The eldest of four brothers, Michal Glinski was born in Dobryniewo near Baranowicze, Poland (now in Belarus). Domanowo, the nearest town, had a station on the railway line from Brest to Baranowicze.

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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.

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Dobryniewo was in the Russian-controlled area of Poland. Schools were suspended and Michal began working on the railways at the age of 16. This was a useful and non-threatening profession, which may have spared him deportation to Siberia.

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In June 1941, the Germans attacked the Russian-controlled area of Poland and Michal was taken from his home one night by Soviet partisans who wanted to increase their numbers. This immediately put his whole family at risk of execution by the Germans. After less than two weeks, Michal managed to escape and return home, but the Germans had heard about his time with the local partisans. Managing with the help of the other villagers and the local 'Mayor' to convince the Germans that he was an unwilling participant in partisan activities, Michal resumed working on the railways.

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Around two years passed, and then he was sent with 11 other workers to occupied France to help repair the railways which were being heavily bombed by the Allies. One evening the group of Polish railway workers were eating in a bar adjacent to Besancon station in eastern France. They were approached by a Polish speaking 'French' man and asked if they would like to join the local resistance. All 12 joined the French partisans in their fight against the Germans.

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Michal was involved in the harassment of retreating Germans near the Swiss border with France, and the liberation of Pontarlier on 5th September 1944 when the partisans and the advancing US 45th infantry forced the Germans from that area of France.

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Michał then had the opportunity to enlist in the Polish 2nd Corps, which had fought its way from the south to the north of Italy where Michal joined them. After training as a commando, he saw action at the Senio River and Bologna. He was subsequently awarded the Polish Army Medal and Cross of Valour.

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Members of the Polish 2nd Corps were unable to return to Poland for fear of their lives under the Soviet occupation. The British government arranged for them to be brought to Britain and that is how Michal came to Britain and eventually to the Marsworth camp.‎

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Although he was able to contact his family and let them know he was safe, he did not meet his brothers again until 1977 on a hastily arranged trip to Warsaw. He returned to Belarus in 1997, his only visit since the war.

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