Profile - Latyszewski/Kutler Zbigniew/John
Profile - Latyszewski/Kutler Zbigniew/John
- Given Name: Zbigniew/John
- Family Name: Latyszewski/Kutler
- Maiden Name:
- Sex: male
- Date and Place of Birth: 1930-11-01, Poland, Pomorskie, Bydgoszcz , Bydgoszcz
- Did the person die during World War II?: no
- Date and place of Death: 2008, United Kingdom, Manchester, Natural Causes
heart disease
acute kidney failure
aortic aneurism
- Father's given name: Włodzimierz
- Mother's given Name: Ludwika/Helena Józefa
- Mother's maiden Name: Strutynska
- Given name of spouse: 1)Doris 2)Julie
- Maiden name of spouse: 1)Matley (divorced) 2)Hunter (his widow)
- Given name(s) of children: Victor (1955-1956), Maxine
- Description: Orphan in South Africa (appears on a list of orphans in Outdshorn). Zbigniew, the adopted son of Helena and Wlodzimierz LATYSZEWSKI, lived in Bydgoszcz, Poland until 1939. Following the invasion by the Nazis, Zbigniew and his parents fled East. His mother originated from the LWOW region. On 30th June 1940, he was deported, with his mother and father to NOVOSIBIRSK, WESTERN SIBERIA. He rarely spoke about his experiences there, but described the once daily meal as a thin watery soup with a single small piece of potato in it. He also recalls that he was sent to school and learned Russian. In 1941, after the Sikorski-Maisky agreement, he and his parents were freed, and they had to make a terrible journey out of the Soviet Union. His father had joined the Polish Forces and Zbigniew and Helena travelled by ship to Pahlevi, and then on to Teheran. While, in Iran, they heard of the death of Wlodzimierz. Broken-hearted, Helena placed Zbigniew in an orphanage and joined the Polish Forces. He spent some time in Isfahan, and then was transferred in a group of 500 children to OUTDSHOORN Polish Children's Home in South Africa. While in South Africa, he learned Africaans and English. He said that he met the Queen, when she visited there. According to him, she asked whether he could speak English and he replied "only small". He also remembered the first English proverb he learned: "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise". In 1945, he may have transferred to Rhodesia. In 1948, he stayed in a monastery called Marianhill in Durban for six months-the time spent there was the happiest since he had left Poland. In November 1948, he arrived in England, having crossed the Equator -much to the delight of the passengers on the ship, called the Carnarvon Castle. Soon after, he joined his mother in Manchester. As a father, he encouraged education, independence and an appreciation of culture: drama, film, literature and art. His advice to me was to travel ("see the world") and to be broad-minded. He enjoyed his holidays in Greece-the birthplace of democracy. He loved to feel the warmth of the sun on his face. In 1956, he took his step-father's name and changed his name to John Kutler.
- Residence at the outbreak of WWII: Poland, Pomorskie, Bydgoszcz
- Kresy inhabitant status: Civilian settler / Family member of civilian settler
- Ethnicity: Polish
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Education level: secondary
- Occupation at the outbreak of WWII: child
- Military status at the outbreak of WWII:
- Military Rank at the outbreak of WWII:
- Deportation:
| Deportation From Date | 1939-07 |
| Country | Russian SFSR |
| Oblast | Nowosybirska oblast' |
- Description:
- For those who stayed in the Kresy area during WWII, please provide the following information:
- For those who were repatriated to Poland from the Kresy or the USSR, please provide the following information:
- Military service:
- Other military service:
- Participation in WWII Battles:
- Other battles:
- Medals Received:
- Other wartime circumstances:
- Other information:
- Orphanages:
- Civilian camps: Civilian Camp in Africa: Oudtshoorn
Zbigniew also spent six months in Marianhill Monastery in Durban, which he describes as the happiest time since he left Poland.
- Residence after 1945: Country: United Kingdom
Province: Lancashire
City: Manchester
Description: Timperley
