Karol Franczyk

Karol was born June 4, 1924, Karol was a veteran of the Polish 2nd Corps, British 8th Army.

He and his family were imprisoned in labour camps in the Siberian Gulags at the start of the Second World War and in 1941, after surviving nearly two years in the camp, were provided amnesty through a negotiated settlement by the Allies.

Upon landing in Pahlavi, Persia (now Iran), at age 18 he joined the Polish 2nd Corps and served in the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Brigade. He was a Corporal in the 5th Battalion.

Under the leadership of General Wladyslaw Anders, Karol served in Persia, Iraq, and North Africa, before engaging in the Italian Campaign, including the battle for Rome at Monte Cassino, Italy. Karol was awarded the Cross of Valour for his service.

Karol moved to England after the war and was reunited with his mother and siblings in 1949 – they had spent the war years in Masindi, Uganda.

Soon after, they immigrated to Canada, landing in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The family later moved to Winnipeg. Karol passed away on August 27, 1989, at the age of 65 years.

(See Czeslaw Franczyk memoir for more family details)