Photographs of First Polish Armoured Division

Photographs of the First Polish Armoured Division. Photographs include the locations of the UK, France, Holland, and Hungary. Personalities shown include General (Ike) Eisinhower, General Sikorski, General Maczek, and Major-General Klemens Rudnicki.

Gilles Lapers is the husband of Zygmunt Sawicki's granddaughter. Lapers researched his wife's grandfather's service with the 1st Polish Armoured Division (1st P.A.D.) and the Traffic Control Platoon during the Second World War.

Zygmunt Sawicki was born 3 February 1907 at Bialystok, Poland to parents, Bronislaw and Maria (nee Jaszczolt). Zygmunt was employed as a fitter/mechanic before joining the Armed Forces.
In 1939, Zygmunt lived in Warszawa, Poland. Following a recruitment campaign, he travelled to France where he joined the Polish Forces under French Command on 1 March 1940. He was then evacuated to the UK and served under British Command from 1 July 1940 - 13 September 1946. During that time he served with 1st Polish Armoured Division and with the Traffic Control Platoon, 10 Armoured Cavalry Brigade. Sawicki was honourably discharged in 1946.
Sawicki's granddaughter's husband, Gillies Lapers researched his time during the Second World War. Lapers gifted a number of digital images to the University Archives. His research has been collated into a blog https://zygmunt-sawicki.blog4ever.com/ which includes further images.

Usually chronological within series.

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

CD of images gifted to the archives by Gilles Lapers in November 2006. The photographs are taken from his private collection.
Gilles Lapers gifted a further 14 digital images, January 2024. Mr Lapers retains the originals.

Gilles Lapers is the husband of Zygmunt Sawicki's granddaughter. Lapers researched his wife's grandfather's service with the 1st Polish Armoured Division (1st P.A.D.) and the Traffic Control Platoon during the Second World War.

Zygmunt Sawicki was born 3 February 1907 at Bialystok, Poland to parents, Bronislaw and Maria (nee Jaszczolt). Zygmunt was employed as a fitter/mechanic before joining the Armed Forces.
In 1939, Zygmunt lived in Warszawa, Poland. Following a recruitment campaign, he travelled to France where he joined the Polish Forces under French Command on 1 March 1940. He was then evacuated to the UK and served under British Command from 1 July 1940 - 13 September 1946. During that time he served with 1st Polish Armoured Division and with the Traffic Control Platoon, 10 Armoured Cavalry Brigade. Sawicki was honourably discharged in 1946.
Sawicki's granddaughter's husband, Gillies Lapers researched his time during the Second World War. Lapers gifted a number of digital images to the University Archives. His research has been collated into a blog https://zygmunt-sawicki.blog4ever.com/ which includes further images.

Photographs on Compact Disc; digital images held on the University server.

Description compiled by Gary Smith, November 2007; updated by Sharon Kelly, 18 January 2024

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

Nothing destroyed

Not expected

Originals are in the possession of Gilles Lapers

Published

Catalogued

MS 263