Franciszek Gora did his compulsory military service from 21 October 1929 to 20 September 1931. During the outbreak of World War II, he was appointed as a chauffeur to the Polish Intelligence unit. In September 1939, as a driver, he participated in the transport of money from the Polish Bank, and probably also Polish gold, to Romania. But since not all documents are now unclassified from this period, it is difficult to verify the correctness of this data.

 

When the convoy arrived in Romania, it turned out that there was no reason to return to Poland. Franciszek was ordered to go to the Croatian city of Split. Poles, including Franciszek, were transported by the ship "Warsaw" to Marseille, France.

 

On 2 April 1940, Franciszek was assigned as a driver to the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade led by Brigadier General Stanisław Maczek. Maczek mentions in his book that he needed soldiers with specialization the most and having a driving license with a semi-basic specialization in the brigade. It is unknown what function he played during the French campaign.

 

After France fell, the Polish soldiers evacuated to the UK through various routes. At that time the Polish army was forming in Scotland and on 26 February 1942, the First Polish Armoured Division was named.

 

Franciszek Gora was incorporated into this Polish Division as a sanitary driver within the ranks of 11 sanitary companies. They participated in raining and exercises in Scotland until August 1944. In early August 1944, the Division was transferred to Normandy, France in the Caen region. From that moment on, the trail of the First Polish Armored Division was the trail of our hero Franciszek Gora.

 

The battle of Falaise, Mont Ormel, locking the Germans in the cauldron, then a 400 km chase east towards Belgium and the Netherlands. On the way, liberating many cities and villages. All the time he served as an ambulance driver, transporting the wounded and killed from the battlefield. He saw many dead and severely injured soldiers. After all that he went through, there remains trauma for life. He had to jump out of the driver’s seat more than once to protect the injured.

 

On 28 October 1944, the First Armoured thanks conquered the city of Breda with few losses to the civilian population. It was not only a military event but for the city the Polish as liberators had priority over everything, for example meal quarters. The British and American allies lost count on how much the citizens gave the Poles, who made friends with the Dutch. a Franciszek became friends with a Dutch family, and this friendship lasts till this day. They still keep in touch.

 

After the liberation of Breda and a few months rest, the 1st Polish Armoured Division moved further east, liberating more cities and villages.

 

On 4 May 1945, the division arrived at the base in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, where General Maczek accepted the surrender of the fortress command, the Kriegswarine base, the "Ostfriesland" fleet, the ten infantry divisions and 8 infantry and artillery regiments. For the Poles it was already the end of the war. The Division was then deployed in the occupation zone and Franciszek was in the Armoured Division until the very end. In June 1947, the 1st Polish Armoured Division was transferred to England where it was demobilized and disarmed.

 

Franciszek decided to return to Poland. On16 July 1947, he registered with the District Office and returned home to his family. Because he had served in the Polish Forces in the West, he was closely monitored by the Security Administration in Poland. Franciszek took up a job as a driver and actively participated in the activities of the OSP in Moszczenica. He was also a driver in the Volunteer Fire Department. But all his life he remained a quiet man and was always willing to help.

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Source: Roman Krom Facebook post

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