Polish War Memorial facts for kids
The Polish War Memorial (in Polish: Polski Pomnik Wojenny) is a special monument in West London, England. It remembers the brave airmen from Poland who flew with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. These Polish pilots and crew were a big help to the Allies. Over 18,000 Polish men and women served in RAF squadrons, and more than 2,000 of them sadly lost their lives. The memorial is located near RAF Northolt, an airfield where many Polish fighter squadrons were based during the war.
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Why Was the Polish War Memorial Built?
After World War II ended, many Polish air force officers who had settled in Britain wanted to build a monument. They formed the Polish Air Force Association to make this happen. A committee, led by Air Vice Marshal Mateusz Iżycki, worked hard to raise money. Most of the funds came from the British public, with a special campaign in The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The monument was designed by a Polish sculptor named Mieczysław Lubelski. He had been through tough times during the war, including being held in a German concentration camp. The land for the memorial was given by Middlesex County Council, which later took over the airfield.
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The main parts of the memorial are made from strong Portland stone and shiny granite, with bronze letters. In the middle, there's a tall stone pillar, called an obelisk. It stands next to a pool of water with fountains.
On top of the pillar is a bronze Polish eagle, which is the symbol of the Polish Air Force. The pillar shows the dates "1940-1945" and lists the names of the Polish fighter and bomber squadrons that served with the RAF.
On the front panels, you can read "TO THE MEMORY OF / FALLEN POLISH AIRMEN" in both English and Polish. On the back, there's a quote from the Bible: "I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, / I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH."
Around the pool and pillar, there's a walkway. Steps lead down to a curved area with more stone panels. These panels show the symbols of the 14 Polish squadrons and list the names of 1,243 Poles who died in the war. The memorial also has grass, flowerbeds, and poles for the flags of the UK and Poland.
When Was the Memorial Opened?
The completed Polish War Memorial was officially opened on 2 November 1948. Two important leaders from the Royal Air Force, Arthur Tedder and Charles Portal, were there. Lord Portal spoke about how sad it was that many Polish veterans could not go back home because their country was controlled by the Soviet Union. He said it was good that they would make their homes in Britain.
The president of the Polish government-in-exile, August Zaleski, also attended, along with 3,000 other guests. Prayers were led by the Polish Air Force Chaplain.
Updating the Memorial
When the memorial first opened, it had the names of 1,243 Polish airmen who died while serving. Later, another 659 names were found that should be on the monument. In the 1990s, the memorial needed repairs. So, in 1994, people started raising money to fix it and add the missing names. They also added 23 Polish airmen who died in the Battle of France in 1940.
Old stone panels with names were replaced with stronger granite. New dedication panels in English and Polish were also added. In 1996, the work was finished, and the Duke of Gloucester rededicated the larger, refurbished monument.
Special Recognition
The monument was first unveiled in 1948. In 2002, it became a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site. In September 2020, it was upgraded to Grade II*, marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Presidential Visits
Two Presidents of Poland have visited the monument to lay a wreath:
- Lech Wałęsa in 1991
- Aleksander Kwaśniewski in 2004
The monument was also refurbished in 2010 for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. In September 2012, a replica of a Polish wartime flag, the Wilno Standard, was paraded at the monument during a special ceremony.
The Memorial Garden
On 5 September 2015, a Polish War Memorial Garden was opened behind the monument. This was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The garden has another monument with text in both English and Polish. It was opened by the leader of Hillingdon Borough Council and the Polish Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Other Polish War Memorials
There are about twenty other memorials in the United Kingdom that remember Poland's contributions to World War II. Many of these are near large war cemeteries. Some cemeteries even have more than one grave for Polish soldiers.
Images for kids
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Some of the names at the rear of the monument
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Rear sunken walkway and curved memorial walls
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Memorial after 2010 refurbishment
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