Polish resistance fighters trained in Scotland

Some of the Polish special forces who fought the Nazis in the Warsaw uprising, 1944, trained in the UK. Photograph: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

I read with interest Julian Borger’s article on the last surviving Polish resistance fighter coming to London (UK-trained Polish resistance fighters honoured at last, 11 June).

Aleksander Tarnawski, the last of the Cichociemni resistance fighters who trained in the UK, circa 1943. Photograph: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe

My father, William Southgate, was chief instructor for the Special Operations Executive at Inverie House in Scotland during the war. My sisters and I have a wonderful photo of him with a group of Polish fighters, plus what appears to be a cap badge pinned on to a piece of paper that reads: “With acknowledgements of what you have done for us during the course, and with many thanks, please accept this little souvenir from Party 38 Troy.” It is dated June 2nd 1944.

My father has added: “Given to me by a group of Polish Resistance Soldiers after they attended a Partisan Military Training Course at Inverie House where I was at that time Chief Instructor.”

Like many of his generation, my father never wanted to speak much about what he had done during the war. But I would love to know if Aleksander Tarnawski was one of those he trained, perhaps even one of those in the photo we have.
Melissa Hawker
Ledbury, Herefordshire

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