POLONICA IN SCOTLAND A Register of Polonica of the physical manifestations of the Polish presence in Scotland WORLD WAR TWO |
BIGGAR, LANARKSHIRE |
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Biggar and its Polish connections |
Photo:Scottish Country Dancing- Polish soldiers and Scots lassies, 1940 (Photo courtesy of the Polish Social and Educational Society, Glasgow) |
1 In the summer of 1940 the town of Biggar became host to several thousand Polish soldiers who had been evacuated from France following its collapse. A warm friendship soon existed between the townsfolk and the Polish soldiers. Outside the town a number of tented camps were set up beside the River Clyde to house some 3,500 Polish soldiers who remained there until late October 1940 before being moved to positions on the east coast of Scotland. Temporary camps were set up at Netherton, Annieston Springfield/Cornhill and Culter.
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"After their combats in Poland, Norway and France, Polish soldiers rallied in charming and hospitable Scotland to continue the fight against German Barbarism. Here in Biggar was organized the First Polish Brigade under the command of General Paszkiewicz, whose headquarters were in this school". |
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3 A number of oth
Biggar Museum Trust, Moat Park, Biggar ML 12 6DT
Biggar presented the Polish soldiers at a farewell ceremony with an engraved silver plate which may be seen in the Polish Institute and General Sikorski Institute in London.
Painting above believed to be self portait of the artist who wears the uniform of the Podhale Rifles. The picture was presented to Biggar in August 1940. |
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Last modified 25 April 2013 |
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PolonicaBiggar.htm |
© Copyright R M Ostrycharz 1998-2013 |