Poland

From Poland to Newham-the long way round

My name is Danuta Gradosielka Nee Maczka, and I came from Poland to Britain-via Siberia, the Middle East, Egypt and Italy. I was born on a military settlement called Osada Krechowieck in Wolyn, Eastern Poland. I was just a schoolgirl when the Second World War started, ending my carefree childhood. On 1 September 1939 Hitler's army invaded western Poland and on 17 September the Soviet army crossed the eastern border. The war came to destroy our quiet life.

The fate of being homeless had just begun. We were forced to leave our farm in October 1939 and lived in a nearby town, Tuczyn until 10 February 1940, when our family of six joined about 150.000 other Poles being deported to Siberia and other parts of Russia.

After a 3-week journey in a crowded cattle wagon under appalling conditions we arrived in Kotlas, in the district of Archangel. There we had to work in the forest in freezing temperatures. A lot of people, including my younger sister, died there.

After the Amnesty in 1942 we were freed and travelled to Southern Russia to join the Polish Army under General Anders. In April the Polish Army came under the command of the British 8th Army in the Middle East.

As a Driver in the 316 Transport Company-only women-of the Polish 2nd Corps I contributed to the war efforts in Palestine, Egypt and the Italian campaign. After the war in 1945 I got married and was transferred with the army to England where I finished my secondary education.

We moved to London in April 1949 and then to Forest Gate in September 1949 with my husband and our 1ST daughter Elzbieta. We bought a small house. Later, as we had more children we had to move to a bigger one. Our six children grew up and went to school in Newham. And I am still here in Forest Gate after 53 years! Which means…I like it here.

When we came here in 1949 there was a large Polish community in West Ham and East Ham. Gradually it increased mostly ex-serviceman who feared persecution if they returned to Poland. There were enough families to be able to organise social activities, centred around Catholic Church, including a Saturday morning school to teach our children the Polish language and culture.

In recent years a new generation has arrived from Poland, asylum -seekers. And I now work as an interpreter for Newham Language Shop.

Polish national holidays are celebrated with stage performances by children reciting poetry, singing folk songs and dancing in national costumes. Over the years, many people have moved away but I still meet my Polish friends at church and other social functions, which nowadays mostly takes place in Goodmayes.