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Introducing
The Institute
of Polish
Military History
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.
Sto Lat-Albert Hall
The Polish Heritage Society
SPK Standard Visits Everest Base Camp
As a CCF Adventurous Training Officer, and Winter Mountain Leader I felt privileged to be able to organise, and take a group of Cadets from the Oldham Hulme Combined Cadet Force on their expedition to Everest Base Camp in East Nepal, and carry with the group the prized Polish ‘Ex-Combatants’ (Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantów -SPK) Standard.
The expedition was the culmination of 2 year hard work by the 12 Cadets and 3 Adult Instructors / Mountain Leaders.
Prayer Flags and Mountains - Our Dream
After completing the expedition admin and briefings in Kathmandu, the group flew east to the trek head at Lukla, for the start of their adventure. We followed the Dudh Kosi River, crossing many bridges as we headed towards Namche Baazar for the required acclimatisation stop.
Leaving Namche Baazar, the group trekked for a further 11 days, as they continually gained altitude and passed through the Sherpa villages of Tengboche, Pangboche, Pheriche, and Thukla, until we reached the head of the Khumbu Glacier, then followed the trail along the lateral moraine of the Glacier until we reached the village of Lobuje.
Major Ian S Blackwood – Oldham Hulme CCF (RMP), Cadets, and Polish Ex-Combatants (SPK) Standard
Early the following morning we set off towards Gorak Shep, which we used as our base for our visits to Kala Pattar (5545m) to get the best views of Everest, and Everest Base Camp (5364m), which was a further 6 hours up the trail across the Khumbu Glacier.
The trail from Gorak Shep left the group tired and exhausted, until we all reached Everest Base Camp, and fulfilled their dream. After congratulations, and excited and emotional telephone calls home, we took the obligatory photographs, before we ‘proudly raised the Polish Ex-Combatants’ Standard at Everest Base Camp which was an emotional and cherished moment for the group, after which we re-traced our steps back to Gorak Shep for a very cold night’s sleep, as the temperature dipped to minus 16’c, as the snow started to fall, together with the ever present threat of avalanche.
Major Ian S Blackwood
Oldham Hulme CCF (RMP)
RATO