Gorecki Family
The Polish Flag
My Grandfather, my Grandmother and my mother and Aunty.
The Gorecki Coat of Arms


Gorecki Means "a person from Górka, Poland".
Górka is a town in Poland whose name was ultimately derived from the Slavic gora "mountain"


Click here to listen to the Polish National Anthem
http://david.national-anthems.net/pl.htm



This webpage is dedicated to the memory of my Grandfather
30058924 Private Tadeusz Gorecki.
'I know you more now, than I did' Roland Keates Grandson

 

 

My grandfather was born 12th September 1926 in Warszawa (Warsaw) Poland, to Jan and Jadwiga (nee Wasiak)

Before my grandfathers military years he was an apprentice Fitter in Warsaw, when he was 16 (1942) he joined the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa), which was led by General Tadeusz 'Bor' Komorowski. The Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army) or AK functioned as the dominant Polish Resistance Movement in World War II in German Occupied Poland, which was active in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. The AK, which was by far the largest underground resistance movement, with over 300 000 members during World War II, formed the armed wing of what subsequently became known as the "underground State".

To find out more information about Armia Krajowa (Polish Home Army) click on the links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_resistance_movement_in_World_War_II

 

A photo of my grandfather in his "Battledress Blouse"
taken in 1945.
This is the only medal to our knowledge he received. This is a War Medal from 1939 1945

This is my grandfathers cap badge which indicates he was in the Polish ground forces.



A photo of my grandfather in his
military attire taken in 1946

 

 

Apprentice fitter
  This photo was taken in 1942 (according to the date on the back of the photo), my grandfather is knelling down 4th from left. This is the time when my grandfather was an apprentice fitter. Before I carry on I must say thank you to Jerzy Bresinski, Ltn col. (retired) (skype: jurek.bresinsk), for sending me this additional information regarding where the photograph was taken and what the building was used for.

Jerzy writes, The building in the photo was an officers flat, which is located in Warszawa, Krajewskiego Street, near Cytadela. The photographer has his back towards Gdanski Railway Station. It must be before the Upraising - the building is not yet damaged. After the war, the building was reconstructed. It was built on XIX till 30y'XX Century. The building is till today used, after reconstruction (totally damaged in WWII), as communal flat's.'Click here for the location
Jerzy - Concerning photo: the people are not armed (no guns), it is not on Upraising (correction, sorry). It must be bevor. They are drivers or mechanics. In this place was so many of garage's. Maybe they are a school boys.(My grandfather was 16 at this time and must have left school by this time (Roly). About the uniform of your grandfather: I can't see a distinction (charge). Was he a tank-driver ? He has a tank-driver's medal II level. A "Croix" is maybe a sign of wars school of specialist-drivers (cadets). It is a connection to driver's photos. In this place, in Warsaw's upraising (since 1944.08.01-03) was hard battle between German troops and scouts (8-14 year old).

 

 

Warsaw Uprising


My grandfather was also involved in the Warsaw Uprising which broke out 1st August 1944. The aim was liberating Warsaw before the arrival of the Soviet Red Army. The Germans eventually defeated the AK (Polish Home Army) and burned the city, finally quelling the Warsaw Uprising only on 2nd October 1944.


This is a photo of my grandfather
while he was fighting in the Warsaw Upraising.

Above are some photos from the Warsaw Upraising, which were sent to me by an unknown source. Please note these photo's in the gallery are just hosted on myspace. Click here to view the photos, in my gallery
Thank you to Kriss who sent me these photo's of my grandfather and his uncle Bogdan Wojciech Bernert.

 

 

To find out more about the uprising click on the links

On the 4th October 1944 my grandfather was captured and taken as a prisoner of War (POW) and held in Teillager-Lamsdorf, his POW # 103348 (thanks to the Polish Red Cross for this information.) If you can tell me what kind of camp Teillager Lamsdorf was please e-mail me rolandkeates (at) yahoo.com until 1st April 1945, which is the time Germany got Liberated. Like so many POW my grandfather was beaten and tortured. (His brother in Law had told me this and he always held the scars on his back)

On 28th April 1945 my grandfather reported to the British Army Rally Station in Sorgues France, like so many other POW?s. He was later transferred to Italy where he enlisted in the Polish Forces under British Command, the date was 15th May 1945.
This is a photo of my grandfather in 1945
going to France En route to England.
If you recognise anyone here please e-mail me.


