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On Saturday 27th May 2017 former residents of Hodgemoor Resettlement Camp
near Amersham, Buckinghamshire met for a first ever reunion. It was to
commemorate the 70th anniversary of the camp's opening in 1947. Its
organisers Renia Sobolewska, Klara Wallace O'Flaherty nee Gasparowicz,
Krystyna Freiburg nee Piotrowska, Andrzej (Andy) Piotrowski and Henryk
Wizgier were understandably a bit nervous as there was no way of knowing
how many would turn up. Naturally many former older residents had passed
on while the generation which had lived there as children had now grown
into late middle and even old age. Some of those had also passed away
while others were scattered all over Britain and even abroad. In the event
about 50 people came to the General Bor-Komorowski Club in Amersham which
had been built by former Hodgemoor residents and was opened in 1974. Some
people had not seen each other for decades, some not since they lived in
the camp which was closed in 1962. Acting as speaker, Krystyna Freiburger
welcomed everyone to this historic reunion and expressed her own pleasure
at being there having travelled over from Ontario, Canada, with her
brother Andrzej. The audience were also addressed by Adam Komorowski, son
of the legendary Warsaw Uprising hero whose name the club carries. With
many old photographs and other memorabilia on display the Hodgemoor
reunion was declared an unqualified success. Unfortunately due to a mix up
over available dates a few people came to the reunion a day late on the
Sunday. However it is hoped to hold another one within a few years.
Henry Wizgier |
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Krystyna Piotrowska Freiburger
and her brother Andrzej traveled from Canada to meet up with some of the
ex-residents of Hodgmoor,
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Krystyna Piotrowska Freiburger
welcoming the ex-residents |
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Some
of the ex-residents |
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Krystyna was
then invited to give a welcoming speech. |
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It is my
great honour and delight to welcome all of you here today. For those of
you who don't know me my name is Krystyna Piotrowska Freiburger. My
parents were Janina and Franciszek Piotrowski. I was born in Penn Street
but
lived my happy childhood in Hodgemoor. My brother Andrzej was born in
Hodgemoor and the two of us came all the way from Canada to be here with
you. |
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This day has
been brewing in my heart for many, many years. Renia Sobolewska visits me
and my family a couple of times a year in Canada. Of
course
always at some point in our conversations we start to talk about Hodgemoor
or
about someone who lived there. For years I have bugged Renia to organize a
reunion because I was too far away to do it..Get Klara Gasparowicz, get
Henio Wizgier to help you and THEY DID..here we are !!! |
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It is an
opportunity to reflect upon the impact the Second World War and life in
Hodgemoor Ob
z had on our lives. By May 1945 some 250,000 Polish Armed
Forces serving under British Command chose to remain in Britain and
were joined by their Families and dependents from wherever the fortunes of
war had left them. By far the largest number were those who, having escaped
Siberia with the Polish Army in 1942, had spent the war in Displaced
Persons' camps set up by the British in India and East Africa. The only way
such numbers could be accommodated was by placing them in camps vacated
by the American, Canadian and British soldiers. There
were many such camps in the UK. Hodgemoor was just one of approximately
200. |
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Poles
understand the value of organized community life and they do so quickly
wherever they find themselves . Right
away in Hodgemoor, they established
a community
with a spiritual and cultural life: A Chapel, Circle of Altar Servers,
Church Choir, Saturday Polish School, Dance Team, Theatre Group, Sports
Club, Cubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, Entertainment Hall. |
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Polish life
was in full bloom. The English called Hodgemoor "Little Poland" Many names
come to mind when we think about our life here; Ks Proboszcz Józef Madeja..who
was so protective of his parishioners, who
stressed the importance of celebrating Polish Church and National
holidays |
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Basia Bęben and Krysia
Piotrowska |
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Andrzej
Piotrowski and Janusz Piotrowski
not
related but linked by Hodgemoor |
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Pan
Maciejewski, Pani Potocka .teachers at the Polish School. The school
received many awards for its teaching of the Polish language. |
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Pani Kazia
Gasparowicz.superb leader of our Zuchy where we learned independence and
leadership |
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Pan Janusz
Piotrowski.leader and teacher of the dance group, Pan Fuks our camp
photographer |
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Pan Zychbrought
our kiełbasa and other Polish goodies, Pan Makowski..drove us in his
little bus to school in Chalfont St Giles |
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We learned
many things from these leaders, from our parents and
grandparents war experiences..Firstly we learned that
Poles-soldiers and civilians are first class warriors We learned
a lot about survival: Not to throw bread in the garbage. To
appreciate what we have and not be wasteful. |
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That
something can be made of nothing. To work hard and with integrity.
