Ściana Hołdu - Kresy Siberia

Personal Details


	Name:	Mark Gigiera
	Maiden Name:
	Nickname/Pseudonym:
	Gender:	Male
	Date of birth:	1923-12-29
	Place of birth:	Poland, Volyn, Luboml, Zapillia
	Did this person die during World War ll?:	No
	Date of death:	1993-12-25
	Place of death:	United Kingdom , England, Nottingham (near Arnold)
	Cause of Death:	Heart failure
	Fathers given name:	Illegitimate. Step father-Zot Gigiera
Entry ID: 1018281	Mothers given name:	Iryna
	Mothers maiden name:	Rabyj
	Given name of spouse:	Josephine Mary
	Maiden name of spouse:	Folwell
	Given name(s) of children:	Alex-1950, Boris-1952, Antonia-1959, Katherine-1959, Andrew-1962
	Description:	Mark's mother, Iryna, died in 1932 leaving Mark an orphan from the age of 8 or 9. He was illegitimate but was cared for by Iryna's brother and later by his step father, Zot Gigiera.

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Personal Situation at the outbreak of WWll

Residence at the outbreak of WWll:	Poland, Volyn, Luboml, Zablottie, Nudyzhe., (near Luboml or Kovel to the east.)
Kresy Inhabitant Status:	Kresy inhabitant for several generations
Ethnicity:	Ukranian
Religion:	Orthodox
Education Level:
Occupation at the outbreak of WWll:	He was 16.
Military status at the outbreak of WWll:	Not Applicable
Military Rank at the outbreak of WWll:

Deportations and Repressions

OD: yyyy	Mm	Dd	Do: yyyy	Mm	Dd	Do: Socjalistyczna Republika Radziecka	Oblast	Miejscowość
1940	06	20	1941	10	02	Russian SFSR	Arkhangelsk	Onega VTT

Other Information:

Quote from documents: 'Arrested 20 June 1940, in violation of state border. Convicted for st. 80 of the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR for 5 years of VTT. Punishment. Served in the Onega VTT'. So he was trying to escape the Russians by crossing the State Border at Luboml into German controlled Poland. He had a trial at Kharkiv Prison which he did not attend and was sentenced to 5 years. He was deported by train to the Onega area for tree felling work where along with everyone else he suffered greatly, nearly losing his teeth from malnutrition. He escaped and suffered even greater hunger but went on to join Anders Army.

For those who were repatriated to Poland from the Kresy or the USSR, please provide the following information

Date of return to Poland:	//
Province:
County:
Locality:
Nearest large city:

For those who stayed in the Kresy area during WWII, please provide the following information

Province - as at 1939:
County:
City / Place:
Nearest Large City:

Military Experience

Służył w	Jednostka	Od: yyyy	Mm	Dd	Do: yyyy	Mm	Dd
2nd Corps (Gen. Anders)	7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 9 Battery	1943	3	3	1944	6	6
2nd Corps (Gen. Anders)	5 Machine Gun Battalion, Infantry Division	1944	6	7

Other Military Service:	Served in 7 Pułk Artylerii Plot. Lekkiej ID: 1923/124
Participation in WWII battles:	Monte Cassino, Italy (1944-01-17 - 1944-05-19)
Medals received:	Polish: Honary decoration for wounds, Cross of Monte Cassino no. 35881, Army Medal. British: 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal. The War Medal 1939-45
Other Battles:	8 July 1944 Wounded in action at Palazzo Del Cannone, near Ancano

Other Wartime Circumstances

Other Information:	8 July 1944 Mark was seriously wounded in action at Palazzo Del Cannone, near Ancona, Italy. He was hit by shrapnel, hence multiple injuries and left for dead, losing a lot of blood. When finally rescued he was not expected to live. There was shrapnel between his eye and brain that was never removed. He had bits removed into the 1960's but his eye got worse over the years. He was taken to Scotland for recovery and stayed in the UK.
Orphanages:
Civilian Camp in the Middle East:
Civilian Camp in India:
Civilian Camp in Africa:
Please provide information if none of the preceding apply:

Residence After 1945

Kraj	Stan	Dzielnica	Miejscowość	Najbliższe duże miasto	Opis
United Kingdom	Scotland	Polish Hospitals and Rehabilitation	Perth, then Peebles, then Glasgow		Mark was seriously wounded. He was sent to Scotland to the Polish General Hospital No 2, then to convalesce in Peebles and finally to a rehab program in Glasgow where he was taught shoe making.
United Kingdom	England	Leicester, then Nottingham	Leicester	Leicester then Nottingham	Between 1948-1951 Mark moved south into England for work in the shoemaking industry.