Budworth
21 Aug 2018
History / Polish Guard Companies in Britain for POW Camps [7]
Hi, I am a new member and cannot speak or read Polish.
I am researching to write books and give talks on military history in Cheshire during WW2. I want to document the Polish contribution to the military history of the area before it is too late. So little is currently available and must be recorded.
I have learned that on 23 October 1944 three former British then US Army Camps were turned into POW Camps for German prisoners. These were at Marbury Hall then Camp 180, (later 189), Dunham Park, 189 and Toft Hall, 190, (later 2). The guards assigned to these three camps were all Polish Army guards. I believe some were freshly recruited into the Army and others were wounded soldiers who could not go back into combat. The Polish Guard Company at Marbury, located near Northwich, was 3rd Polish Guard Company. I do not have identification for the other two. I believe there might have been as many as 10 such Polish Companies in Britain.
Does anyone have any information on these formations? Each one may number several hundred men.
Do you have family who served in these units?
Does anyone know where their headquarters were and who commanded them?
Do you know when your relatives were recruited into these units and where they were located? (I think I know of about 7).
Have you obtained their records from RAF Northolt, and would you be prepared to share them with me?
Finally, one person believes their Polish father was a prisoner guard in Cheshire in 1943. Does anyone know anything about this?
Please post on this thread or PM me if you can help. Thank you all.
Hi, I am a new member and cannot speak or read Polish.
I am researching to write books and give talks on military history in Cheshire during WW2. I want to document the Polish contribution to the military history of the area before it is too late. So little is currently available and must be recorded.
I have learned that on 23 October 1944 three former British then US Army Camps were turned into POW Camps for German prisoners. These were at Marbury Hall then Camp 180, (later 189), Dunham Park, 189 and Toft Hall, 190, (later 2). The guards assigned to these three camps were all Polish Army guards. I believe some were freshly recruited into the Army and others were wounded soldiers who could not go back into combat. The Polish Guard Company at Marbury, located near Northwich, was 3rd Polish Guard Company. I do not have identification for the other two. I believe there might have been as many as 10 such Polish Companies in Britain.
Does anyone have any information on these formations? Each one may number several hundred men.
Do you have family who served in these units?
Does anyone know where their headquarters were and who commanded them?
Do you know when your relatives were recruited into these units and where they were located? (I think I know of about 7).
Have you obtained their records from RAF Northolt, and would you be prepared to share them with me?
Finally, one person believes their Polish father was a prisoner guard in Cheshire in 1943. Does anyone know anything about this?
Please post on this thread or PM me if you can help. Thank you all.