Fonds 551 Walter Mazurkewich fonds

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Summary information

Repository: South Peace Regional Archives
Title: Walter Mazurkewich fonds
Reference code: 0551
Date: [ca. 1941]-1945 (date of creation)
Physical description: 15 photographs
Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Processed by Mary Nutting August 2013
Added to new database August 2023 – TD

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Walter Mazurkewich’s roots in the Peace Country originated with his father’s move to the Codesa area (between Wanham and Eaglesham) in 1930. John Mazurkewich had immigrated from Poland to Canada in the 1920s. His wife died in Poland and it is possible that his son Walter was left in Poland, from where he was sent to a concentration camp in Russia when the Soviets and Germans invaded Poland in 1939. When Germany invaded Russia in 1941, the pact between the two countries ended, and thousands of Polish people were released from the camps. A Polish-Russian Military Agreement was signed two months later, allowing for the formation of a Polish Army on Soviet soil.

Other Polish servicemen escaped to England, France, after Germany and the Soviet Union conquered Poland in 1939, and created “Free Polish Army” units which fought alongside the Allied armies. They also served with Canadians after D-Day in the First Canadian Army. Walter’s family remembered that he spoke of marching 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 troops and civilian sympathizers in the valleys. He and many of his comrades were also exposed to toxic gases.

The Polish II Corps was created in 1943. From the insignia on Walter’s uniform, it appears he was in the Polish 5th Kresowa Infantry Division of the Polish II Corps, formed in March 1943. It was affiliated with the Western Allies, and was transferred from Egypt to Italy in 1944, where it became an independent part of the British Eighth Army under General Oliver Leese. The photographs in Walter’s collection also support this theory.

During 1944-1945, the Corps fought with distinction in the Italian campaign, most notably in the fourth and final Battle of Monte Cassino, the Battle of Ancona, and the Battle of Bologna during the Allies’ final offensive in Italy in March 1945. 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. The Corps suffered heavy losses in these battles. Walter was wounded and lived with a steel plate in his head afterwards.

After the war, Walter returned to the Peace Country and began working in oil camps as a cook’s assistant. In the late 1940s 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 the Polish Free Army in Italy, collected by soldier Walter Mazurkewich during World War II.

Notes

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents

Access points

  • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
  • Military (subject)

Series descriptions

Reference code Title Dates Physical description
2013.043.01 Item – Walter Mazurkewich  [1941] 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
  Scope and content:

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, standard issue for a soldier of the Polish Free Army.

2013.043.02 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Casual snapshot of a company of Polish Soldiers in Italy.

2013.043.03 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Winter march-past for the Polish Army in Italy.

2013.043.04 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
  Scope and content:

Polish Army marching down a city street in Italy.

2013.043.05 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4 in.
  Scope and content:

Casual snapshot of a company of Polish Soldiers in Italy.

2013.043.06 Item – War Scene  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Model war scene with Spitfire aircraft in the sky and a turtle on the ground.

2013.043.07 Item – Service at Monte Casino  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Open-air service in the valley beneath Monte Casino.

2013.043.08 Item – Summer Walk-Past  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4 in.
  Scope and content:

Polish soldiers on parade in front of a stand decorated with British, Polish and American flags and emblems.

2013.043.09 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
  Scope and content:

Polish Army on a stone city square. In the background is a building with a large sign, “Alemagna”.

2013.043.10 Item – Two Polish Soldiers  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 2 in.
  Scope and content:

Two Polish Soldiers sitting on the edge of a pool of water in an Italian courtyard.

2013.043.11 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in.
  Scope and content:

Two soldiers in Polish uniforms greeting each other on the road. Women and children can be seen in the background.

2013.043.12 Item – Recovering Soldiers  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
  Scope and content:

A group of soldiers in pajamas and casual clothing sitting on army cots, perhaps in a hospital.

2013.043.13 Item – Soldiers Playing Cards  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Three soldiers playing cards around a table.

2013.043.14 Item – Polish Army in Italy  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Soldiers in summer uniforms lined up on the parade square. A jeep is in the foreground.

2013.043.15 Item – Relaxing Soldiers  1945 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4 in.
  Scope and content:

Small group of soldiers in summer uniforms lounging on the ground in front of their pup tents.