Restoration honours air hero
GENEROUS FUNERAL SERVICE STAFF TAKE ON WORK TO REMEMBER BATTLE OF BRITAIN PILOT
THE headstone on a heroic Battle of Britain pilot’s grave has been restored - thanks to support from HAVEN Funeral Services at Northwood and stonemason Made On Earth.
Polish Wing Commander Walerian Zak, who died in 1969, and his wife Jeanne are buried in Northwood Cemetery. Their eroded marble headstone has been extensively restored, free of charge, to recognise the airman’s service to the United Kingdom.
Recently retired HAVEN Funeral Services Northwood Branch Manager Karen Petersen explains: “The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee approached us for an estimate to restore the headstone of Walerian Zak and his wife Jeanne.
“After discussing this with our head office and our monumental stonemason and sculptor Francis Sancisi from Made On Earth, we agreed to waive the £1,200 cost and restore the headstone free of charge as a gesture to someone who fought for our country during the war.”
Francis Sancisi removed the marble headstone for the extensive restoration at his Made On Earth workshop in Denham, Buckinghamshire. This involved cleaning, skimming, removal and replacement of the lead inscription and reinstallation in Northwood Cemetery.
Despite an extensive search of archives no relatives could be found to seek permission for the restoration. Instead London Borough of Hillingdon Head of Green Spaces, Sport and Culture Paul Richards gave permission.
Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki said: “The Committee is extremely grateful to HAVEN Funeral Services and Made On Earth for their kindness, generosity and expertise in restoring Walerian Zak’s headstone and contributing towards maintaining the memory of the Polish Air Force in the West.
“The Committee is also most thankful to Paul Richards at the London Borough of Hillingdon for granting permission for the restoration.”
The Committee awarded Haven Funeral Services and Made On Earth one of its coveted Commendations for their extreme kindness and generosity in waiving the £1,200 cost and carrying out the restoration.
This was presented in front of RAF Northolt’s Officers’ Mess by Station Commander Gp/Cpt Mike Carver and Acting Polish Defence Attaché, Lt/Col Artur Miskiewicz.
Walerian Zak arrived in England in June 1940 and in late August, with the rank of Flying Officer, was posted to 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kosciuszko Squadron at Northolt flying Hurricanes.
During the Battle of Britain he claimed two enemy aircraft destroyed, a Dornier Do 215 and a Heinkel He 111 and damaged another Heinkel He 111. Zak was shot down on September 27, 1940 in Hurricane V7289 RF-S, which crashed near Leatherhead, Surrey. He bailed out, but was seriously injured and did not return to operational flying with 303 squadron until mid 1941 as a Flight Commander.
A year later, after a break as a flying instructor at an Operational Training Unit, he returned to 303 Squadron as its overall Commander. He then went on to command 308 (Polish) City of Cracow Squadron, which operated from RAF Northolt, and also commanded No.s 3 and 133 (Polish) Wings. Zak also served in the headquarters of the RAF’s No. 11 and No. 12 group and the Air Defence of Great Britain.
The control column from his Hurricane V7289 is on display at the visitor centre at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge.
Walerian Zak was demobilised in 1947 having risen to the rank of Wing Commander.
He died on March 14, 1969 and is buried in Northwood Cemetery, Grave B475.
He was decorated with the Polish Virtuti Militari and the Cross of Valour and two bars and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.