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Posts by Peter  

Joined: 31 Mar 2007 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 4 Apr 2022
Threads: Total: 3 / Live: 1 / Archived: 2
Posts: Total: 248 / Live: 65 / Archived: 183 		From: Trinidad & Tobago and Wroclaw
Speaks Polish?: No
Interests: Soccer, Genealogy, Reading, 80's Music, Food and Drink

Displayed posts: 66 / page 2 of 3
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Peter   
21 Jun 2010
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

I don't think so. If your mother is still alive then she is the one who qualifies. If you can get her to sign the letter to the MoD then that may suffice. If she has dementia the person who has power of attorney over her affairs should be able to sign on her behalf. In this instance it may be worthwhile calling the Polish section and explaining your particular situation and confirm with them what documentation they will accept as proof of kinship before you go through the time and expense of doing it. It may require your swearing an affidavit before a JP, etc.
Peter   
12 May 2010
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

My father was part of the 24th Lancers from (I believe) 1936 when he entered the University of Lwow. He would have had to see some military duty, most likely in the reserves. I only started researching my family tree 7 years ago and not much is known about his military service. If you wish you can PM me. I also have some pictures which I can send to you.
Peter   
10 May 2010
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

Do you know what regiment your father was part of? Do you have anything with the 24th Lancers?

I might be able to help - my father, also escaped through Roumania ending up in France and then eventually to Scotland. His name was Wladyslaw Bledowski, I ghave heaps of pix - if interested plse contact.

According to "McGilvray, Evan. The Black Devils' March: A Doomed Odyssey: The 1st Polish Armoured Division 1939-1945. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion, 2005 (ISBN 1874622426)" Wladyslaw Bledowski was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Polish Armoured Division and was decorated with the Cross of Valour and the Military Cross.
Peter   
5 Nov 2009
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

Does anyone know where I could find more information about the liberations which the division undertook (or would it mostly be in Polish - I don't speak the language)

The following book gives some detailed accounts of the liberations from the view of the division.

McGilvray, Evan. The Black Devils' March: A Doomed Odyssey: The 1st Polish Armoured Division 1939-1945. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion, 2005 (ISBN 1874622426).
Peter   
14 Aug 2009
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

Have found this thread most interesting and informative. My father was in the 2nd corps of the Polish Army (I think it may have been a tank regiment as he spoke about tanks quite often). He was involved with the Italian Campaign at Monte Cassino. I just wondered if anyone else out their had family members in this campaign. My dad mentioned General Anders and also the British 8th army. Any information would be appreciated.

My cousin was a corporal in an artillery regiment in the 2 Corps. Sadly he died in 1990. If you search the web you'll find a lot o general info on the 2 Corp from their formation to participation in the Italian theatre.
Peter   
7 Aug 2009
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

What an amazing discovery Snip! I almost envy you.

I don't know if you are willing to consider this but there is a museum in Poland dedicated to the 24th Lancers, they may not have a copy of the book and may be interested in getting a copy. The Sikorski Institute may also ne interested.

I know for sure now. My dad was definitely in the 24th lancers. I saw my brother this week and he has kindly lent me a book that he had tucked away in his loft. Its a really precious book, numbered 1069, so there are at least 1068 copies about. It is about A4 size softback and yellowing. On the front is 24 PULK ULANOW (lines through the Ls and a comma over the O ) It looks as though the book was printed in 1945. The eagle and the red and white (or cream) emblems are near the front. 24 is inside 4 wheat wreaths and the other side has HONOR I OJCZYZNA inside a larger wheat wreath. I think it is the 24th lancers flag

Peter   
19 Jul 2009
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

Snip,

I'm afraid that as you slowly uncover more information and material you will discover a roller coaster of emotions as you do so. Sadly most people who undertake the search you are now doing (as I did and am still doing) will uncover tragic and painful events in their past. Whilst my father was lucky enough to escape through Romania in 1939, 2 of his cousins were not. One died at Katyn and the other mere days before the war ended when his POW camp was evacuated. His brother was shot in 1941 by SS troops and another cousin died during the Russian advance in 1944. I'm still "digging" through the long list of family relations so I have no doubt there will be more sadness to find. Still I've also found living cousins so there is also an upside!

