On the same day as the Polish Regions conference, 26 February, Lawrence and David from Lacrosse attended a reception at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to honour the memory of General Stanisław Maczek. During World War II, General Maczek commanded the Polish 1st Armoured Division, which played an instrumental role in the Allied liberation of France. After the war, Maczek settled in Edinburgh. The event was hosted by the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and was attended by Mr Witold Sobków, the Polish ambassador to the UK, and Mr Dariusz Adler, Polish consul general in Scotland, as well as many leading figures involved in promoting cultural and commercial ties between Poland and Scotland.
A film depicting the greatness of General Maczek’s achievements and the modesty of the man was screened and many of those who spoke so fondly of the person they knew were also in attendance. These included his son, men who served under him in Scotland and on the continent, as well as the General’s paper boy, who went on to became the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
The Scottish politicians in attendance were in agreement that Scotland had a lot to thank the Polish forces of the Second World War for and put their support behind the campaign to raise funds for a monument for the General in Edinburgh.The also called for closer relations between Scotland and Poland.www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com – Msp calls for memorial to Polish war hero Maczek