28th61st

Unknown Polish Soldier

Buried in Chesterton Cemetery, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
How if he is in the UK is he"Known unto God" surely he must have been registered in some way?
I hate to see this in the most understandable situations like on the front of WW1 but when he is in or care, I struggle to grasp the concept.
 
I did some research but couldn't find any results.

However, if you take into account this:

In June 1946 the British Secretary of State for War reported to parliament that among the citizens of interwar Poland who served in the Wehrmacht as foreign conscripts, a total of 68,693 men were captured by the Allies in north-west Europe. The overwhelming majority of them, 53,630, enlisted into the Polish Army under the British Command, and served in the Polish Armed Forces in the West against the Germans until the end of World War II.

and the fact that many of them served under not their real names (with the idea of keeping their families safe) you can imagine that he might be "Known unto God" only.
 
I found today @ http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/20298.php

RE: Unknown Airmens Graves
Author: aestorm
Time Stamp:
07:32:32 29 July 2005
Post:
I noticed a "unknown " Polish airman's CWGC gravestone in the RC section when I was last at Cirencester Cemetery . I'll re-read it on next visit to see if there are any more details. Possibly in the next week or so as I'm looking for a RCAF man's CWGC grave.
Anne

RE: Unknown Airmens Graves
Author: aestorm
Time Stamp:
15:59:40 03 August 2005
Post:
Dear David

I have just been to Cirencester Cemetery UK.There are 3 special CWGC sections -RC & Polish ,C of E ,NC. The NC is hidden by a hedge & not marked as such, so difficult to find .There are odd CWGC graves dotted around amongst civilian graves but these are mainly army.

I went to the CWGC Polish/RC section & the only Unknown Polish grave is an army one .The stone is enscribed & with a Polish badge ---

"A Polish Soldier of 1939-1945 War"

9th August 1944

Known Unto God

I asked the gardener, who was mowing the grass, about the supposed CWGC Unknown Polish AIRMAN & he said that he thought the family had arranged removal of the remains to be taken back to Poland, about 10 years ago ? If so he became KNOWN !

If I can find your email address I'll send a digital photo we took today -- when its on the computer. Or perhaps you can contact me again? storm04ATglobalnet.co.uk --sub AT for .A T.

Anne

RE: Unknown Airmens Graves
Author: David J Barnes (Guest)
Time Stamp:
21:53:32 04 August 2005
Post:
Thanks Anne,

According to the printout sent to me by the CWGC there WAS an Unknown Polish Airmans Grave at Cirencester Cemetery.

Sadly the CWGC do not have any details of these - just the fact that there was one Airman .... oddly the CWGC listing does not mention the Unknown Polish Soldier who died 9 August 1944, which was the Polish grave you found.

There are cases of Polish bodies being returned to Poland after the War

It might be possible to find out when the Polish Airman was buried if there is access to the Wartime Grave Registers - which CAN hold additional ingormation - and would probably be noted if the grave was moved / remains identified etc

The KNOWN Polish Graves at Cirencester are;

LAC M Gmiter-Gmitrewicz

Killed on Active Service - Flying Accident 3-Jan-42

Crashed at Shorncote, South Coney, whilst on a training flight

Cirencester Cemetery - Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Plot Service 5 R/L Row Eee Grave 16



LAC E R Janowicz; LAC W Skrzypkiem

Killed on Active Service - Flying Accident 27-Oct-41

Aircraft crashed at Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, whilst on a training flight

Cirencester Cemetery - Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Plot 5 R.C. Row Ddd Grave 15



P/O J Mielcarek

Killed on Active Service - Flying Accident 24-Mar-41

Crashed at Llanwono Church, North Ynysbwl, Wales, whilst on a training flight

Cirencester Cemetery - Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Plot 5 R.C. Row B B B Grave 15


F/O K R Stafanus

Killed on Active Service - Flying accident 23-Mar-42

Aircraft crashed at Bidbury, Cirencester

Cirencester Cemetery - Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Plot R.C. 5 Row Eee Grave 15


Now, whether these have always been known, our one have been identified Post War, I do not know.

Pity the gardner was not more helpful

I hope this will help

RE: Unknown Airmens Graves
Author: aestorm
Time Stamp:
06:51:31 05 August 2005
Post:
Dear David

Imagine that the gardener doesn't know full details of the Polish graves & remains removal but I thought he WAS helpful telling me what he knew & pointing out the CWGC which were hidden behing an unmarked hedge. There is a lady at the Cotswold Council ,cemetery licensing dept. who may know more ?

I'll send her address to your email address.

Anne
 

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