Keep digging, you may have some most pleasant and unexpected finds!
Peter   
19 Jul 2009
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

I am looking for information about what happen to him in the war and the name of the village his name was Wacław Engelhardt. both my in-laws have sadly passed away it was hard to ask them to much as it was very painful for them

See sjam's post above with the contact details for the MoD, Polish Affairs.

The MoD will only release service records to a next of kin. So you will need a) proof of grandfather's death (death certificate) and b) that you are his direct next of kin.

The MoD will send you a "Certificate of Kinship" form which you have to complete and send along with the documentary proof you are your grandfather's next of kin. If your grandmother is alive for instance, the law is that MoD would only release this information to her and not you. There is a fee of £25.00 also.

You can download the "Certificate of Kinship form from here:
veterans-uk.info/pdfs/service_records/raf_kinship.pdf

Contact address for Polish service records (don't worry that it has RAF in the address; all Polish service records are archived here) at MoD:

APC Polish Enquiries,
Building 28B,
RAF Northolt,
West End Road,
Ruislip,
HA4 6NG,
Tel: 0208 833 8603
Fax: 0208 833 8866

e-mail: polishastdisoff@northolt.raf.mod.uk or polishdisoff@northolt.raf.mod.uk

The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London:
The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, 20 Princes Gate, London SW7 1PT, Great Britain.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7589 9249

The Sikorski holds all the unit records of the Polish Forces of the West including the listings of service men and women, but you would need to know what unit your grandfather served with as these records are all paper documents not a searchable database. They don't have email so you need to write or phone. The head of the archives at the Sikorski is Mr Andrzej Suchcitz. As the insitute is manned by volunteers (mainly Polish forces veterans) replies can take some time but they will reply.
Peter   
18 Jul 2009
Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

I found out today that he (Jan called Janek Dabek) was in 24th lancers.

Same regiment as my father.

A friend of my father's served in the submarine ORP Dzik in the Med. After the war he also had to take a menial job. He told me about having to load beer trucks at 4.30am and even though he was a sailor he could only get the worst jobs on tramp steamers.

Nevertheless it's great to hear that you are making headway in your search. I hope you continue to make new discoveries.
Peter   
30 Jun 2008
Travel / Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines? [380]

I flew with LOT in 2005, Heathrow - Warsaw - Wroclaw return and found the service to be quite good. The flight was 1 hr late leaving Heathrow and we got into Warsaw with barely 45 minutes to make our connecting flight. Considering I was in a wheelchair they had us off the plane, through immigration and back on the Wroclaw plane within 20 minutes. Coming back into Heathrow we had a lot of turbulance on the final approach which was handled very well.
Peter   
15 Apr 2008
History / Is there a list of those in the Polish Army during WWII? [193]

The MoD will have his records but you may have to know what specific unit he was in. Other than that, you will also have to prove your relationship to him. A birth certificate should suffice but you can still enquire beforehand to determine what exactly they want to see.

Ministry of Defense
APC Polish Enquiries
Building 28 B, RAF Northolt
West End Road
Ruislip, Middlesex
HA4 6NG

Tel: 020 8833 8603
Fax: 020 8833 8866
Peter   
7 Nov 2007
Life / Gypsies or Roma: European and Polish attitudes towards [87]

I saw many gypsies in Wroclaw

We were out with my cousins (8 of us) walking on the Rynek on a Saturday afternoon and there were a couple groups of them. It took me and my brother a few minutes to realise whoi they were but our cousins directed us away from them so we did not have to come into contact with them.

Forgot to add, everyone else on the Rynek seemed to be avoiding them too.
Peter   
2 Nov 2007
History / 'Battle of Britain' won thanks to Polish aces !! [158]

They were the most undisaplined aircrew around at that time

A statement refuted by numerous recollections of the British officers attached to the Polish squadrons. In fact they say that the Polish squadrons were far more effective at stopping, shooting down and turning back the German formations than the British ones.
Peter   
1 Nov 2007
History / 'Battle of Britain' won thanks to Polish aces !! [158]

Sounds to me that without these Polish aces the outcome may have been very different

Air Marshall Dowding, the RAF commander during the Battle of Britain, said after that had it not been for the Polish pilots the result may have been very different.