Getting to know my father through his wartime diaries
In the aftermath of the devastating attack on the procession of carts, work continues to provide a safe crossing over the Vistula. 11.09.1939 [cont.] A cart was passing by so I requisitioned it in order to transport the casualties. More and more aircraft were appearing over the crossing point to try to prevent us from … Continue reading About Turn…
The attempts to join up with the squadron continue and Józef and his small group of colleagues again come across chaotic scenes of numerous carts trying to make headway - sadly however, much worse is to come. The journey along the top of the dyke took about three hours. The horses were losing their strength. … Continue reading The Call for a Doctor
After emerging from the difficult, night time journey through the forest which made such a lasting impression on him, Józef's journey towards Sandomierz continues. 11.09.1939 Approaching a village at a crossroads by a boggy pond, we had to stop once again as an endless number of supply column carts appeared as if out of nowhere. … Continue reading In Search of the Squadron
Hearing all the reminiscences and recollections of VE Day 75 years ago today, made me think about what Józef might have been doing on that day. His diaries didn’t continue to that point, but looking at his military service records I can see that he was in Fordoun, Scotland where he was the doctor in … Continue reading VE Day at Polish Army Camps in Scotland
This is the final part of the entry Józef recorded describing the events of 10th September 1939 - a day which as he wrote, remained deep in his memories. Having passed Luszyca and left Okrągla behind, we reached the forest and breathed in the fresh air, feeling a sense of protection against the German airmen’s … Continue reading An Eerie Journey
It's been a while since I posted the first part of this long entry for the 10th September in Józef’s diaries. As well as starting to translate some new sections, I have been busy typing up previous work, trying at the same time to correct and improve the translation and fill in some gaps where … Continue reading Despondency, Rumours and a Rare Sight
The supply column's arduous journey towards the River San continues across difficult, sandy terrain, while their exposed position threatens to make them an easy target for the enemy planes. 10/09/1939 Travelling up and down over the undulating terrain at daybreak, constantly ankle deep in the sand, we passed the same buses which had given us such … Continue reading Who Could be Calling Me by Name in this Wilderness?
There is a remarkable amount of detail in the final part of this long entry for the 9th September. I had intended posting the three sections more quickly in succession but it has been challenging to get some of the translation in this piece to read well in English - and with the nuances in … Continue reading Signs of the Enemy part 3 – Chaotic behaviour endangers the division
