Post War England
1945 -
Glasgow, Southampton, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, Plymouth and finally Lancashire.
Severely injured, demoralised, unable to return home to Poland, everything dad knew had been destroyed.
He decided to stay here, like many of his comrades.
Others sailed to Argentina, America, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Rhodesia, Sweden and Union of South Africa to make a new start, knowing under Russian rule in Poland they would never be free again and most probably sent to labour camps if they returned.
Regarded with suspicion by the authorities some never even visited Poland after the war until they had English citizenship and passports, my father included.
Ironically the saddest part of the story, they lay down their lives for freedom, but it never arrived until the early 80's with the start of Solidarity then the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 (coincidentally 30 years this month at the time of writing - November 2019)
It must have been a difficult beginning for him in a new country?
The first 4 years hospitalised then living in a hostel, you can see in the photos, his good days and bad.
He took Antibiotics and painkillers daily right until the end. But like the man in the WW2 pictures he always maintained a happy outlook.
His photography kept him going, days out, Church, dances at the Polish clubs but the rest of the time just work and deal with the trauma of war, often writing about his experiences or going to the Polish Ex Combatants meetings (Polish ex soldiers Organisation SPK.)
Being a sharp dresser you can identify the decade in most cases.
High waist trousers were a thing and cool overcoats.
Most of these photos would have been taken on a Saturday trip out or after Mass on a Sunday (hence the suit) but in those days you dressed up to go to the shops .
From what I can tell they were near the Resettlement Camps, Kilearn Hospital (near Glasgow) and Remploy factory where he worked and lived.
Heaton Park in Prestwich Lancashire was a favourite spot, only a short bus ride but lovely old house, boating lake and gardens. Dad loved his flowers especially roses, we had the best roses in the street!
Click the images to enlarge.
Soldiers and later families were processed and sent to Resettlement Camps in the UK.
I am still collating all the information but there is a useful website detailing these camps.
I recently found this article about the Polish ex-servicemen's club based at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Some of the pictures of my father 'On-stage' are at this club.
It is upsetting to see the decay, old photos and remnants of those times following the war.
That generation made the best of what they had and built a small haven to keep Polish life and traditions alive.
Repeated all over the country.
