A longer version of our earlier published short film marking the 80th anniversary of the tragic death of General Wladyslaw Sikorski, a close British ally during WWII, who was based in the UK from 194043 and lay buried at Newark Cemetery for 50 years.

The film features greater historical detail with insight from three speakers, acclaimed historian Professor Norman Davies, Researcher on The Experience of the Polish Armed Forces in Britain, 193946, Jenny Grant, and Director General of the National Army Museum, Justin Maciejewski, combined with archival footage courtesy of the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London.

Not widely known about in Britain today, Sikorski was the Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander in Chief of the Polish Armed Forces and together with the thousands of Polish soldiers he brought with him to Britain after the fall of France, made a significant contribution to the Allied cause and eventual Allied victory in WWII, playing a role in many key battles, amongst others the Batte of Britain.

On the 4th of July 2023, The Polish Cultural Institute in London, in partnership with Newark Town Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council, unveiled a lifesized statue of General Sikorski saluting his fallen comrades, designed by Andrew Lilley, at Newark Cemetery.

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