NEW POLISH MEMORIAL

On the 15th April 2021 representatives, on behalf of electrical giant EDF, who now own Dungeness Estate, erected a new and more permanent memorial to the two Polish airmen who lost their lives on the 16th April 1941. This was in time for a small, Covid restricted, service to be held the following morning, conducted by the Vicar of Lydd the Rev. Chris Maclean, accompanied by the church curator Jacky Darling. Also attending was the mayor of Lydd and Colin Clayton, who, for many years, maintained and cared for the site. This new, solid oak structure, is expected to last for at least fifty years and will be a permanent reminder of those who sacrificed all, for the freedom we enjoy, and take for granted, today.

The latest memorial, which hopefully will last for the next 50 years or so. Kindly paid for by EDF.

BOGUSLAW MIERZWA

MIECZYSLAW WASZKIEWICZ

Seen on the back of a workers van in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. This is one of six vans , similarly adorned, belonging to a small company of Polish construction workers.

Michael Golding, local resident and ex RAF, laying the roundel on behalf of local residents and another on behalf of the local branch of the British Legion

A big thanks to Richard Kornicki CBE DL, chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee at the MOD, and also thanks to renowned historian of all things Spitfire and the Polish Air Force, Wojtek Matsiak in Warsaw.

The second, small, memorial created at the end of the war by Army personnel stationed at Dungeness.

Photo courtesy of Andy Saunders

The previous memorial, which took a battering from the elements.

Colin Clayton with local resident Michael Golding. Colin, for many years, had created and looked after the site.

About the Author: Mike Golding

Born in Ashford a long time ago I have had a lifelong relationship with Dungeness having spent every year here for a fortnights holiday up to the age of 15. In those good old days there was no electricity and hence no radio, no running water and no adequate sewage solutions. Nothing to do other than enjoy the vast expanse of the Ness and all it offered for the young children of that era. Out after breakfast and back before nightfall. There were lakes to swim in. Same lakes to boat on (well old railway sleepers). A derelict school and long disused railway station in and on which to play. Gun emplacements, underground shelters. Sheer bliss. That all ended at 16 when I joined the RAF, finally purchasing a shack – as indeed it was then – in 1971 for the princely sum of £750.00. Only 15 years prior to that we could not afford the £150.00 asking price for what was then known as ‘Windwhistle’, reported to be one of Queen Victoria’s entourages carriages. Still there today, sold last year (2022) and still awaiting planning permission to re construct, but the original structure still concealed behind painted shiplap. Leaving the mob I travelled, retuning ‘home’ as oft I could, and realistically, only becoming a permanent fixture since 1977. In those days there was a vibrant community here with annual gatherings for the Mayday festival – spit roast and all and open days at the Lifeboat station – with bosuns chairs, zip wires to keep the kids happy. I think Health and Safety put paid to that and other activities, as did the moving away of many locals. The result of which , today there are probably less than 20 families residing here permanently, (I have been told not to use the word ‘shacks’ as now, at £650,000.00 plus they are 'desirable bungalows in a well sought after locale'. So ‘Shacks’ they are! End. P.S A few originals left to rent from £500 per week.