Sheffield, England (PMN)—Having been taken to Russia in February, 1940, Juliusz Lewoski spent time in a labor camp from which he escaped and in 1942 at the age of 17 and joined the Polish Army 2nd corps. He served in many campaigns including Persia, Iraq, Palestine Egypt and Italy where he was involved in the famous battle for Monte Cassino. As with many of his fellow soldiers in 1946 he found himself in the U.K. where he decided to stay, taking a political stance against communist-occupied Poland. He was discharged from the army in England in 1948 and became a member of the SPK [Polish Ex-Combatants Association] and took active part in the development of the Polish Emigrant society in Sheffield, England, helping with the establishment of such institutions as the Polish Saturday school, where his sister was a founding teacher, and the Sheffield Polish Choir "Arion." He establish and build a Polish Ex-Combatants Club in Sheffield, and he remained proud and patriotic until his death in 2006.

The SPK in Sheffield has encountered financial issues which need to be resolved. However, according to Lewoski’s son, Eddy, the sequence of events in recent times "has been nothing short of disgraceful and shocking and my father together with his many comrades who have passed way in England would be turning in their graves at the way their heritage is being mistreated."

Eddy Lewoski claims that "an organization called P.C.A. Ltd. which was originally founded by the Ex-Combatants Association to look after their assets and interests, seems to have completely changed their role of advice and support to regional divisions of the organization, to one of systematic closure and disposal of the assets that have been accumulated over the years." He says it is being done without regard for the actual members of the association and the future of the Polish communities. He adds that the financial state of PCA Ltd. is excellent and desperate measures are unnecessary.

In early March, a delegation from PCA Ltd. came to Sheffield SPK and closed the club. PCA Ltd. states that the action is within its rights and the decision is irrevocable.

The community in Sheffield is not seeking financial assistance and believe they can resolve the problems that had beset the club. Lewoski says they are trying to summon support for their situation to exert pressure on the authorities in PCA Ltd. to take a more positive and productive position in the future of the organization.

There are other issues involved, such as what happens to the money generated by the disposal of the association’s assets and what should be done to develop an infrastructure for the new Polish immigrants that are arriving in the U.K. on a regular basis. Sheffield has its largest Polish population since the end of the World War II, with 20,000 new Poles having arrived since Poland became part of the EU.

Eddy Lewoski was born in Sheffield, England, in 1957 the first son of Juliusz Lewoski, who had been a soldier in the 2nd armored Warsaw division of Ander’s Army. He administered the Polish boy scouts in Sheffield and the "Wisla" sports teams for some years. He was also a member of the SPK from age 16, during which he served on the committee and was a member of the color guard. He concludes his remarks saying, "I may have been born in England, but am proud to call myself Polish and believe that this is due to the hard work and investment of my father and his fellow soldiers who left us the legacy which it now seems we are only too willing to surrender."