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Name: Jan  Żygadło
Maiden Name:
Nickname/Pseudonym:
Gender: Male
Date of birth: 1923-01-18
Place of birth: Poland, Krakowskie, Brzesko, Pojavie
Did this person die during World War ll?: No
Date of death:
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Cause of Death:
Fathers given name: Janek
Entry ID: 147638 Mothers given name: Anna
Mothers maiden name: Golanka
Given name of spouse:
Maiden name of spouse:
Given name(s) of children: Shirley, Tony, Doreen
Description: I was the oldest of five brothers – Janek, Wadek, Bronek, Bolek and Stasek (Stasek died at a year old of Typhoid Fever). Born to parents Janek and Anna Zygadlo (mother’s Maiden name Golonka) in POJAVIE, Poland. We were Polish citizens and Catholic.My family was sent to Siberia when I was 16 years old. It was very cold there and we didn’t have much food. I was out cutting wood in the forest 30 km away, when a Russian lady came to me to tell me my Mother had died of starvation. She must have been around 40 years old when she died. My father and my brothers were there when I arrived at her bedside. Later, the Russians took my father away and we never saw him again. We did hear later that he died of Typhoid Fever.I later heard that all Polish citizens in Siberia are now free. So, they put us on a train to Dziallabad. We had no food and no water. My brother Bronek cried he wanted some water so badly, thus, died on the train. He was then thrown off the train. It was very hard to see this happen between the brothers and I that were now left to survive.I then volunteered and joined the Polish Army. From Dziallabad, I went to Persia then to Karaso by ship then to Pachlewi then to Israel and ended up in Italy. I worked as a Mechanic on Vehicle Maintenance during the war. I served under 2nd Corps (General Anders) unit - in Iran, Palistine, Lebanon, Egypt, and Cairo, Iraq then at Monte Casino, Italy. I lived in Naples, Italy, and was honored with the Gold Medal Star of Italy, the Defense Star and many other medals.After the war, I was asked which country I would like to go to, and I said CANADA. So, I left Naples, Italy, and got a non-immigrant visa for 2 years working for a farmer in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada – this was in 1947. After 2 years, I became an Immigrant and now resided in Alberta. After the farm, I moved into the big city – Calgary, Alberta, Canada and got a job working for Domtar Ltd. Working as a fork lift operator.I met my wife at the Palliser Hotel where she worked as a waitress. She was of Hungarian decent and neither one of us spoke very much English. We continued to see each other, and married on February 11, 1950 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.We had 3 children – Shirley (born in 1951), Tony (1952) and Doreen (1953). We lost our son Tony in 1986. He was diagnosed with Bone Cancer when he was 28 and died at 33 years of age. He was married and had two small girls. He is buried in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Our oldest daughter Shirley is married to John Williams and they have one biological daughter Anna – and she has two children (Joshua who is 5 years old) and Alexis (who is 2 years old). Shirley is 63 years old.Doreen was married for 10 years, and had two children (Troy who lives in Vancouver, BC and is 36 years old – he had a son, but died stillborn in 2002 – he never had any other children). (Jodi who lives in Nakusp, BC is married and has 3 children (Madison – 8 years old), Rylie who is 7 years old) and the youngest – Quin who will be 5 years old in July. Doreen is 60 years old and works in the Oil & Gas Industry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.I have been blessed. My brother Bolek from Christchurch, New Zealand died recently – January 23, 2014 – this was hard for me.My other brother Walter also lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is still married (to Stefsha – Polish) and they had 3 children – Roman (62 years old – married with 2 biological children – Tina and Chad). Their middle daughter Krystyna died at the age of 28 of Lupus. Their youngest Danusha is married and has one biological daughter. Both children live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.I would like to thank everyone for their contribution in putting my life story on paper, and for others to see and appreciate what our lives were like back then during the war.I would like to thank my daughter Doreen Zygadlo for helping me put this together – and mostly, Thank You Irena Lowe from Wellington, New Zealand Polish House for all your hard work on putting my Biography on the Kresy-Siberia Wall of Names.Regards,Janek Zygadlo Calgary, Alberta, CANADAFebruary 24, 2014
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Personal Situation at the outbreak of WWll

Residence at the outbreak of WWll: Poland, Wołyńskie, Zapust,
Kresy Inhabitant Status: Civilian settler / Family member of civilian settler
Ethnicity: Polish
Religion: Roman Catholic
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Occupation at the outbreak of WWll: Working in a flour mill
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Deportations and Repressions

FROM: yyyy mm dd To: yyyy mm dd To: Soviet socialist republic Oblast Locality
Russian SFSR Archangielska oblast'

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

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Military Experience

Served in Unit From: yyyy mm dd To: yyyy mm dd
Polish 2nd Corps in Italy (Gen. Anders) starszy strzelec 1 batalion 
Other Military Service: Nr ewidencyjny 3 DSK/Serial Nr in 3 DSK 1923/29
Participation in WWII battles: Monte Cassino, Italy (1944-01-17 - 1944-05-19)
Medals received: Gold Medal Star of Italy, The Defense Star
Other Battles: Also served in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and India

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Residence After 1945

Country State District Locality Nearest large city Description
Italy Naples
Canada Alberta Strathmore Lethbridge Hired to work on a farm for Domtar Limited Limited. Met my wife, Anna (Hungarian) and married on February 1950. Bought my first house. First child Shirley was born in 1951, Tony in 1952 - and then sold the house and bought another house - Doreen was born in 1953. I still live at the same residence since 1953 - still married to Anna. I am alive - turned 91 years old Jan 18, 2014. Our son Tony died in 1986 from bone cancer - he was only 33 years old.

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