Mr Andrzej ST Grodynski - The Grodynski Brigade: The story of ‘The Grodynski Family’ through World War II

The GrodyskiBrigade

AndrzejS T Grodyski

Translatedwith commentary by

Stanisaw A A Grodyski

Copyright 2012 Stanisaw A AGrodyski

All rights reserved.

ISBN-10: 1481283677

ISBN-13: 978-1481283670

FOREWORD by Stan Grodyski,son of the Author

My father (Tatu)was a stranger to me as my parents effectively separated when I was only twoyears old and as a result my brother and I were raised by my mother alone. However, through meetings later in our lives, through his letters and through myattempt to convey his thoughts by sensitively translating the unfamiliar Polishwords of his book, I believe I gathered a perception of the person that was myfather. This was a man whose early life was characterized by his Polishupbringing in a country that was still shaping its vision of independence when,while he was only sixteen, it was invaded by two of the mightiest militarypowers of the twentieth century. The full impact of the tumultuous events thatfollowed on the life of someone who had to grapple with the realities of forceddeportation to a hostile Soviet labour camp and then the emotional devastation ofthe surrender of his country to the same despotic foe that led that barbarous Sovietregime at the end of the Second World War (WWII), can never be served justicein words. That said, this book, through describing pivotal periods in thelives of a family of four people who fought against events forced upon them byPolands tyrannical imperialist neighbours, does perhaps, in a small way, providefurther testament to the valiant spirit of the many Poles who over thecenturies have fought to keep their nation alive and free, on the map as wellas in their hearts.

In a broadercontext the perspective of a post-war immigrant may resonate with others who havesettled in a foreign country. Perhaps some also see scope for improvements in positivelydeveloping local communities, social and commercial structures, as well asfinancial systems governing world trade and international aid, all within a coordinatedglobal framework of proactive environmental policies.

The strongfeeling of national identity that permeates my fathers writings certainly findsresonance with me. While working abroad for many years and perhaps through seeingGreat Britain from an external vantage, an increasing belief arose in me thatself-determination for Scotland would be the best way forward for all constituentcountries, including England, given the decline of the British Empire and theincreasing influence of the European Union on everyday lives. My grandfather,Stanisaw, apparently spoke six languages fluently and another threelanguages in passable conversation, yet his understanding of the increasinginterdependence of people around our planet never diminished his belief in an independentPoland that sadly, like many Poles who fought along side the British and AlliedForces in WWII, he did not live to see.

Finally, inspite of my own research efforts and the valued assistance of others, there arestill some fundamental questions that remain unanswered regarding my Polishancestors, such as why did my great grandfather change his name and why toGrodyski? What was the maiden name of his first wife and was he relatedto, or associated with, Jerzy or Tadeusz Grodyski, both of whom gainednational prominence in Poland? Can my own ancestral roots in fact be tracedback to Scotland, my Homeland?

Listof Contents

I commence the writing of thisaccount of the lives of members of The Grody skiFamily in the hospital for Polish patients in Penley, North Wales, on Sunday20th February 1977. The occasion of visiting my Mother seems to mean appropriate time, not just for sentimental reasons, to begin the long-termundertaking of writing this book.

Events, experiences and viewsadduced by me in this book are based on facts that I have attempted toobjectively analyze. Personal experiences and memories which I describe are myown and personal impressions convey my own points of view.

This work provides an historicalaccount of The Grody ski Family, one of a number of Polishfamilies that chose to continue living in exile from their Homeland, andexpresses truths and opinions that remained in each of their hearts throughlong years of war, as well as through later struggles and endeavours forPoland.

It is with the young generation inmind that I am writing this book, members of our family born in Great Britainto whom I wish to bequeath a legacy of life sketches of their forebears, thenative land of their forebears and the struggle of the Polish nation in itsfight for freedom and justice around the world. Our actions and views, I dobelieve, were right and noble. Hopefully the experiences of the past will giveall of them trust in the future and in a better tomorrow.

My wish is also that this workshall spark the writing of new volumes of life histories of our families. Eachnew generation of Grody ski family should add a new book withits experiences, a subsequent undertaking which in future years might become ahighly original, and possibly unique, work in Polish literature.

COMPLETED IN LONDON IN1985