Band of Brothers
Gabrek Bronisław
Corporal31/08/1918 - Jaronowice - Polska
28/08/2004 - Brampton, Ontario - Canada
Bronislaw (Bronek) Gabrek, at age 12 he dropped out of school. He found a job working with a local farmer, helping with the horses. He worked there for 3 years. His brother Janek was an officer in a government-sponsored youth organization called Junak. At 15 he was too young to join but they gave him a job polishing the officers' boots, doing dishes and helping with the horses. In 1937 at age 19 he volunteered for the army and joined the 5th Battalion of the Tank Regiment stationed in Krakow. He was sworn in on December 9, 1938 at Pinczow. From September 1, 1939 to September 19, 1939 he was with the 10th Cavalry Brigade. September 6, 1939 Krakow fell to the Germans. His regiment (those who did not stay to fight) crossed into Hungary on September 19, 1939 with the troops of General Stanislaw Maczek.
Bronek's regiment was encamped at Esztergom, Hundary in April, 1940. He and many others escaped with the help of the Hungarians and travelled across Europe through Yugoslavia, Italy then France where he had a choice of the United States or Britain. He chose Britain and sailed from either La Palice or Le Verdon to Liverpool under Operation Ariel. Bronek was stationed in Britain from 1940 to July 31, 1944 when they were moved to London. In Britain he was transferred to 1 Reconnaissance Battalion, Motorcycle Squadron (CKM) under the command of Cavalry Captain Kazimierz Duda.
In 1942 General Maczek took command of the 1st Polish Armored Division (PAD). The Uhland was adopted as the emblem of the 1st PAD. Some were nicknamed The Black Devils by the Germans because of their black coats and as such wore a black epaulette of Poland on their uniforms which was an honour.
In 1942 Bronek met and married Mary Ann Conely and they had their first of 6 children, Maria. Soon the time they had been preparing for arrived. It was July 28, 1944. After Breakfast they were told to pack everything; this was the day. They headed to the waiting area at Tilbury Docks. Bronek's squadron was taken on barges and landed on August 2 at 12:30 pm on the beach of Courseulles Sur-Mer (code name Juno Beach). They fought through Caen, Falaise Gap, Belgium, Holland and Germany by July 11, 1945. On May 6, 1945 the German commander of the Griegsmarine base at Willhemshaven, Germany surrendered ten infantry divisions and more than two hundred German warships to the Allied Forces that had captured the city. That officer was General Stanislaw Maczek of the Polish 1st Armoured Division.
The war was over but Poland was not liberated. Bronek's regiment had to stay in Germany until April 20, 1947. Resettling Poles back into Britain was having it's difficulties. Bronek was part of the Polish Resettlement Corp from May 13, 1947 until being discharged by the army on February 28, 1948. So began his life in Scotland. He did not return to Poland until 1988 and then again in 1999 when he visited his hometown of Jaronowice. Bronek worked hard all his life in coal mines, railway and finally in Canada as a Machinist. Bronek brought his family to Canada in 1966. We are so proud of the sacrifice of the Poles and cherish our Polish heritage.
Bronek's story is detailed on a website:
http://madalane.wixsite.com/broneksjourneytous
Author of the biographical information on this page : Madalane Turpin