A British train will be renamed to honour the 303 Polish Squadron

08/07/2024
Culture, Events

A special event dedicated to the naming of a steam locomotive Bulleid Pacific 34053 'Sir Keith Park’ as '303 Squadron’ will be organised by SPA Valley Railway. The ceremony of naming the train and showing its new colours will be held on the 85th anniversary of the start of the World War 2.

“We realise how important 1 September is for the Polish people. It is our way to say thank you publicly,” says to British Poles Peter Spowage, the Director of Southern Locomotive, and owner of the specific train that will bear the name of the 303 Polish RAF Squadron.

Officials and military personnel will attend the ceremony, but all who wish to participate are welcome.

“We want to welcome people there. There will be a delegation from the Polish embassy and military personnel. We will celebrate with Polish vodka and apple pie at the end of the day,” Mr Spowage adds.

The most successful of all squadrons participating in the Battle of Britain was 303 Squadron, consisting mainly Polish with some Czech aircrew, commanded by Squadron Leader Roland Kellett. Those who remember the film Battle of Britain will recall that the Polish squadrons weren’t allowed to participate at the start of the battle, for fear of language difficulties and mis-communication. However, two months into the conflict with our losses growing they were finally allowed to become operational, and despite joining the fray two months into the Battle, they achieved more victories than any other participating squadron.

Although Poland was our fourth largest ally in World War 2, bowing to pressure from Josef Stalin, the Polish forces in Britain were not allowed to participate in the Victory celebrations in London which took place in June 1946. A small group of Polish pilots were sent an invitation but understandably refused with their fellow countrymen excluded, and unbelievably they weren’t allowed to participate in the annual Remembrance Day parades at the Cenotaph until 2005, when the British government made a formal apology to the Polish people.

Several years ago the long term volunteer Mike Frackiewicz, suggested that one of our BB’s should be renamed 303 Squadron, but only recently did SLL Director Peter Spowage come up with a plan to rename one of them 303 Squadron for a year in gratitude for what they achieved, some 84 years after the formation of the Squadron.

No. 303 Squadron RAF

No. 303 Squadron RAF, also known as the 303 „Tadeusz Kościuszko Warsaw” Fighter Squadron, was one of two Polish squadrons that fought during the Battle of Britain along with No. 302 Squadron, of 16 total Polish squadrons during the World War 2. Flying Hawker Hurricanes, the squadron claimed the largest number of aircraft shot down of the 66 Allied fighter squadrons engaged in the Battle of Britain, even though it joined the fray two months after the battle had begun.

No. 303 Squadron RAF was formed in July 1940 in Blackpool, England before deployment to RAF Northolt on 2 August as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom. It had a distinguished combat record and was disbanded in December 1946.

„Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry,” wrote Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, head of RAF Fighter Command, „I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle (of Britain) would have been the same.”

Sunday 1^st September – Event Details

The Spa Valley Railway will be operating a more intensive service than normal on Sunday 1^st September to enable you to travel on the railway, see the naming ceremony and enjoy a train ride behind '303 Squadron’.

The naming ceremony will take place at Eridge station at 13:00 and last approximately 30 minutes, it is hoped a flypast of an appropriate aircraft can take place.

If you wish to see the naming ceremony take place you will need to be at Eridge station between 12:30 and 12:45, there will only be seating for invited guests on the day and space is limited on the station platform. Invited guests/VIPs will be seated/stood first and then members of the public observe the naming ceremony on other parts of the station.

Timetable

The 12:00 from Tunbridge Wells West will have limited passenger accommodation on board and will be on a first come first serve basis.
34053 will haul the 13:45 (which travels as far as Groombridge), 14:20 and 16:55 services from Eridge.
34053 will haul the 16:15 from Tunbridge Wells West.
Please note the 13:45 and 14:20 departures from Eridge will have limited passenger accommodation on board and will be on a first come first serve basis.
High Rocks will be closed on Sunday 1^st September.

Locomotives:

Bulleid Pacific 34053 '303 Squadron’
Caledonian Railway No. 828
Heritage Diesel Locomotive (TBC)
Class 207 DEMU 1317

Carriages:

’303 Squadron’ will haul a rake of 5 Mark 1 coaches, all painted in British Railway Southern Green.

Tickets

Due to the special occasion only all day travel tickets will be available on Sunday 1^st September. Virgin Experience Day vouchers will be valid on the 10:00 and 11:35 services from Tunbridge Wells West only, they will not be valid for travel after 12:35. You must pre-book to travel if you are a Virgin Experience Day voucher holder.