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Polish Military

ON at Fife Museums has one of the best collections of Polish military objects in Scotland.

Many Poles were based in the east of Scotland during the WW2 and this collection of over 200 objects helps to tell their story. Polish forces helped to build coastal defences in Fife and units also trained here in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944.

The collection includes

  • Uniforms
  • Military headgear
  • Medals & Badges
  • Personal Documents
  • Equipment
  • Commemorative plates/plaques
  • Cookery books
  • Programmes and invitations
  • Over 100 images

Of particular interest is a photo album with images of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade in training around the Largo area and a rare Polish naval uniform, consisting of a jacket, shirt and hat. There is also a large contemporary painting by Marie Louise Wrightson of a Polish paratrooper surrounded by some of the objects from the collection.

 

There is a statue of the Polish Commander-in-Chief General Sikorski in the museum grounds at Kinburn Park and a mosaic created by three Polish servicemen based in St Andrews can be found on the side of the Town Hall, depicting St Andrew with the Polish eagle.

 

We are extremely grateful to the Polish Museum in Fife Committee, a group of ex-servicemen, which donated most of the items in the collection as well as a number of private donors.

 

The collection is held at our Collections Centre in Glenrothes and at St Andrews Museum – with a few items on long term display there.

 

Researchers wanting to make an appointment to explore further, should contact us through museums.enquiries@onfife.com.