Finally, a salute to RAF’s Polish heroes
AT LAST there is recognition for the brave Polish airmen of 303 Squadron RAF, who played a crucial role in winning the Battle Of Britain. A new film, Hurricane, starring Iwan Rheon from Game Of Thrones and Mel Gibson’s son Milo, tells their story. Frustratingly for the pilots, their families and the UK’s Polish community, their fighting spirit and gallantry has sometimes been overlooked. These experienced airmen arrived in Britain unable to speak English and were equipped with Hurricanes, which were slower than Spitfires. They fought for Britain alongside their RAF colleagues, but also in their hearts they were fighting for their beloved Poland, which had been invaded by the Germans on one side and the Russians on the other. After the war, many couldn’t return to occupied Poland. They made their home in Britain, but their wartime efforts were ignored and they were not even allowed to take part in the 1945 Victory Parade. It broke their hearts. My hope is that there could be some way to officially honour those Polish pilots, thus putting right the wrong done to them after the war, while also making people more aware of the first generation of Poles’ contribution to this country. It might also help stop the bad feeling from some quarters towards Poles living and working in this country today. KRYSTYNA MIKULA-DEEGAN,
Sutton Coldfield, W. Mids. I HAVE a place in the civilian marchpast at the Cenotaph on November 11. My father and uncle fought in World War I, and I plan to wear their medals in their memory, as permitted. Sadly, I am worried that on the journey to Whitehall, I may attract the attention of people who consider the wearing of medals to be a target for their violence.
GEORGE ATKINSON, Redditch, Worcs.