To be prepared; anything could happen anytime. To enjoy the
present, because death could be around the corner and that there
is a power in faith that transcends human limitations !!! |
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It is hard to
believe but we had a secure and happy childhood here in this beautiful
woodland. |
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When we moved
to Canada I missed Hodgemoor and my friends. I always played School and as
a teacher made a list of students. I still have that list and I would
like to read them to you. I'm sure you will recognize some names - maybe
your own.
April 10,
1959 |
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Andrzej
Piotrowski |
Krystyna
Tramp |
Boguś
Różyczka |
Rysiek
Tramp |
Marysia
Hnatko |
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Danusia
Hnatko |
Renia
Sobolewska |
Irka
Ejbin |
Julek
Ejbin |
Krysia
Ejbin |
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Urszula
Brzezinska |
Elzbieta
Brzezińska |
Franek
Malinowski |
Kazik
Kiciński |
Aneczka
Pilecka |
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Leszek
Sztanduchier |
Irena
Sztanduchier |
Boguś
Wiśniewski |
Krysia
Pacholok |
Danusia
Bernacka |
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Irena
Samborska |
Tadeusz
Samborski |
Irena
Szwetko |
Zosia
Pogoda |
Janek
Górski |
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Piotruś
Górski |
Krysia
Bernacka |
Kazik
Stępjen |
Leszek
Gąsieroski |
Zbyszek
Gąsieroski |
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Andrzej
Potocki |
Andrzej
Stachowiak |
Ania
Stachowiak |
Teresa
Serwatko |
Basia
Serwatko |
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Basia
Bęben |
Heniu
Wizgier |
Elżunia
Zych |
Klara
Gasparowicz |
Czarek
Stroński |
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Jagusia
Tramp |
Józek
Czerniak |
Irka
Czerniak |
Ania
Lyskaniuk |
Rysiek
Kołodyński |
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Rysiek
Michalak |
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It is our
connection to Polish blood and spirit that has made us who we are. Today
we thank those who fought to keep this spirit alive, those who share it
with us now and those who will carry it into the future. |
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I would like
to invite Pan Adam Komorowski to light the First candle in honour of
Polish soldiers and civilians who lived through the war, established and
lived in Hodgemoor and are no longer with us. |
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We invite Pan
Janusz Piotrowski (a survivor) to light the Second candle in honour of the
soldiers and civilians who survived the war and are with us today. We ask
all survivors to stand/step forward. |
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First and second generation Janusz Piotrowski,
and Krysia Piotrowska |
Krysia Piotrowska, Leszek Szteinduchert, Krysia
Papowszek, Irena Szteinduchert,
Jurek Latawiec
with wife Krysia Tramp and Andrzej Piotrowski |
Basia Bęben
Krysia Piotrowska
and Ewa
Bęben |
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We invite
Klara Gasparowicz Wallace (second generation) to light the third candle
in honour of the second generation of survivors, most born in lands other
than Poland, who have carried grief and love, questions and pride in the
name of what happened to their parents and who as middle age and seniors
now have an appreciation of who they are because of it. |
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We invite Ewa
Maciejewska Marzec to light the fourth candle in honour of the third
generation, the techno wizards full of energy and optimism, who may
notknow the full strength of the blood and spirit they inherited but who
are our pride and joy, our reward and blessing. As you move to the future,
may you do so with the strength, faith and endurance of first class
warriors. |
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Ignac Jankiewicz and Marysia Inglot |
Looking and reminiscing |
Henio Wizgier and Andrzej Piotrowski |
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