Nazi camp survivor George celebrates his 100th birthday
AMAN who endured six years living under the Nazis including time in internment camps as a young man has looked back on his “eventful life” as he turns 100 in the peace of a Somerset care home.
George Durkal was just 15 when his childhood growing up in Poland was shattered by the Nazi invasion in 1939. He returned home from school one day to discover his house had burned down and was surrounded by the Gestapo.
He and his family endured and survived six years of harsh occupation by the Germans but in 1945, with the Nazis losing the war, they ordered one member from each family to be sent to Germany to work in a forced labour camp – and George, then 21, put himself forward to spare the rest of his family.
One of six siblings, George was sent in a cattle truck across the border into Germany to work as a carpenter fixing farmers’ carts. He was then sent to an internment camp to build underground bunkers, but was liberated with the Allied victory over Germany 79 years ago this month.
After the war, George joined the Polish Army and was stationed in Italy for two years. With the Iron Curtain descending, and the Russians occupying his homeland, he took the opportunity to emigrate to England. He swiftly learned English and got a job as a carpenter making furniture.
He settled in Somerset, and worked at British Cellophane in Bridgwater for many years.
George met his wife Joyce and they were married in 1955, and had a son Neil. They were married for more than 68 years until Joyce died last year, and George moved to the Argentum Lodge care home in Nailsea to be near to his great-nieces and nephews.
“I’ve certainly led an eventful life, which is perhaps the secret to a long life,” he said.
“I was blessed with a wonderful marriage of over 68 years to my soulmate Joyce, which brought me great joy,” he added.
Staff at the care home held a special birthday party for George, who received a card from the King to mark the big day.
“I had a really lovely birthday and
I’ve certainly led an eventful life, which is perhaps the secret to a long life GEORGE DURKAL
the staff at Argentum Lodge have gone out of their way to help me celebrate my century,” he said.
Care home manager Jessica Hawker said with the 80th anniversary of D-Day coming up next month, it was important to share the stories of those still around who lived through the conflict directly.
“It has been a privilege for us to join George in marking this incredible milestone,” she said.
“As the country marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings this year, the remarkable first-hand stories of people like George, who lived through that terrible conflict, become increasingly rare – and therefore all the more important to hear.
“George is a much-loved member of our Argentum Lodge family and he still manages to take a full and active part in life at the home,” she added.