The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Polish war hero and photographer had an amazing life
Aformer Press and Journal photographer who survived the Nazi blitzkrieg in his native Poland before working with the French Resistance to undermine the fascist war effort has died, aged 98.
John Wladyslaw Uriasz, known affectionately as Johnnie the Pole to his friends and neighbours in Banchory, lived a hard but fascinating life.
Born on December 12, 1916, in Pilzno, Poland, he began looking after his bedridden mother and father at the age of four. Young John would get out of bed before 4am so he could take the cow out to pasture, feed the hens and complete whatever other household chores needed doing before making his way to school on time.
Aged 16, he was helped into the army cadets by his brother, who was a captain, and even marched in front of Hitler in 1938.
At the outbreak of World War II, the then Sergeant Major Uriasz was on the front line and lost many friends during the Nazi’s infamously brutal blitzskrieg campaign across mainland Europe. He fought through Romania, Greece and France, before being cut off near Dunkirk.
However, his division, the 2nd Polish Rifles, made up of 15,000 soldiers, broke through the Nazi lines and made it to neutral Switzerland. His fluency in German and French led to him being recruited for clandestine actions as a dispatches carrier. He became a vital assistant to the French Resistance, conspiring with the Underground in action against the occupying German forces.
Mr Uriasz was honoured with the French medal the Croix de Guerre for his bravery.
Leaving the conflict on the Continent behind, his battalion was sent to Scotland, where he was appointed welfare officer, and headquartered at Durris House, in Aberdeenshire.
During this time, he met the love of his life, Jeanne Christie, and they married on November 25, 1947, going on to spend more than 50 happy years together before she died in 2000.
After being demobbed, Mr Uriasz spent some time in London as a butler, but returned to Scotland for the birth of his first son, Edward, in 1949 and the family settled in Banchory shortly after.
In 1951, he embarked on a 30-year career as a photographer, sending many of his prized pictures to the Press and Journal. During this time, he photographed the Royal Family on many occasions at their Balmoral home.
His next son, Richard Uriasz, who now lives in the Bahamas, said his father’s strong faith saw him through life’s troubles.
He said: “In the village, he was known affectionately as ‘Johnnie the Pole’ and spent many evenings with friends enjoying each other’s company into the wee hours.
“He always wanted to learn and help those who were not as fortunate as himself. He was good with his hands and loved to repair broken kettles, fridges, cookers and the like.
“More than anything else, he was a family man and husband and loved his wife and children as only a true Christian can do.
“He will be sadly missed by his family, especially his grandchildren Nicole and Ashleigh, who always kept in contact with him, despite living 4,000 miles away.
“We would also like to thank the close friends who visited frequently, checked in and kept John’s spirits high.”