Photo of my Grandfather while he served in Italy 1945.
He is the handsome one on the left
if you recognise the other two please e-mail me.

 

 

To find out more about The Polish Army In France 1939 - 1940 click on the links

 

While he joined the Polish Forces under British Command in 1945 he was posted to

65th Pomorski Infantry Battalion,

2nd Watszawska Armoured Division, click here to find out more about the Division

2nd Polish Corps, click here to find out more information regarding 2nd Polish Corps

8th British Army. click here to find out more information regarding 8th British Army

He was also seconded on a Drivers course from 14 July 1945 to 23 September 1945

 

Here are some images of badges and insignias that my grandfather would have worn on his 'Battledress Blouse'
This is the badge of the 65th Pomorski Infantry Battalion (65PBP), this would be worn on the left breast pocket, however it was never formally issued. The men of the battalion awarded the right to wear the badge were given only the award document, and it was up to them to procure a badge.

A deadline for submission of an order to have the badges made while the 65PBP was stationed in Italy was missed. It was likely that the badge would have been made by one of the famous Italian makers such as F.M. Lorioli Fratelli, Picchiani Barlacchi, or perhaps a lesser known outfits such as L?Arte della Medaglia or Castelli Gerosa to name but two. A rumour that the badge would be made after the unit was transferred to England. The unit was disbanded shortly after arrival and the badge project never materialized.

In the meantime enterprising soldiers took it upon themselves to make the badges. Such a thing was not unusual in the Polish forces as the Poles were known to be a very resourceful lot. The one displayed on my grandfather?s BD blouse is one of these ?field made? badges.

(Thanks to Antoni Zawadzki (PolAntek for your information)

 

 

Here are some more


The Insignia of the Polish 2nd Corps ?Syrenka?
mermaid. The 2nd Polish Corp was the name for the
whole Polish tactical unit serving in Italy
2nd Warsaw Armoured Division badge,
would be would be mounted on the uniform jacket
left breast pocket
2nd Warsaw Armoured Division insignia.
This would be worn on the arm

 

 

and some more


On his 'Battledress Blouse' he would have a Polish Patch on each shoulder
This is a patch showing The Cross of the British 8th Army. The British 8th Army was the whole Army under command of Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery
This is a Polish 2nd Corps commemorative badge, which would be above the left breast pocket.

 

From 1945 to 1946 he served in Italy, together with the 2nd Polish Corps he was transferred to the UK. Due to the Gradual Demobilisation of the polish Forces under British Command he enlisted in the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) and was sent to Derby UK, until he was finally discharged on the 5TH November 1948 into absorption into Work.

Useful links regarding the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC)

http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/polisharmy/

 

Here are some photos of his family

This is a photo of Janina Gorecki. Nee ?
(This was my grandfathers sister however not sure of her birth date, if she ever married or if she is still alive)
This is a photo of Jadwiga Gorecki. Nee ?
(This was my grandfathers sister however not sure of her birth date, if she ever married or if she is still alive)

 

 

Here are some photos of my grandfather 

A photo of granddad when he was 6 years of age
(1933) at his Communion
A photo taken when my grandfather was 14 (1941). He is located bottom right,
Had a confirmation Bogdan Wojciech Bernert is on the left side
(thanks Kris for your help) not sure who the others are?
please e-mail me rolandkeates (at) yahoo.com

A photo of grandfather when he was in
Cardiff aged 22 years of age (1948)
This is a photo of (My grandfather located in the middle) 1n 1948, Derby.
Do you recognise the other two chaps please e-mail if you do

 

 

Useful addresses

Polish Ex-Combatants Association
240 King Street
London

Telephone 020 8741 1911

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in London,
73, New Cavendish Street,
London W1W 6LS

Telephone 0870 774 2800

 Embassy of the Republic of Poland
47 Portland Place
London W1B 1JH
Tel : 0870 774 2700

E-mail : polishembassy@polishembassy.org.uk

 

 

Museums and important attractions



Useful links

 

Can you help? 
2nd from the left is my grandfather, however we have no date or location where this was photographed,
if you can help please e-mail rolandkeates (at) yahoo.com thanks

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