Reform UK trio pay tribute to Poland’s Second World War fighters at Audley End

Politicians paid tribute to Poland’s Second World War fighters during a ceremony at Audley End.

The stately home near Saffron Walden was used by the country’s Special Operations Executive to train soldiers known as the Cichociemni.

The “Silent Unseen” were elite paratroopers trained in covert operations, sabotage and intelligence-gathering.

Between 1941 and 1945, 316 were dropped into their occupied homeland – 103 were killed in combat with the Germans or executed by the Gestapo. A further nine were killed by Communists in Poland after the war.

The ceremony was organised by Bishop’s Stortford resident and Audley End volunteer Colin Woodward.

He was joined at the SOE memorial on Remembrance Sunday by John Burmicz, who laid a wreath. Dr Burmicz’s father was Polish and served as a navigator in the RAF’s 301 Bomber Squadron.

The pair were joined by Pole Stan Mackowiak, who lives in Stortford. All three are members of the new Reform UK Association in East Herts.

Dr Burmicz, who chairs the group, said: “Incidentally, the Polish commanding officer at the time was a fellow called Captain Alfons Mackowiak (later known as Alan Mack). He was an instructor at Audley End, in charge of fitness, shooting and unarmed combat.

“Station 43 closed in 1944 and Mackowiak joined the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, under General Sosabowski, and took part in the Battle of Arnhem, where he was wounded and taken prisoner.

“After the war, he settled in Britain and ran a guesthouse in Essex before becoming a PE teacher at Bishop’s Stortford College. It is a really fascinating bit of history.”