In September 1945, the Bell family received a letter from Poland. It was not translated at the time. Many years later, the letter “resurfaced”, it was translated and the seed was sown to find out who wrote the letter, was he still alive or were there any living relatives? A lot of water had gone under the bridge in the 66 years since the letter was written. Poland had been under the control of Communist Soviet Union since 1945, its population repressed and dissenters victimised by prison or death. Poland gained its “freedom” in 1990.

The letter dated 2 September 1945

The letter: translated March 2011

“Dear comrade

I want to inform you that I am safe and sound which I hope is also the case with you.  Dear Russell, you’ll surely remember me, I am the one who, during the time of the Germans, used to drive the two grey horses when the two of us worked together in the barracks.  I used to transport bricks and gravel and later to the shooting practise ground, near the railway.  I used to provide you with food, can you remember?  Now we have got our Polska (Poland), now we needn’t be afraid anymore, if the guards had caught me, I wouldn’t have been alive but things always went well.  Please be so kind as to inform me, you were taken from Tuchola to Thorn and from then on I don’t know anything about you.  Hopefully, you survived your captivity well and you are quite well at home with your parents?  Please give my regards to your parents as well as all the comrades you were with in the camp at our place, Tuchola.  Now, I’m quite fine.  We have got our freedom and our fatherland, the devil shall take the Teutons, we have endured enough.  Dear comrade, don’t be cross with me for writing in German.  I wanted to write in Polish but I thought you wouldn’t be able to read it in Polish.  For the time being, everything stands as it was, best wishes from your friend and comrade.  Please write back soon.  My address, Jan Glowacki, Tuchola, Pom Starostwo Powiatowe.     

The writer of the letter was Jan Glowacki. Remarkably, with the help of Sabrina Moss, Izabela Langowska and Pawel Bukowski, Jan’s son, Lucjan was located and he was still living in Tuchola. The link between Jan and Russell was found

Jan Glowacki was a Polish POW who lived at Tuchola.  He had served in the Polish Army and was captured by the Germans.  There was a POW work camp at Radzim, to the west of Tuchola, where it is believed Russell worked. It is thought this was where Russell and Jan met.  It is believed that Russell returned to Thorn after working at Radzim. 

Jan’s son Lucjan was a child at the outbreak of war and he and his mother were sent to the west, away from Tuchola.  When they heard that Jan was a POW they returned to Tuchola but were not able to see him.  In 1939, Polish civilians in Tuchola had suffered atrocities at the hands of the occupying German forces and it was a very difficult period for the Polish people. It was impossible for Jan’s wife to make contact with him.

In April 2011, Hilda Bell and her 4 daughters, Glenys, Trisha, Kath and Shirley and son Alan visited Malbork Cemetery to pay respects to Corporal J.R. Bell.  Hilda married Russell’s brother Jack and would have been Russell Bell’s sister-in-law had he survived the war.  Their visit took them to Torun and Stalag XXA and to Forts IV, XI and XIV (the hospital).  It was not possible to enter the Polish Military Base, the actual site of Fort XIII which is believed to be the location of Camp 3A where Cpl. Bell spent most of his time. 

On 16 April 2011, the Bell family visited Tuchola and met Lucjan Glowacki, his daughter Maria Szmelter and his grandson Lucasz Szmelter. 

We were made most welcome by the Glowacki family and the Polish people we met – a memorable trip.

Above: Hilda Bell with Lucjan Glowacki, Maria and Lucasz Szmelter.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sabrina Moss, Izabela Langowska, Pawel & Hanna Bukowski.

Below: Pawel and Hanna.