Polish Forces War Memorial:National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, comprises 150 acres of woodland and memorials dedicated to the fallen servicemen and women from World War I, World War and other conflicts of the 20th Century. Until now there has been no memorial dedicated to the Poles who lost their lives during World War II despite the fact that Polish Forces served with the Allies from the first day of war until the last — fielding the fourth largest Allied army in the fight against Nazi German tyranny across Europe. Poles gave their lives on all fronts - on land, at sea and in the air, where they distinguished themselves with courage and self-sacrifice. Four humble toy soldiers, each painted a bronze colour and glued back-to-back atop a two-pence piece, created by Dr. Andrzej Meeson-Kielanowski, provided the inspiration behind the monument’s design. It was decided that the statue design would be based on the model soldier concept and would comprise four sculptures of typical members of the different branches of the Polish Armed Forces: the Air Force, the Army, the Navy and the Polish Underground Home Army. The Airman is a Polish pilot from RAF 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain; the Underground figure is a woman courier wearing civilian clothes; the Army is represented by a typical Polish soldier from the battle of Monte-Cassino; the Sailor is a crew member of the Polish destroyer Błyskawica. In addition, the figures are ‘combined’ with an eagle uniting all four sculptures under its outspread wings.

The National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, comprises 150 acres of woodland and memorials dedicated to the fallen servicemen and women from World War I, World War and other conflicts of the 20th Century. Until now there has been no memorial dedicated to the Poles who lost their lives during World War II despite the fact that Polish Forces served with the Allies from the first day of war until the last — fielding the fourth largest Allied army in the fight against Nazi German tyranny across Europe. Poles gave their lives on all fronts - on land, at sea and in the air, where they distinguished themselves with courage and self-sacrifice. Four humble toy soldiers, each painted a bronze colour and glued back-to-back atop a two-pence piece, created by Dr. Andrzej Meeson-Kielanowski, provided the inspiration behind the monument’s design. It was decided that the statue design would be based on the model soldier concept and would comprise four sculptures of typical members of the different branches of the Polish Armed Forces: the Air Force, the Army, the Navy and the Polish Underground Home Army. The Airman is a Polish pilot from RAF 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain; the Underground figure is a woman courier wearing civilian clothes; the Army is represented by a typical Polish soldier from the battle of Monte-Cassino; the Sailor is a crew member of the Polish destroyer Błyskawica. In addition, the figures are ‘combined’ with an eagle uniting all four sculptures under its outspread wings.