Fonds 551 Walter Mazurkewich

Walter Mazurkewich fonds. — [ca. 1941-1945]. — 15 photographs.


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Agency History

Walter Mazurkewich moved to the Codesa area (between Wanham and Eaglesham) with his father and step-mother when he was about 12 years old. He was just barely 18 when war broke out, and when he enlisted, did so with the Free Polish army. Perhaps this was because he had been born in Poland and was not yet a Canadian citizen.
In World War II, as a member of the Polish army, Walter marched across Poland and through Italy. This was through the high mountains (Alps) and many men died due to frigid temperatures or from falls. The Polish Army took the treacherous high mountain route to avoid Mussolini’s troupes and civilian sympathizers in the valleys. He and many of his comrades were also exposed to toxic gases. Walter was wounded in battle and lived with a steel plate in his head afterwards. 

He spent some time in a concentration camp, from which he managed to escape. This was most likely in the early part of the war, when the Germans first invaded Poland. After Germany and the Soviet Union conquered Poland in 1939, Polish servicemen escaped to England, France, and later Russia, and formed “Free Polish Army” units which fought alongside the Allied armies. They also served with Canadians after D-Day in the First Canadian Army. The Battle of Monte Cassino, in 1944, was the greatest victory won by the Polish Free Army in World War II. Polish soldiers who fought there received a special victory medal, a Polish Cross.

After the war, Walter returned to the Peace Country and began working in oil camps as a cook’s assistant. In the late 1940’s he married Lena Podarunok, who was also cooking in an oilfield camp. They settled in Grande Prairie, but later bought a farm in the Wanham area, where they worked the farm together. Walter was an active life member of the Legion, and a member of the Masons and Elks Club. He loved to play the horses in Grande Prairie and whenever he went to Edmonton. He loved family and enjoyed playing cards and dancing at Legion events. His hobbies included reading history and rug hooking. He passed away in 1983.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of 15 photographs of Walter during WW II, when he was fighting for the Polish army.

 

 
Walter Mazurkewich, [1941]
1 phtograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Polish Army portrait for Walter Mazurkewich, who was born on Feb 24, 1918 and died Oct 6, 1983. He is wearing a British uniform with the word “Poland” on the epaulette.
Location: 2013.043.01
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3 in.
Casual snapshot of a company of Polish Soldiers in Italy.
Location: 2013.043.02
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3 in.
Winter march-past for the Polish Army in Italy.
Location: 2013.043.03
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Polish Army marching down a city street in Italy.
Location: 2013.043.04
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2.5 x 4 in.
Casual snapshot of a company of Polish Soldiers in Italy.
Location: 2013.043.05
War Scene, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3 in.
Model war scene with Spitfire aircraft in the sky and a turtle on the ground.
Location: 2013.043.06
Service at Monte Casino, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3 in.
Open-air service in be valley beneath Monte Casino.
Location: 2013.043.07
Summer Walk-Past, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2.5 x 4 in.
Polish soldiers on parade in front of a stand decorated with British, Polish and American flags and emblems.
Location: 2013.043.08
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Polish Army on a stone city square. In the background is a building with a large sign, “Alemagna”.
Location: 2013.043.09
Two Polish Soldiers, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 2 in.
Two Polish Soldiers sitting on the edge of a pool of water in an Italian courtyard.
Location:2013.043.10
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 4 in.
Two soldiers in Polish uniforms greeting each other on the road. Women and children can be seen in the background.
Location: 2013.043.11
Recovering Soldiers, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A group of soldiers in pajamas and casual clothing sitting on army cots, perhaps in a hospital.
Location: 2013.043.12
Soldiers Playing Cards, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3 in.
Three soldiers playing cards around a table.
Location: 2013.043.13
Polish Army in Italy, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3 in.
Soldiers in summer uniforms lined up on the parade square. A jeep is in the foreground.
Location: 2013.043.14
Relaxing Soldiers, 1945
1 photograph; b & w; 2.5 x 4 in.
Small group of soldiers in summer uniforms lounging on the ground in front of their pup tents.
Location: 2013.043.15
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