Gallery – Lest we forget
Ceremony honouring Polish Submariners in Sweden
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
1987Lwow 2
Lwow coat of arms
Mark Ostrowski
After WWII
Soviet Union
Lwow 1987
Lwow 1987
Mark Ostrowski
After WWII
Ukraine
LWOW-07 Armenian Cath
LWOW-07 Armenian Cath
Mark Ostrowski
After WWII
Ukraine
Eugenia Maresch (assoc. of Katyn Families in the UK) & Professor George Sanford
Eugenia Maresch (assoc. of Katyn Families in the UK) & Professor George Sanford
After WWII
United Kingdom
London
Presentation by Eugenia Maresch (far left)
In the audience: Paul Bailey (KS), Olivia Alford(KS), Alison Cameron (Anglo-Belarusian Soc.), Tim Bucknall (KS)
Unknown
After WWII
United Kingdom
London
Polish Day Memorial Day Devonport
Polish Day Memorial Day at Albert Dockyard gate, Devonport
Janek Czarnota
After WWII
United Kingdom
Devonport
Polish navy
Polish Day Memorial Day Devonport
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
Medals of Captain Mieczysław Wożniak
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
Death notice for Mieczysław Wożniak 1972
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
Tadeusz Sroka in Gydnia
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
Tadeusz Sroka Polish Medal September 1939 campaign
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 Medal for War
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 salutes in Gdynia
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
Tadeusz Sroka, Polish Navy veteran
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 memorial
Polish Navy memorial plaque in Plymouth, which was the the HQ for the Polish Navy Southern Command during WW2
Martin Hazell
After WWII
United Kingdom
Plymouth
Polish navy
ORP Błyskawica memorial in Isle of White, UK
Memorial to ORP Błyskawica's defence of the town of Cowes, Isle of White. Text from Martin Hazell "On the night of 4th/5th May 1942 Błyskawica was in White's yard, Cowes, for repair and refit. Her commander, Francki, upon hearing a massive German air armada about to attack the town led the port's defences. About 11pm 160 low flying German fighter-bombers attacked the town. The ship's crew lit smoke screens and the gunners thew up such an intense barrage from their AA weapons, and even main armament, that the Luftwaffe were forced too high for accurate bombing. Over 200 bombs were dropped and 70 civilians killed. Błyskawica's guns became so hot that cold water had to be poured over them to cool them down. As a result of this action the bond between the people of Cowes and the Poles of the Polish destroyer became even stronger and remains to this day, some 70 years after this."
Martin Hazell
After WWII
United Kingdom
Cowes, Isle of White
Polish navy
ORP Błyskawica memorial in Isle of White, UK
Memorial to ORP Błyskawica's defence of the town of Cowes, Isle of White, from German bombers on the night of 4th/5th May 1942. On far right is Wanda Lesisz, the widow of Lieutenant Tadeusz Lesisz, who was the Gunnery Officer on Błyskawica that night.
Martin Hazell
After WWII
United Kingdom
Cowes, Isle of White
Polish navy
ORP Błyskawica memorial in Isle of White, UK
Memorial to ORP Błyskawica's defence of the town of Cowes, Isle of White, from German bombers on the night of 4th/5th May 1942. In the front row on the left (with crutches) is Otton Hulacki, Polish Navy veteran, co-founder and Vice President of R.P. Błyskawica. Too his far right in the front row is Wanda Lesisz, the widow of Lieutenant Tadeusz Lesisz, who was the Gunnery Officer on Błyskawica that night.
Martin Hazell
After WWII
United Kingdom
Cowes, Isle of White
Polish navy
ORP Błyskawica memorial in Isle of White, UK
Memorial to ORP Błyskawica's defence of the town of Cowes, Isle of White, from German bombers on the night of 4th/5th May 1942. In the front row next to flower wreath (with crutches) is Otton Hulacki, Polish Navy veteran, co-founder and Vice President of R.P. Błyskawica.
Martin Hazell
After WWII
United Kingdom
Cowes, Isle of White
Polish navy
Body of General Sikorski on ORP Orkan
The largest Polish destroyer, ORP Orkan, brings the body of General Sikorski from Gibralter to Plymouth. Photo was colourised by Mateusz Prociak
Mateusz Prociak
During WWII
United Kingdom
Plymouth
Polish navy
Family in Poland, back of photo
Family in Poland, back of photo
Leo Van Mourik
After WWII
Poland
Family in Poland, photo sent in 1957
Family in Poland, photo sent in 1957
Leo Van Mourik
After WWII
Poland
316 Transport Logo
316 Transport Logo
Elzunia Olsson
After WWII
United Kingdom
London
Polish 2nd Corps in Italy (Gen. Anders)
SPK logo
SPK logo
Other
After WWII
United Kingdom
Back cover
Back cover
Other
After WWII
United Kingdom
End Summary by Andrzej Suchcitz
End Summary by Andrzej Suchcitz
Other
After WWII
United Kingdom
Page 15
Page 15
Other
After WWII
United Kingdom
Page 14
Page 14
Other
After WWII
United Kingdom
Page 13
Page 13
Other
After WWII
United Kingdom