Our Scotland - www.our-scotland.org

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3796

I stumbled across this strange, interesting little article first reported in TIME magazine on January 12th, 1942 and thought to post it:

"Our Scotland"

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,773009,00.html

Cymro · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

Not aware of actual Polish Regiments in the British Army (say like the Gurkhas) but in Wrecsam in North East Wales there is a Polish Hospital for ex Polish Servicemen who served in the Second World War on the side of the Aillied Forces and their children. This was opened by Winston Churchil when he was PM.

Also in North East Wales there is a Polish Village/Colony. I think it was set up in an old Army Camp.

RadgeJougal · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

The Free Polish forces used to train here. Mostly soldiers and airmen I think.

Corby Boy · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

This is history going full circle in a way. There were many Scots Merchants and soldiers based in Poland during the c16th and c17th. Poland was very much a colony for Scots. Ramzy is a Polish name of Scots descent, can you guess which!

There are numerous other examples.

RFM · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:13 am Post subject:

To Corby,

You have never heard of the Anders Brigade, which led the fight for the capture of Monte Cassino in World War II? Or the1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade that jumped in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem)? You jest.

They were never incorporated into the British Army although the statutory machinery for doing that was there, possibly because of England's strange foreign policy with General Sikorski, whom they armed and equipted and their concerns about post war Poland.

Cymro · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

Cymro · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

RFM · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Certainly doubtful, given the political history of post war Poland.

General Sikorski, resident in England during the war, represented the so-called Free Polish Resistance, armed and equipped courtesy of Winnie Churchill. However, Britain's ally, Russia, had different ideas and plans for post war Poland and even though British aircraft were regularly dropping supplies into Warsaw to the active Resistance, as it was known, when the Russian push westward began they stopped. The Nazi occupation troops apparently knew something of the conflict between England, Russia and the Active Resistance and took the opportunity to level Warsaw to the ground and practically wipe out the Active Resistance. The survivors of the Active Resistance saw themselves as being abandoned first to the Nazis, then to the Russians, all so that Sikorski and his crowd, who sat out the war in the safety of England, would become the postwar government of Poland. That came to an end when Sikorski was killed in a mysterious plane crash that was found to have been deliberately engineered.

There were several Polish civilian groups that did volunteer to British Army intelligence for so-called missions into postwar Poland, most being dropped out by aircraft with a field radio and false papers, but all were caught and executed or imprisoned.

Corby Boy · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

I recall hearing something about the Polish involvement in North Wales during the War.

Isn't the Polish Hospital derelict now? Or is that another institution I am thinking of.

RadgeJougal · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject:

Polish murals have recently been found in a former barracks in Arbroath.