When France surrendered in June of 1940, Polish military units were evacuated to the United Kingdom. Among them were three armoured divisions, including troops led by General Maczek.
Poles on the Scottish coasts
Based on the Polish-British treaty from August 5, 1940, Polish Supreme Commander General Władysław Sikorski gave the order on September 28 to form the 1st Polish Corps. Thus, the Polish army came to existence in Great Britain.
The Polish soldiers got a special visit from the royal couple accompanied by Supreme Commander General Władysław Sikorski as well as Polish and British generals.
In October 1940, Polish soldiers began patrolling the coasts of Scotland in their appointed sections.
The 2nd Riflemen Brigade, created in the summer of 1940, which was part of the 1st Polish Corps, was renamed to the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade.
The visit of the British royal couple
On March 7, 1941 the Polish soldiers got a special visit from the royal couple accompanied by Supreme Commander General Władysław Sikorski as well as Polish and British generals. The royal couple received a warm welcome in the town of Glamis from the training 10th Cavalry Riflemen Regiment led by Rottmeister Andrzej Zawisza.
King George VI and his spouse spent the night in one of the royal castle in Glamis, with Polish troops serving as the guard of honour.
King George VI inspected the squadron. The royal couple also briefly spoke with the Polish soldiers. The King and his wife also visited the defence section of the 14th Ulhan Regiment in Barry Links. After that inspection, there was an official dinner in the cantina of the Ulhan regiment in Arbroath. In attendance were i.e. General Stanisław Maczek and the Chief of Staff, Second Colonel Franciszek Skibiński.
Following the dinner, there was a parade of the Polish troops in Forfar for the royal couple and the Supreme Commander. The troops of the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade were on display. King George VI and his spouse spent the night in one of the royal castle in Glamis, with Polish troops serving as the guard of honour.
Photo from the archives of the Institute of National Remembrance
Photo from the archives of the Institute of National Remembrance
Photo from the archives of the Institute of National Remembrance
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The Poznań Branch of the Archives of the Institute of National Remembrance contains photographs depicting the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II to Forfar on March 7, 1941, and the royal couple's meeting with Polish soldiers. Digital copies of the photographs were donated by Stanisław Nogal as part of the national Archive Full of Remembrance project.
