National Memorial Arboretum 2024 - Polish Forces Memorial

The Polish Forces Memorial commemorates the Polish men and women who gave their lives during World War Two. 

Polish Forces Memorial

Polish armed forces were engaged from the very first day of the war when Germany invaded their homeland on 1st September 1939 until the surrender of German forces on 8th May 1945. They were the fourth largest Allied forces in Europe, after those of the Soviet Union, United States, and Britain, fighting on land, sea, and in the air.

The Polish Armed Forces in the West fought under British command and numbered 195,000 in March 1944 including about 20,000 personnel in the Polish Air Force and 3,000 in the Polish Navy. At the end of World War II, the Polish Armed Forces in the west numbered 195,000 and by July 1945 had increased to 228,000, most of the newcomers being released prisoners of war and ex-labor camp inmates.

The memorial consists of a bronze sculpture mounted on a plinth featuring four figurines representing the main branches of the Polish Armed forces, surmounted by an eagle, a the Polish State emblem. The Memorial statue is set within an 18-metre diameter circle which has with four walls at it's edge inscribed with a record of the  the Polish contribution in the Second World War.

Polish Forces Memorial

The four figurines are a a sailor, soldier, airman and member of the Polish Underground Army.

The sailor is a crew member of the Polish destroyer Błyskawica. The soldier is from the Battle of Monte-Cassino. The airman is a pilot of the Polish 303 Squadron RAF that fought in the Battle of Britain. The figurine representing the Polish Underground Home Army is a woman courier wearing civilian clothes.

Polish Destroyer Blyskawica

British Soldiers Monte Cassino

303 (Polish) Squadron Royal Air Force

Polish Home Army

The walls around the memorial record the significant contribution Polsih Forces made during World War Two.

The Polish Campaign 1939

Polish Underground State 1939-1945

The Warsaw Uprising August-October 1914

Breaking the Enigma Code

The Polish Intelligence Service 1939-1945

The French and Norwegian Campaigns 1940

Polish First Corps

The Polish Carpathian Campaigns 1940

The Polish Carpathian Rifle Brigade

Polish Second Corps

The Polish Navy

The Polish Air Force (RAF)

The Polish 1st Armoured Division

The Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade

Polish Section of S.O.E. & Poland's 'Silent and Unseen'

Polish Women in WWII

The Polish Army on the Eastern Front

Edinburgh - Wojtek

In 1941 the Polish Armed Forces in the East was formed in the Soviet Union. This consisted of soldiers loyal to the Polish Government in exile. After the German Invasion of the Soviet Union, the formation was evacuated to Persia (Iran) under the control of the Western Allies and designated the Polish II Corps.

Whilst en route to Tehran a group of soldiers purchased an orphan bear cub. The cub lived with the soldiers whilst they were in a refugee camp.

In August he was adopted by the 2^nd Transport Company, later 22^nd Artillery Supply Company and given the name Wojtek. The name us derived from Polish for “Happy Warrior”.

To obtain rations Wojtek. was enlisted into the Polish Army. Wotjek settled into Army life playing with the soldiers, enjoying the occasional beer and eating cigarettes.
The Polish Army moved from Iran, through Syria and Egypt to join the British Eight Army for the Italian Campaign.

It was at the Battle of Monte Cassino that Wojtek came to prominence. During the Battle he helped move 100 pound crates of 25 pounder shells.

 In recognition of Wojtek’s contribution, the official emblem of the 22^nd  Artillery Supply Company became a bear carrying an artillery shell.

 

The Polish Army would fight their way north through Italy. When the unit moved Wojek would travel in the cab of a waggon.

 

At the end of the war, Wojtek. and the rest of the 22^nd Artillery Supply Company were transported to the UK where they were stationed at Hutton, 8km (5 miles west of Berwick upon Tweed). On demobilisation Wojtek was given to Edinburgh Zoo. 

Wojtek passed away in December 1963 aged 21.

In 2015 a bronze statue of Wojtek. with a Polish Soldier was unveiled in Princess Street Edinburgh. A relief structure chronicles Wojtek's journey from Iran, through the war, to Edinburgh.

Polish Soldier and Wojtek

Polish Soldier Wojtek  and Sculpture telling the bears story

Wojtek Sculpture

Wojtek Polish Memorial

PRIVATE WOJTEK: THE POLISH WARRIOR BEAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perth - Polish Forces Commemoration

Perth

Perth

Perth Salutation Inn

Perth Salutation Inn

Perth West Bridge

Perth West Bridge showing flood levels

Perth

Polish Forces Commemoration

Perth Town Hall

Perth - Commemoration to Polish Forces

Polish Forces in Scotland WW2 

Polish Forces came to Scotland following the fall of France in 1940. The Poles were reformed into the 1st polish Corps and tasked with the defence of the east coast of Scotland from German invasion.

Perth River Tay