Polish Combatants, Who we are

The Polish Combatants Association in Canada was formed in Italy, on October 3rd 1946. The same year in which the Canadian government agreed to admit approximately 5,000 Polish ex-servicemen into the country. The first group of 1691 soldiers gathered in the Falconara camp just outside Ancona, Italy and there they decided to form the Canadian chapter of the Polish Combatants Association. The soldiers and, the association, arrived in Halifax aboard the S/S Sea Robin on November 11, 1946. Since then, the history of the Polish veterans who settled in this country is both remarkable and heroic.

The basic criteria for admission into Canada was the signing of a contract, which obligated each Polish veteran to work as a farm laborer, regardless of educational background or previous work experience, for a period of two years. Many of these veterans were put on farms where they replaced German prisoners of war who returned home after the fighting ended. Sadly, upon arriving in Canada, the welcome received by these heroic men was not what one would expect be given a victorious Allied soldier.

As a non-profit organization, the Polish Combatants Association is a community service group, and it's services are as different as they numerous. The association provides aid for Polish war amputees, helps maintain Polish military cemeteries, maintains Polish traditions and cultural activities by supporting the Polish Scouting movement in Canada, Folk dance ensembles, schools, churches libraries, and so on. In 1992, the Canadian chapter purchased an ambulance for the Sick Children's Hospital in Warsaw, Poland

The Polish Combatants Association is an international organization, since not all Polish ex-servicemen were allowed into Canada, and some decided to make their new homes in other countries. Therefore, the Polish Combatants Association has chapters in 21 different countries. Within each country, the Association is divided into branches, with the Canadian chapter having 22 branches, from Victoria B.C., to Montreal, Quebec.

Originally, membership was mainly Polish ex-servicmen, but the years have taken their toll and the numbers are dwindling. Yet, membership is not restricted to veterans alone, and many of the children of these veterans are joining the association, along with other Polish emigres, to continue the work that was started by these ex-servicemen.

The members of the Polish Combatants Association are proud of the significant role they have played in building Canada as it is today - prosperous, free and tolerant to all - and equally proud of their achievements in this new world. Many of the children have entered into the mainstream of Canadian society as teachers, lawyers, doctors and engineers with an appreciation of their Polish heritage and an acute awareness of the freedom and opportunity offered by Canada to all her citizens.