WWII

United Kingdom

Plymouth

Polish navy

Second generation Polish girls in national costume at the Polish Navy memorial at Albert Dockyard, Devenport

Janek Czarnota

After WWII

United Kingdom

Devonport

Polish navy

Polish Day Memorial Day at Albert Dockyard gate, Devonport

Janek Czarnota

After WWII

United Kingdom

Devonport

Polish navy

In the audience: Paul Bailey (KS), Olivia Alford(KS), Alison Cameron (Anglo-Belarusian Soc.), Tim Bucknall (KS)

Unknown

After WWII

United Kingdom

London

Eugenia Maresch (assoc. of Katyn Families in the UK) & Professor George Sanford

After WWII

United Kingdom

London

LWOW-07 Armenian Cath

Mark Ostrowski

After WWII

Ukraine

Lwow 1987

Mark Ostrowski

After WWII

Ukraine

Lwow coat of arms

Mark Ostrowski

After WWII

Soviet Union

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father Kazimierz Sadowski was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski ,was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community at the cemetery in Mariefred, honouring the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik. This photograph shows a ceremony with the Polish and Swedish community, at the cemetery in Mariefred, to honour the Polish submariners who died (many from illness as a result of cold and poor facilities) during internment.

Andrzej Sadowski

During WWII

Sweden

Mariefred

Polish navy

Three Polish submarines ORP Zbik, ORP Sep and ORP Rys interned in Sweden from September 1939 - Marielund, Sweden until 1945. Andrzej Sadowski's father, Kazimierz Sadowski, was the Torpedo Officer aboard ORP Zbik.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Poland

Gdynia

Polish navy

Polish Navy Memorial to the Polish submarine crew who were interned in Sweden Sept 1939-1945. This photograph was taken in 2002 when Andrzej Sadowski (son of ORP Zbik Officer Kazimierz Sadowski) visited Sweden.

Andrzej Sadowski

After WWII

Sweden

Marielund

Polish navy

Ministry of Defence Service Record which confirms Antoni's birthplace, parents, locality in Poland and service history. Letter was written in 1996 by Ministry of Defence in Middlesex, UK.

Brian Mansor

After WWII

United Kingdom

Hayes, Middlesex

Polish 2nd Corps in Italy (Gen. Anders)