On 2 September 2023 at 12.00, the Annual Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial in South Ruislip.
“I am happy to be here today to pay tribute to my fallen Polish comrades” – said 101-year-old Jan „Black” Stangryciuk, a rear gunner in No. 300 “Land of Masovia” Polish Bomber Squadron, during the commemoration at the Polish Air Force Memorial in Northolt. @RoyalAirForce… pic.twitter.com/iXm92VAPgL
— British Poles (@britishpoles) September 2, 2023
From 1940 to 1945 thousands of members of the Polish Air Force were stationed within what is now the London Borough of Hillingdon. Most were based at RAF Northolt as part of a Polish Fighter Wing, with a smaller number working at RAF Uxbridge.
The Polish Air Force Memorial in Northolt was unveiled in 1948 to commemorate fallen Polish airmen and the participation of Polish Squadrons in the war effort. Read more about History of the Polish War Memorial.
Every year there are ceremonies, organised by many associations, of homage to them.
The commemoration was attended by many distinguished guests, among others: HE Piotr Wilczek, the Polish ambassador, HE Anna-Maria Anders, the Polish ambassador in Rome, Manju Malhi, representative Deputy Lieutenant from Hillingdon, Cllr Shehryar Ahmad-Wallana, Cllr Hitesh Tailor, Cllr Patricia Quigley, Cllr Pamela Ball – Mayors of Hillingdon, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Newark, Air Chief Marshal Giles Legood, General Wojciech Pikuła, Col. pil. Wojciech Wróblewski, Vice Rector Commandant from Polish Air Force University in Dęblin, commanders of RAF Northolt, veterans with families, and representatives of combatant associations.
The ceremony started with fly-pass of the Hurricane in the marking of 303 Kościuszko Squadron.
Job done!
The most amazing day. Taking a Polish Hawker Hurricane to Northolt to pay tribute to the Polish Air Force has been evocative & emotional. pic.twitter.com/yYsDyKVQmf
— Derek Rusling (@derek_rusling) September 2, 2023
It was followed by the Parade, the Introduction by Richard Kornicki, chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and then the Roll-call of the Fallen (Apel Poległych) read by the officer cadets from the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin:
“Polish Airmen Heroes of the struggle for freedom and all people here present,
Lotnicy Polscy! Bohaterowie walk o Niepodległość,
In a moment of profound solemnity,
we gather for this roll-call, our hearts joined in remembering the heroes of the Polish sky.
We are come to honour their memory and to pay tribute to all the airmen who laid down their lives
and their strength in the service of the Republic.
We owe our deepest gratitude to those who,
in a struggle high above the earth,
did not spare their blood for Poland,
the country that would not be overcome.
Present yourselves for the Roll-Call. They fell on the Field of Glory,
Stańcie do Apelu! Polegli na Polu Chwały!
I call on you, you heroes of the Battle of Britain.
Defending the Island of the Last Hope,
you won the admiration of the world for your deeds.
Yours was the most successful Fighter squadron of any in the Battle,
protecting London to the utmost.
You hunted Hitler’s marauders over the North Sea,
in the Bay of Biscay, in the English Channel.
You were heroes of the air-war above the sands of Africa.
Far from your native land,
you laid down your lives with thoughts of Poland.
I call on you, the crews of the Bomber squadrons,
making raids on distant enemy targets
and supporting the air-bridge to our occupied country.
Present yourselves for the Roll-Call. They fell on the Field of Glory,
Stańcie do Apelu! Polegli na Polu Chwały!”
After the roll-call the wreaths were laid for each of Polish RAF squadrons.
***
The Trumpeter played touching “White Roses” before leaving the enclosure:
“The buds of white roses are blooming again,
Come back, Jasiu, come back from your war.
Come back and kiss me, as in days gone by,
And I will give you those roses once more (…)”
The ceremony was organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, established for the welfere of those Polish Air Force personnel who remained in exile in Britain after the war. Next year’s commmemoration will take place on Saturday, 7th September 2024 at 12.00.
Maria Byczynski
Pictures: British Poles
