Boleslaw Chelchowski was born to Stanislaw and Felicja (nee Niesen) on 10 June 1925 in Adampol, near Nowogrodek, Poland. His siblings were: Bronislaw, Zigmund, Stanislawa & post-war half siblings: Czeslawa & Zdzislawa.

 

His father passed away in a construction accident in 1931 when he was 8 years old. His family was arrested by the invading Russian army on the night of 10 February 1940 and was sent on horse driven sleds to the Baranowicze station where they were forced to board a train that took them to a Siberian forced labour camp near Velsk, Russia. The family all battled with typhus and were forced to cut trees to survive.

​

After the ‘amnesty’ was negotiated in 1941, Janusz, his oldest brother joined the Polish 2nd Corps, while his mother, sister and youngest brother were sent to Africa. Boleslaw and his younger brother Bronislaw joined the Polish Cadets on 11 July 1942. They were then transferred to the Middle East on 15 August 1942, where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). He was very grateful to a particular Tehran native who fed him pigeon soup to help him recover from this illness.

​

 When he recovered, he was posted to the H.Q. Cadet School, M.E. on 11 October 1942. He began his military service with the Polish 2nd Corps on 18 September 1943, serving with the 1st Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment, 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade, as a tank driver and radio operator.

​

He served as Private then Lance Corporal in the Middle East then took part in the Italian Campaign and fought at the famous Battle of Monte Cassino, where he suffered wounds to his right side and hand when his tank was hit with explosives. When the war ended, he joined the Polish Resettlement Corps and was honourably discharged on 4 December 1948. He then travelled to England where he was reunited with his surviving family members.

​

Boleslaw was awarded the following medals:

Polish Medals:

• Cross of Valour,

• Wyborowy Kierowca Army MeDal,

• Monte Cassino Cross

British Medals:

• 1939-45 British Star,

• Italy Star,

• Defence Medal,

• War Medal 1939-45

 

He had fought alongside Stanislaw Kowal who became his best friend and then they became brothers-in-law when Boleslaw married Stanislaw’s sister, Teresa, in in Leicester England on 28 October 1950. Boleslaw attended trade school to become a stone mason & bricklayer. After his marriage and the birth of their daughter Dorota, he applied for a visa to emigrate to Canada to work as a mason. With his wife, baby, and one suitcase, he arrived in London, Ontario in June 1953. He and Teresa raised their five children: Dorota, Richard, Derek, Joseph & Ted.

 

Boleslaw was a founding member of the Polish Combatants Association, Branch #2, and served in various executive roles. He helped to build the Association’s Hall in London, Ontario

​

Boleslaw passed away in London, Ontario on 25 March 2009, at the age of 84 years. He was buried later in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

​

​

 

Copyright: Chelchowski family

​

​