He was born in Poraj, Horodło on 23 December 1918.

 

During World War II he fought in the September Campaign, then evacuated to Romania, Yugoslavia, then France. When France fell, he evacuated to England. There he joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division under the command of General. Stanislaw Maczek. After completing his training, he served in the 1st Armored Regiment as a tank commander.

 

He fought the battle trail from Caen in France and finished in Wittmund, Germany on 5 May 1945. He was seriously injured during an attack near Baarle Nassu in the Netherlands and was rescued from a burning tank.

 

After the war, he wanted to return to his family, but at the request of the family, who asked him not to do it, because his brother was killed in Poland under unexplained circumstances

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He stayed in England where he was married and then emigrated to Canada with his wife. They had one daughter. He travelled to Poland many times over the years.

 

Stefan passed away in Toronto on 28 November 2019, at the age of 101 years. He was one of the oldest veterans from the 1st Polish Armoured Division.

 

Translated from P-tv.nl Facebook post.

 

 

 

Copyright Zielinski family

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