From Poland to Pwllheli
Last updated: 05 November 2008
Since World War II, the connection between Penrhos, Pwllheli, and Poland has become ever-stronger. Beginning life as an RAF air base, populated by Polish airmen, the site was transformed into a residential home for elderly Polish people, many of whom were not able to return home after the war.
When BBC Radio Wales presenter Mal Pope visited Penrhos, he gathered tales of escapes from Auschwitz and Luftwaffe pilots shot down on the sands of Pwllheli, as he toured the old base.
When the Germans invaded her homeland, Adela Forysh found herself in Auschwitz. Determined not to let the enemy get the better of her, she repeatedly tried to escape, finally meeting up with the American army and making her way to the UK.
Listen to Adela's story.
Born in Poland, the coming of World War II sent Stanislaw Reicher and his family further and further east. Finally catching up with the Polish army in Iraq, he returned to Europe to fight in the battle of Monte Cassino before making his way to Anglesey, via Coventry.
Listen to Stanislaw's story.
Born in the late 1930s, historian John Eric Williams' Pwllheli childhood was all about the war and a town full of multi-national soldiers. It must have been exciting being the local policeman's son and having a Polish pilot to stay.
Listen to John's story.
Why did the proposal to establish a permanent aerodrome in Penrhos create so much controversy? More on life after the war from historian John Eric Williams.
Click here to listen.
Many of the old air base buildings have now been converted for the use of the elderly residents. Penrhos Home manager Michael Drewenski relates what became of the old parachute packing house.
Click here to listen.
your comments
Mike Coburn West Kirby
We have been coming to The Llyn Peninsular for 40 years. I would like some more history on Penrhos Polish camp. As when I first came to The Peninsular there was an aircraft runway close to the camp, and light aircraft would land there.
Mon Jun 1 09:21:42 2009
Martin Briscoe, Fort William
I was photographing war graves for the War Grave Photographic Project last week and visited St Cawdraf churchyard in Abererch. There are eight war graves there from HMS Glendower, they are grouped together and all the same style but not standard Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones. HMS Glendower was a Royal Navy training establishment at the nearby Butlins camp so I have wondered whether perhaps Butlins paid for the burials and provided special headstones? I wonder if anyone local knows anything about these?
Fri Jan 16 11:01:47 2009
