Jan was born on 22 February 1915 in Katowice, Poland.

 

Jan worked as a beer distributor before the war but was called up for military service in 1937.  he was trained as an aircraft mechanic.

 

After the defeat of the Polish army by the Germans and Russians, Jan evacuated to Romania.  He continued from there to France, where he arrived in May 1940. He joined the Polish Army and fought in a number of battles before being evacuated to the UK after the fall of France.

 

There, he joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division under the Command of General Maczek in Scotland. He underwent training and then served to defend the Scottish coastline. He served in the Infantry Transport Company

 

In August 1944, Jan crossed to France with the Division and fought in the Battle of Falaise.  After the battles in Normandy, the Division fought in Belgium and Holland. They arrived in Breda on 29 October 1944.

 

In April 1945 the Division moved further north, into Eastern Holland and Germany. All the way to Wilhelmshaven. Jan served with the occupation forces until 1946 when he was demobilized. He settled in Breda where he married Leny in 1945. They raised two daughters.

 

Jan worked in the paint factory called De Teolin in Breda. He worked as a driver for 32 years. He co-founded the Polish emigrants sports club "Cracovia"in 1950. In 1955 he became a Dutch citizen. 

 

Jan died in Breda on 15 November 2008.

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Source: First Polish Armoured Division Facebook post

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