Dane Ghyll Camp Barrow in Furness and Poles in Yorkshire

[stepht]

Hello,

I stumbled upon this site whilst researching may father's history. My father, Michael Temkow, was born in the Ukraine in 1919 in a village called Koropiec, Zolotyi Potik in the region of Ternopil. My father passed away in 1982.

He came to England in 1946/7 as part of the Polish resettlement force and after discharge worked as a coal miner in West Yorkshire until 1980. Is see from documents obtained from APC Polish enquiries RAF Northolt he spent time in Dane Ghyll camp.

Unfortunately I never really spoke to my father about his family and history. Now I would like to know more about him and how he came to be in Italy in 1945.

It’s unlikely that any of his comrades are still alive but their families may have photos which also include my father - in case there is an association of former service men. I also have some photos from what looks like a camp in Italy and a camp or hostel in the UK.

Many thanks

Stephen Temkow

[mikwizzy]

Stephen

also just happened across the site

No photos I'm afraid but maybe I can add a little to your story
My father also ended up in Yorkshire at the end of the war.
Born in Torun Poland and ended up in a Soviet slave camp when the Soviets invaded Poland
Was "freed" in 1941/42 when Soviet Union joined the war on the side of the Allies
Marched across to Persia (now Iran) where they were reequipped by the Brits and formed the II Polish Army Corps
Fighting through north Africa and Italy including Monte Cassino
Came across to the UK at the end of the war to be demobbed
My father was based at Dunscombe Park near Helmsley

Poles who opted to stay in the UK had limited opportunities for employment unless they were qualified (eg doctors etc). You could find work in agriculture, steel, shipbuilding, coal mining. That partly explains the post war concentration of Polish communities around some industrial centres
My father ended up in the coal mines near Doncaster