During WW2, Polish Air Force played a decisive role in the famous Battle of Britain. Polish airmen flew under British Command. Eleven of them perished near the Isle of Man. 

The black granite memorial, which has been unveiled at the Manx Aviation and Military Museum in Castletown on the 9th of April, commemorates them. 

The Polish soldiers died there between 1940 and 1946, most of them were involved in aviation training on the island during the first half of the 1940s. Seven of them were buried in the Jurby churchyard.

The initiative of such a memorial was brought up by the Polish Airmen’s Association UK, together with members of the local Polish minority. It was funded by the Polish government via its consulate in Manchester.

Artur Bildziuk, chairman of the Polish Airmen’s Association, emphasised the importance of such a commemoration. He drew attention to the fact that the deceased Polish soldiers “left their families, not by choice, to defend the families of this country and this island„.

„Freedom doesn’t come free […] Current affairs show us that we must never forget that freedom is so important,” he added. 

A plaque commemorating the eleven Polish airmen was also unveiled in front of the Douglas Town Hall on the 8th of April. 

Image: Twitter @BBC Isle Of Man

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen