Stefka the flatulent army horse

The Polish Lancers - horse versus tank!

My dad would constantly tell stories of his army exploits. Soon as he started both myself and mum would instantly switch off or go and do something less interesting. I feel ashamed of this now but I did have to listen to him until I left home in my 20s.

With hindsight I suppose it was his way of dealing with the post traumatic stress. Mum said he would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, from a nightmare, memories of the terrors of war.

You have to remember people like my dad, left their home, family everything they knew, shipped to the other side of the world, beaten, shot at, see their friends literally blown up in front of them and other horrors I don't even want to think about. They had to lead a normal life, mostly alone if they didn't manage to find someone to settle down with or had family.

Sadly I know of 2 people who committed suicide at their homes. Terrible loss still fighting a war that finished 30+ years before.

I do remember some of his war stories. Stefka his horse when he joined the Polish Lancers (I am still researching so this story might change). When they were asleep in tents out in the field, Stefka would put her head in the tent and wake him up by nudging him or sneezing on his face, but the worse she used to sometimes walk in the tent completely and let of farts much to his annoyance, they were apparently quite potent.

As a kid I found this hilarious, well you had to be there.

In other news, the Polish army would learn songs like Waltzing Matilda and sing them as they marched. Wasn't that the Aussies song? I do know the Australian Desert Rats of Tobruk were there with the Polish , my dad fought in Tobruk and was injured during that battle. The Aussies called them the Polish Rats of Tobruk as a mark of respect. My dad has letters from them after the war, more research for that one.

Funny that in the age before Facebook and the internet people still managed to keep in touch with letters.

A letter is so much more special than an email isn't it?

Dad would also say auf wiedersehen when he was saying good bye a lot which I can hear him say right now!

He also told me that even the German soldiers hated the SS. I suppose there is honour amongst soldiers even from opposing sides, there was respect for rules and rank, that's probably all gone now?

Just imagine the German army rolling in with Tanks and heavy guns and all Poles could do was defend their land on horseback with just rifles and lances. Remarkable people.

Picture below he is sat down smiling as usual, that's my dad.