Gabriel Sapacz

Gabriel was born to Agata and Grzegorz Sapacz on 15 March 1907 in Jakowice, Wilno, Poland.

The Germans invaded Poland from the west on 1 September 1939, and the Russians invaded from the east on 17 September 1939. They divided Poland between them. In the Russian-controlled area, the plan to ethnically-cleanse the area soon took effect with the first of four mass deportations to Siberia that were carried out in 1940 and 1941.

Gabriel served in the Polish forces during the September Campaign in Poland. He was captured by the Russians and sent to a POW camp in Siberia.

In June 1941, Germany turned on its ally, Russia. Stalin then quickly changed tactics and allied himself with the west so that the allies could help him defeat the Germans. This led to the signing of the Sikorski-Majewski agreement that called for the freeing of Poles imprisoned in POW camps and labour camps in the USSR, and the formation of a Polish Army in the southern USSR.

The news of this ‘amnesty’ did not reach every camp, but where it did become known, the men and boys soon made plans to make their way south to join the army. For most, this meant walking thousands of kilometers and only occasionally getting on a train for part of the journey. Many did not make it, and those who did were emaciated skeletons by the time they got there.

Gabriel reached the Polish army and was evacuated with them to Persia (now Iran) He joined the 2nd Tank Division of the Polish 2nd Corps and served in the Middle East and in the Italian Campaign. He fought in Monte Casino, Bologna, Ancona, and Loreto. In 1944 his Division was transferred to England where he resided until 1947.

Tragically he lost contact with his immediate family and at that point decided to embark on a new life in Canada as a carpenter. It was in Winnipeg in 1954 that he met and married Anna - a widow with three young children. Soon after Edward, and later Richard were added to this family union.

Gabriel passed away in Winnipeg on 31 January 2001, at the age of 94 years.