Llanelli Polish Community commemorates seven Polish Airmen

On Sunday (2nd June) at the Catholic Church Hall Llanelli, Polish children of the Wesołe Nutki choir, parents, council officials, the Lord Lieutenant Sara Edwards and the Llanelli Labour candidate Dame Nia Griffith MP attended an event to raise awareness of the eight Polish Airmen who gave the ultimate sacrifice during WWII.

The names of the Polish airmen are:

Stanisław Piątkowski Lieutenant, born 01.05.1912 in Jaroszówka, died on 25th October 1940. Member of No. 79 RAF Squadron. Buried in Pembrey.

Bohdan Anders, born on 27 February 1918 in Poznan, died 2 June 1941.

Flight Lieutenant of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain. Served in Poland, France and Great Britain. Member of No. 303 “Tadeusz Kościuszko” Polish Fighter Squadron and No. 316 Fighter Squadron and No. 316 “City of Warsaw” Polish Fighter Squadron. Buried in Pembrey.

Tadeusz Blach, born on 20th November 1915, died on 9th August 1941. Lieutenant pilot, served in No. 308 “Kraków” Polish Fighter Squadron. Buried in St. Clears.

Olech Antoni Kawczyński, born on 20th February 1916 in Wudzyn, died on the 8th of May 1941. Polish Army officer, Lieutenant. Member of RAF 32 Squadron. Buried in Pembrey.

Leon Jan Watorowski, born on 22nd of March 1920 in Chełmno, died on 8th of December 1944. Lieutenant pilot, served in No. 317 “Wileński” Polish Fighter Squadron. Buried in Pembrey.

Roman Grzanka, born on 8 February 1903 in Ujma Duża, died on 27th June 1943. Polish army officer, Captain Pilot. Served in Poland, France and Great Britain. Member of No. 307 “Lwowskie Puchacze” Polish Night Fighter Squadron. Buried in Pembrey.

Wacław Oyrzanowski, born on the 18th of September 1903 in Zawady, died on the 28th June 1943. Senior mechanic, sergeant. Member of No. 302 ,,Poznański” Polish Fighter Squadron and the 307th Night Fighter Squadron ‘Lwowskie Puchacze’. Buried in Pembrey.

Jecek Kinel, born on 28th of March 1924 in Bydgoszcz, died of 8th May 1944. Sergeant. Member of 1st Air Gunnery in Pembrey. Buried in Pembrey.

Their service will not be forgotten and we will remember them.

Seven of the airmen are buried at Pembrey Church and one buried at St Clears Church.

Additionally, the aim of the event was to raise sufficient funds to put a permanent memorial at the Llanelli Town Hall Cenotaph. The event was able to raise enough money to fund the permanent memorial, and further steps will now be taken to ensure the memorial is put in place at the heart of Llanelli.

The event was arranged and organised by Cllr Rob and Nysia Evans, the Razem-Polish Community Group, and the Association of Polish Journalists and Writers in Wales.