Bloody Poles coming over here.

Saw this today on twitter, lest we forget eh.

Approx 20,000 Poles were part of UK Air Force alone. They were a huge force overall and undoubtedly made a difference to the outcome of The War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_contribution_to_World_War_II

I hope you don't mind, I would like to tell you my father-in-law's story.  He was born and raised in Poland.

In 1938 Jozef married Janina, they had a baby daughter.  He was then conscripted into the Polish Army.

In the summer of 1939 there was fierce fighting; Jozef and his comrades were captured by the Germans in fighting east of Warsaw.  Handed to the Russians in October of that year, over 40,000 Polish troops were taken in cattle trucks across Russia to Siberia and forced to march, build their prison camp and stay there (Irkutsk).  In 1941 the Germans invaded Russia; prisoners were given the choice of joining Polish forces sympathetic to the Russians or forces sympathetic to the Allies.  Jozef joined the latter, the Polish Second Corps, and travelled across Russia, the Caspian Sea and Iran to join up and fight with the British 8th Army in the North African campaign.  

The only war story he ever told us was the tale of the bananas.

He took some men to collect some new trucks for the Brigade. On the way back they stopped at a local market to take a look around. When it was time to leave Jozef appeared with a branch (not a bunch!) of bananas almost as big as he was. Once back at camp, he shared them out amongst the men & they proceeded to eat them all. Not having eaten any fruit for nearly three years, they were all very ill. I don't remember ever seeing him eat bananas!

Later working their way up through Italy, he with the rest of the Poles fought at Monte Casino, Ancona and Bologna.  Jozef spent the rest of the war in Italy, around Forli, guarding German prisoners of war.  His unit returned to England in 1946.  Arriving by ship in Glasgow, Jozef and his comrades then travelled by train to an army camp in Mere, South Wiltshire.  

Demobbed in 1948 Jozef decided to stay in England rather than to return to Poland or emigrate to the US or South America.  When he arrived in England neither he, nor Janina back in Warsaw with a young daughter, knew the other was alive.  Jozef heard her voice on a Red Cross radio transmission and got back in touch.  He tried a few times to bring her and their daughter to England.  The third attempt in December 1957 proved successful and 18 years after being separated the family were reunited on New Year’s Eve.  

My husband was born in 1958 and his brother was born a couple of years later.  His sister married an Englishman.  Both my husband's parents have died now (his Mum in 1997 and his Dad in 2012.)  When Jozef died we sent for the British medals which he had earnt but never claimed.

Thank you for this opportunity to tell his story  

Thanks Zand for posting your story, a love that survived 18 years of separation, if that is not real love I don't know what is.

Regards Eddie

Zand ..thank you so much for sharing this with us. Have to admit I needed a tissue.



Respect to all who serve. I am wearing my poppy with pride.
Two family members are officers in the armed forces, one in the army and one in the navy.

A special Rememberance weekend.

All the best Jan

zand wrote:I hope you don't mind, I would like to tell you my father-in-law's story.  He was born and raised in Poland.

In 1938 Jozef married Janina, they had a baby daughter.  He was then conscripted into the Polish Army.

In the summer of 1939 there was fierce fighting; Jozef and his comrades were captured by the Germans in fighting east of Warsaw.  Handed to the Russians in October of that year, over 40,000 Polish troops were taken in cattle trucks across Russia to Siberia and forced to march, build their prison camp and stay there (Irkutsk).  In 1941 the Germans invaded Russia; prisoners were given the choice of joining Polish forces sympathetic to the Russians or forces sympathetic to the Allies.  Jozef joined the latter, the Polish Second Corps, and travelled across Russia, the Caspian Sea and Iran to join up and fight with the British 8th Army in the North African campaign.  

The only war story he ever told us was the tale of the bananas.

He took some men to collect some new trucks for the Brigade. On the way back they stopped at a local market to take a look around. When it was time to leave Jozef appeared with a branch (not a bunch!) of bananas almost as big as he was. Once back at camp, he shared them out amongst the men & they proceeded to eat them all. Not having eaten any fruit for nearly three years, they were all very ill. I don't remember ever seeing him eat bananas!

Later working their way up through Italy, he with the rest of the Poles fought at Monte Casino, Ancona and Bologna.  Jozef spent the rest of the war in Italy, around Forli, guarding German prisoners of war.  His unit returned to England in 1946.  Arriving by ship in Glasgow, Jozef and his comrades then travelled by train to an army camp in Mere, South Wiltshire.  

Demobbed in 1948 Jozef decided to stay in England rather than to return to Poland or emigrate to the US or South America.  When he arrived in England neither he, nor Janina back in Warsaw with a young daughter, knew the other was alive.  Jozef heard her voice on a Red Cross radio transmission and got back in touch.  He tried a few times to bring her and their daughter to England.  The third attempt in December 1957 proved successful and 18 years after being separated the family were reunited on New Year’s Eve.  

My husband was born in 1958 and his brother was born a couple of years later.  His sister married an Englishman.  Both my husband's parents have died now (his Mum in 1997 and his Dad in 2012.)  When Jozef died we sent for the British medals which he had earnt but never claimed.

Thank you for this opportunity to tell his story  

Thanks for posting that Zand. A big reminder that our victory was aided by many nationalities and much sacrifice.

Thanks for sharing,a great story of love conquering all in the end and your father-in-law was a real credit to his home country and to ours.