Poles and Britons jointly honour Commonwealth fallen soldiers across Poland

01/11/2025
Culture

As Remembrance Sunday draws near, communities across Poland are preparing to pay tribute to their ancestors as well as to commemorate the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of soldiers, including the Commonwealth servicemen who fought and fell during the two World Wars. The Remembrance Services 2025, organised in cooperation with local authorities, veterans’ associations, and the British Embassy, will be held in several Polish cities, offering moments of solemn reflection and shared remembrance.

The Skaryszewski Park in Warsaw, at the commemoration honouring British airmen who supported the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944. Photo: British Poles

Between 4 and 9 November, ceremonies will take place in Lidzbark Warmiński, Malbork, Kraków, and Warsaw, all of which are home to Commonwealth War Cemeteries or memorials maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Each service will follow the traditional format of readings, prayers, and the laying of wreaths, accompanied by a moment of silence at 11:00 to honour the fallen.

Programme of Services:

Lidzbark Warmiński – Tuesday, 4 November, 1040 hrs, Lidzbark Warmiński Commonwealth War Cemetery

Malbork – Wednesday, 5 November, 1040 hrs, Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery

Kraków – Friday, 7 November, 1040 hrs, The Commonwealth War Cemetery, Kraków

Warsaw – Sunday, 9 November, 1040 hrs, RAF Liberator Memorial, Skaryszewski Park

The services are part of an enduring tradition that connects Poland with the British Commonwealth community. During the Second World War, many British and Allied airmen and soldiers served and sacrificed their lives on Polish soil. Their graves, carefully preserved and honoured, are lasting reminders of shared history, courage, and the pursuit of freedom.

The Remembrance Services are open to all. Diplomats, residents, school groups, and members of the Polish Armed Forces and veterans’ organisations are expected to attend, reflecting the growing commitment to preserving historical memory across generations.

The Skaryszewski Park in Warsaw, at the RAF Liberator Memorial honouring British airmen who supported the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944. Photo: British Poles

In Warsaw, the final ceremony at the RAF Liberator Memorial in Skaryszewski Park will mark the culmination of the week of remembrance. The monument commemorates the crew of an RAF Liberator aircraft shot down while supporting the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, a powerful symbol of solidarity between Polish and British forces during one of the darkest chapters of the war.

Source: UKDefencePoland

Photo: British Poles

Tomasz Modrzejewski