Ludwik Laba was born in the Mościskach district of Lwow in 1917. He was mobilized to the Polish Army in August 1939, and fought in the September 1939 Campaign in Colonel Maczek's 10th Cavalry Brigade. He evacuated with the Brigade to Hungary, where he escaped from the interned soldiers' camp and reached France through Yugoslavia.

 

He took part in combat in France in 1940. When France fell, he was evacuated by the English from Dunkirk to Liverpool. From 1940 to 1944, he served with reinforcements and the coastguard in Scotland.

 

In 1944, he crossed to Europe. Serving in the 8th Ulan regiment of the 1st Polish Armoured Division of General Maczek, he took part in battles in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and in Germany in 1944/45. He was once wounded during battle. He was demobilized from the Polish Armed Forces in 1947 in the rank of corporal and awarded the Cross of Valour, as well as the 1939 Defense of Poland medal, the British Defense medal, and the British 1939-1945 War medal.

 

He then faced the dilemma of what to do next.  With Poland under Soviet rule, he decided to stay in England. First, he worked at a greenhouse, then at the Goodyear and Star Aluminum Tire factory.

 

He married an English lady, and they spent over 50 years together before she died. He lived in Wolverhampton until his death in 2011 at the age of 94 years.

 

​

​

Copyright: Laba family

​

​