1st Polish
Armoured Division
foto: Russ Legross



Rank
Born
Unit
Regiment
Date of death
Today buried
Grave


MICHALIK Adam
sap.
24.11.1916 Stróże p. Gorlice 
1. Pol.Dyw.Panc.
11. Komp. Sap.
5.6.1944, Pickering, Great Britain
in St. Oswald Churchyard, Filey, Great Britain
Old Ground Plot, Row B, Grave 1.

Sierż. Berych Edmund, kapr. Grochowski Czesław and sap. Michalik Adam

The three Polish war graves are those of Polish soldiers stationed at Pickering 
(North Yorkshire) all of whom died on 5th June 1944 from multiple injuries as a 
result of an accidental explosion at their base.  Why were they buried at Filey? 

The web site mentioned above offers an explanation that Polish refugees were 
housed in Filey during the war. 

A correspondent who read an earlier edition of this piece writes: 
"We lived at 5 Melville Terrace during the war and were the only civilian family 
in the road. We were surrounded by French and Polish service men". 
This comment adds further understanding as to why the Polish soldiers came to
be buried in Filey churchyard. 

Sources: the late Stefan Bergander and Jane Frazer

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