August Trella was born on 11 December 1914, in Poland.

 

During WW2, he served in the 9th Infantry Battalion Hunters of Flanders. As a soldier, August was involved in a night attack on Breda, including 3 Polish soldiers who died and 17 who were injured.

 

The 9th battalion was ordered to take over on 28 October, from Bavel to Overakker. They met some German patrols that became their prisoners of war. The assignment was to conquer Ginneken with a night attack. The attack was carried out by 2 fighting groups. Group 1 was located by the Bavelselaan to the center of Ginneken. The striker was formed by two Bren carriers and a motorcycle from the reconnaissance platoon. The Germans had set up in the Ginneken Sturmgeschütz. Group 2 was also in Bavelselaan, accompanied by a troop carrier.

 

August Trella managed to escape, but one of his comrades, Parangowski, did not. August assisted him and only then did he see that he was missing a leg. He was brought to a hospital where he passed away.

 

After the war, August returned to the city where he had fought so hard. During the quarantine in the winter of 1944-1945 he met Maria Bavinck.They later married and had two daughters.

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At the beginning of his marriage, August had a great need to be with his Polish comrades, that also stayed in Breda, to talk and look back at the liberation of Breda. He loved going to the “Polish club” on Saturday nights. The children do, on waking up Sunday morning, would find 2 Kwatta bars next to their beds, quietly put there by their father when returning from the Polish club.

 

August died in Breda on 31 March 2005.

 

 

Source: 1st Polish Armoured Division Facebook post

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