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Looking at the photos from Delemere Camp or any of the
other Polish Displaced Persons' Camps that were scattered throughout
the UK in the late 40s, 50s and early 60s the pattern of life was
almost identical. As most Poles are devout Catholics it was important to
have a central place of worship in the camp so one of the large metal nissen huts was converted into a church and the camp's spiritual life
revolved around it. This is where Sunday masses, daily services,
Christenings, First Holy Communion, and funerals were celebrated. |
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The nissen hut that served as a
chapel meeting the spiritual needs of the people in the camp |
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A Service taking place inside the
chapel
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CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSIONS |
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| Every year on the nearest
Sunday to Corpus Christi four altars were built, in prominent
places in the camp, by the Polish Catholic community and every one turned
out to take part in the procession which wound its way through the camp to
the four altars that represent the four gospels. |
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As I began to collect photographs for this web site it struck me that they
were overwhelmingly to do with children. That's when I looked back and
realised that, until the mid '50-s, most Poles in the camps expected an
early return to a free Poland so their first priority was to ensure that
their children were brought up not only to speak Polish but to know Polish
history, culture and traditions. In the event it took 45 years for Poland
to become free again by when they and their children had integrated into
British society and enriched it with their culture.
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Mietek Baran, Zbyszek Kozłowski,
Zbyszek Juszczyk, Ryszard Smoleński. |
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Ewa Bednarska, Trudzia
Bednarska, Marian Kaziewicz, Halina Szulc, |
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In the '50s Ks.
Infułat Bronisław
Michalski from the Polish Catholic Mission in London visited most
of the Polish Camps in the UK.
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First Communion 1954 |
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Priest Antoni Mańturzyk
with Children taking their first Holy Communion:- Tadek Zakrzewski, Jurek Majewicz, Zbyszek
Baran, Zosia Celebańska, Basia Szmigileska, Halina
Szulc, Hania Pogodzinska, Ewa Kulesza, Jurek Kędzior, Zbyszek
Drabicki, Zdziszek Franeczek, Zbyszek
Brzezicki, Elżbieta Sobczyńska. |
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Hania Adamska, Krystyna D
ąbrowska,
Hala Holzman, Dorota Sibiga, with mothers Maria Dąbrowska,
Janina Holzman, Sasia Sibiga Mrs. Mrozińska with daughter Irka
and son Ryszard. 1957 |
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Children and parents outside
the church. |
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Polish national dancing was taught
from an early age. |
Social Cultural Event by children who
attended Polish Saturday School |
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Krysia Kędzior,
Halina Holzman, Czesław Nowicki, Bożena?, Marek Wieczerzak, Dorota
Sibiga - 1954 |
Halina Szulc, Czesław
Nowicki, Basia Szmigielska, Ala Raba, Jurek Kędzior, Iwonka
Korzeniowska, Krysia Kędzior, Marysia Okaj, Zbyszek Drabycki, Wiesiek Wójcik, Elżbieta Sobczyńska . |
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Halina Szulc and Marek
Weiczerzak 1950s |
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Celebrating 11th November
Independence Day |
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Basia Sokołowska, Iwonka
Korzeniowska, Halina Szulc, Stasia Juszczyk, Ala Raba. |
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1957 |
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First group of Polish Children who travelled
from Delamere Camp to St. Werburghs School in Chester arranged by
Fr. Antoni Mańturzyk 1950s. |
Scout and Brownies Celebrating Christmas in a nissen hut.
with Fr. Antoni Mańturzyk |
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Elżunia Szlamka, Marysia Klita,
Stasia Juszczyk, Zbyszek Juszczyk, Zbyszek Drabicki, Krysia Kędzior,
Krzysio Kulesza, Zosia Drabicka, Halina Szulc, Zbyszek Baran, Basia
Szmigielska, Jurek Kędzior, Iwonka korzeniowska, Andzej Szlamka. |
Basia Szmigielska, Tadek
Zakrzewski, ? Nowicki, HalinaPogodzinska, Halina Szulc, Iwonka
Korzeniowska, Dorota Sibiga, Wanda Zakrzewska, Basia Grobel, Zbyszek
Baran, Zbyszek Brzeźicki, Zdzisław Rraneczek, Luba Dekteriff. |
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Father Christmas with visits
the camp. The little girl standing in the middle is Basia Sokołowska,
she emigrated in the 1950s to the USA. Halina Szulc is
sitting at the end in the right side corner. |
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Agnieszka Szulc with daughter Halina.
In the background are the barracks they lived in. |
Jan Szulc with daughter Halina.
Mr. Szulc was a teacher and musician he played the accordian and
violin and also had a Polish band. |
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| If you lived in Delamere Park
Camp and have photos and a story to tell please contact me. |
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Page 1
Delamere1 |
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Page 2 Current Page life in the camp. |
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