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INFORMATION AND PHOTOS SENT IN BY KRYSTYNA
FREIBURGER
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On February 10, 1940 my parents Franciszek and Janina
Piotrowski
along with my brothers Zbyszek aged 3 and 2 year old Czesio were deported to
the depths of Russia. Sadly Czesio
died a few months after they got there. My Mom was pregnant with her
third child and she gave
birth in terrible conditions in Russia later that year to a third son,
Miecio. Much of my extended family was also deported such as my paternal
grandmother, maternal great grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Many
of them perished there.
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Janina and Franciszek Piotrowski |
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When the so called "amnesty" was announced my father left to join the Polish Army of
Gen. Anders - the Second Corps
and after
training in the Middle East, he fought on various fronts in Italy
including the famous battle for Monte Cassino.
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My mother with Zbyszek and baby Miecio, leave the labour
camp
joining thousands of other civilians in their flight for freedom. The
gruelling journey south was too much for baby Miecio and sadly he succumbed and died on the way to freedom. After crossing the Caspian
Sea, my mother with Zbyszek ended up in Persia (Iran) where they are clothed and fed by the
British. |
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The tented camps in Persia were only temporary, the
civilians mostly mothers with children and the old and infirm, had to be
found more suitable accommodation. So the British authorities moved the
people to camps in their colonies in Africa and India. My mother and
Zbyszek were sent to a Polish civilian camp in Lusaka, Northern
Rhodesia now (Zambia), and lived there until 1948 when they boarded
the Carnarvon Castle and sailed to Southampton, England. |
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Andrzej and Krystyna beside their garden |
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My father, after the war came to the UK from Italy as a
soldier of the Polish Army which was subsequently reformed into the
Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC)
which was responsible for preparing the soldiers for demobilisation
and civilian life in the U.K. After 6 years of separation my parents are
reunited in a Polish Resettlement Camp called Penn Street where I (Krystyna)
am born in 1949. A year later we leave Penn Street camp which was
closing down and move to the nearby Hodgemoor camp. There in 1950 to my parents delight my brother Andrzej
is born. |
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Mrs.
Kalinowska (Andrzej's godmother), Zbyszek, Janina with Krysia in
front, Franciszek holding Andrzej by their house in Hodgemoor |
In front Krystyna with
brother Andrzej and behind (left to right ) big brother Zbyszek and
mother Janina and Dad Franciszek |
Krystyna
and Andzej |
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My parents started to rebuild their
life in a foreign country and unable to speak the language. Life
was very difficult and conditions in the camp were basic but they were
free and life had to go on. My older brother Zbyszek, now a teenager,
having missed out on real schooling because of the war was sent to a Polish Boarding school in Diddington,
were he learned English and caught up with his education. My younger
brother and I, attended a primary school in Chalfont St Giles where
all the children were taken daily in vans. |
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To maintain our native
language and culture, all the children in the camp attended a Saturday Polish
School were we where taught Polish history, culture and received religious
instruction. The camp's priest, Father Madeja, also prepared us for our first Holy
Communion and I remember taking part in Corpus Christi processions.
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Krystyna's First Communion Class June 17, 1956 |
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Top;- Mrs. Blanka Potocka, Rysio Ingot. Zbyszek Gąsiorowski,
Krzysiek Znoski,
Andrzej Stachowiak, Head teacher Mr. Maciejewski, Henryk Wizgier,
Bogumił Różyczka, ?
Row 2;- Krysia Bernacka, Renia Sobolewska, Zosia
Pogoda, Fr. Jozef Madeja, Barbara Beben,
Marysia hnatko, Barbara Swierczynska
Row 3:-Ania Pielecka Krysia Piotrowask, Teresa
Serwatko, Irena Eibin, Bogusia Kłak.
Row 4:-Andrzej Potocki, Janusz Gorski, Irena Samborska,
Ryszard Nowak, Kazimierz Kicinski |
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Krysia's First
Communion |
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with brother Andrzej
June 17, 1956 |
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Andrzej
Piotrowski's First Communion
1957 |
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Chapel in Hodgemoor October 1956 |
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CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION |
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Krysia scattering
flowers in a Corpus Christi Procession Boże Ciało 1952 |
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Krysia is the first blonde girl Father Józef Madeja is the priest Irena Samborska in front of Krysia. Krysia
Latawiec behind |
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Grade Three Primary Class Teacher Miss Sheppard |
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Krystyna
Piotrowska sitting far left in striped sweater. Other Polish children
from Hodgemoor Anna Pilecka (Top row very middle), Krystyna Pacholak
(to the right of teacher) , Tadeusz Samborski, Krystyna Tramp (very
right standing in middle row) , Krystyna Latawiec (sitting second from
left) |
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SCHOOL DAYS |
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Krystyna Piotrowska |
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SCOUTS GUIDES AND BROWNIES |
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thriving Polish scout, guide and Browne group in the camp, encouraged by
our parents both my brother and I joined. We had many outings with the
group and enjoyed the many activities that were organised by scout
masters. |
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Krystyna Becoming a "Zuch" a Brownie |
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Zbyszek
Piotrowski invested into Scouts Janusz Piotrowski (not related )
has his hand
on Zbyszek's shoulder. |
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Krystyna on one of the
outings. |
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Zuchy (
Brownies) and their parents..Upper part of Hodgemoor Camp |
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Zuchy
showing off some of their handicrafts. Photo taken
in the area of the church and hall. |
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We were taught our
Polish culture from an early age, and we took part in all national
Polish days, singing and dancing in our national dress. Most of our
costumes were hand stitched and beautifully embroidered with beads and
sequins by our mothers. |
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Krysia Piotrowska in her
Polish costume with her brother Andrzej |
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Zbyszek (second from left) with Irena Trzeciak
in Polish Dance Group of Hodgemoor. |
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SOCIAL LIFE IN THE CAMP |
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The camp had a
large hall which was used for all sorts of entertainment, film shows and dances, the
dances were particularly appreciated by young adults living in
the camp, that is were they could meet and socialise. Life
marched on, people
married, had children and many moved on to new places and others emigrated to the USA and Canada. |
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Irena Trzeciak and Zbigniew Piotrowski |
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Irena Trzeciak |
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Left:-
Jurek Busiakiewicz and Helena (nee
Ochedowska) in the middle Kazik Plis
on his right Janina Trzeciak and Zbigniew
Piotrowski. |
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Boczek Wedding (in the middle) Mr and Mrs.
Pacholak on the left of bride and groom. Ala and Pani Wypasek
(on extreme right) |
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Wedding of Helena Załuska and Wiktor Szuta. On
left Maria Załuska (bride's sister) ?Mencner and far left Jakub
Załuski (Bride's brother) |
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In 1958 we move to Canada. Andrzej and I have wonderful
memories of Hodgemoor and when we go back to England we
spend hours walking through Hodgemoor Woods looking for that
gigantic tree that we loved to play on. |
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Piotrowski Family's last photo in Hodgemoor
inside their barrack before going to Canada- May 1958
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Thank you to Krystyna for the Photos and
information. |
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