Gallery – Western exiles’ dilemma
Polish Women’s Auxiliary Army Service (PWSK) in Italy
Walentyna (on the right) with her cousin Antonina. Photo taken in 1945.
Barbara Ryszkowska
During WWII
Italy
Women's Army Auxiliary Service
Polish Women’s Auxiliary Army Service (PWSK) in Italy
Walentyna is second on the right in the back row with her cousin Antonina next to her (3rd on the right). Photo taken in 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Italy
Women's Army Auxiliary Service
Preparing to evacuate from Italy to the U.K.
Polish Women's Auxiliary Army Service (PWSK) - Walentyna is second from the left, and the other ladies are unknown. Photo taken on 12 July 1946
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Italy
Women's Army Auxiliary Service
Evacuation from Italy to the U.K.
Polish Women's Auxiliary Army Service (PWSK) - Walentyna is on the left with her cousin Antonina next to her, and the lady on the right is unknown. Photo taken on 12 July 1946
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Italy
Women's Army Auxiliary Service
Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet – page 1
Walentyna's application to join the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (Polish Section) dated 6 December 1946. Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet (Polska Sekcja Przysposobienia)
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
United Kingdom
Whitchurch
Women's Army Auxiliary Service
Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet – page 2
Walentyna's application to join the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (Polish Section) dated 6 December 1946. Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet (Polska Sekcja Przysposobienia)
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
United Kingdom
Whitchurch
Women's Army Auxiliary Service
1st Polish Armoured Division Soldier
Czeslaw Ryszkowski in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
Czeslaw and friend
Czeslaw is sitting down. Name of friend standing next to him is unknown. Photo taken in Germany circa 1946
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
Czeslaw and friend Jasio
With stray dogs. Photo taken in Germany, circa 1946
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
Czesław and Wanda on their Wedding Day
Czesław's brother Władysław is on the left next to Wanda, and her sister Krystyna Lejkin is on the right next to Czesław. Photo taken in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
Czesław and Wanda on their Wedding Day
Photo taken in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
Wanda and friend
Czesław's wife Wanda is having fun wearing Czesław's uniform. Photo taken in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
1st Polish Armoured Division Soldiers
Relaxing with Polish girls. Czesław is on the right with his future wife Wanda next to him. His brother Władysław is on the left with an unknown lady friend. Photo taken in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
1st Polish Armoured Division Soldiers
Relaxing with Polish girls. Wanda Lejkin (on the left) is Czesław's future wife and is sitting next to him. His brother Władysław (on the right) is with an unknown lady. Photo taken in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
1st Polish Armoured Division Soldier
Czesław in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
Czesław with his adopted four-legged friend
Photo taken in Germany circa 1946.
Barbara Ryszkowska
After WWII
Germany
Polish 1st Corps in Europe (Gen. Maczek)
zaświadczenie PUR
zaświadczenie PUR
Sybirak Assoc - Łódź
After WWII
Poland
Gdynia
zaświadczenie Min. Adm. Publ.
zaświadczenie Min. Adm. Publ.
Sybirak Assoc - Łódź
After WWII
Poland
Parents of Krystyna Piotrowska
at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska
at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska and friends
members of 'Zuchy' at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska and friends
dressed as sailors at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska
First Communion at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska
in the Corpus Christi procession at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska
at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
United Kingdom
Krystyna Piotrowska at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Piotrowska at Hodgemoor Camp in Buckinghamshire
Krystyna Freiburger
After WWII
United Kingdom
ORP Baltyk personnel
ORP Baltyk was a training depot ship for the Polish Navy based at the Okehampton Polish Navy camp in Devon as part of the PRC after the war.
R Puch
After WWII
United Kingdom
Okehampton, Devon
1st Independent Parachute Brigade
Okehampton Polish Naval Camp, Devon
Okehampton in Devon is a British military camp. From 1944-47 it was the Polish Navy base for ORP Baltyk, a Polish training ship, and resettlement camp for Polish Navy personnel. This photograph was taken Christmas 1946. Polish Navy veteran Mariusz Wozniak is standing at the back holding his young son.
Mariusz Wozniak
After WWII
United Kingdom
Okehampton, Devon
Polish navy
ORP Burza
Polish Navy destroyer ORP Burza, Harwich 1946
Marek Twardowski
After WWII
United Kingdom
Harwich
Polish navy
1946 – Polish Navy victory parade in Plymouth
The official victory parade in London in 1946 did NOT include the Polish Forces - for fear of offending their ally Stalin, the British Government did not invite Poland to participate in the parade. At the official victory parade in Plymouth, where the Polish Navy Southern Command was HQ'd during WW2, the Royal Navy DID invite the Polish Navy to participate.
Stefan Nahorski
After WWII
United Kingdom
Plymouth
Polish navy