A message from our President, General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank
'I am delighted to be associated with the work of the Polish Heritage Society and very honoured to serve as its President. The Society's work highlights the enormous contribution which generations of Poles have made to their adopted country. Preserving and celebrating that heritage will only further strengthen the ties between Poland and the United Kingdom.
I worked closely with the Society on the project to build a memorial to the Polish Forces at the National Memorial Arboretum and saw at first hand the energy and dedication of those involved.
I encourage you to explore this website and learn about the many other projects the Society has sponsored. Do please contact us if you would like to be involved in any way'.
General The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB LVO OBE
A Debt of Dishonour is a unique documentary film dedicated Major General Sosabowski and all ranks who served in the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade Group and to their Comrades-in-Arms of the 1st British Airborne Division that fought in the ill-fated “Operation Market Garden” at Arnhem and Driel during September 1944.
The Polish premiere screening of Arnhem - A Debt of Dishonour (2012) produced by Dr Marek Stella-Sawicki MBE, with support of the Polish Heritage Society UK, will be held at the Warsaw Rising Museum (Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego) on 25 June 2013 at 11.30 AM in the Liberator Hall.
A Debt of Dishonour is dedicated Major General Sosabowski and all ranks who served in the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade Group and to their Comrades-in-Arms of the 1st British Airborne Division that fought in the ill-fated “Operation Market Garden” at Arnhem and Driel during September 1944.
A Debt of Dishonour offers a fresh insight into the role of Polish forces under General Sosabowski and his own leadership capabilites during “Operation Market Garden” using key-witness accounts by Britsh officers uniquley placed to be able judge the events as they unfolded. The film includes contributions by:
Brigade Major (Retd.) Tony Hibbert MBE, MC
— Interview filmed on location in Cornwall, 3 April 2012.
Sir Brian Urquhart KCMG, MBE
— Reflections on Arnhem, 5-8 August 2012.
Major General (Retd.) John Drewienkiewicz CB, CMG, MA
— Filmed on location at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London, 6 September, 2012.
To accompany the film is an illustrated twelve-page booklet Major General Sosabowski “Polski Bohater - Polish Hero” by Colonel Mike Russell, Commander, Aldershot Garrison.
"...Sosabowski rose to his feet and spoke in English about the futility of what was being proposed. Dyrda recalls that his General said: ‘For 8 days and nights not only Polish soldiers but the best sons of England are dying there in vain, for no effect'. There was an uncomfortable silence; again, not a word from Browning. Eventually, Horrocks said: 'This conference is over. The orders given by General Thomas are to be carried out.'..."
The Polski Bohater - Polish Hero booklet is availble for downlaod using the link below:
Polski Bohater-Polish Hero (278.23 kB)