Death of a Polish Airman - Warrant Officer Kazimierz Szewczyk

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by archivist, Oct 21, 2018.

  1. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    On 7th August 1947 Warrant Officer Kazimierz Szewczyk died in Morpeth, Northumberland. Can anyone tell me if this was natural causes or if it was related to a war wound? He was only 27 years old.
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Kayimierz Szewczyk
    Death Age: 27
    Birth Date: abt 1920
    Registration Date: Sep 1947
    Registration district: Northumberland Central
    Inferred County: Northumberland
    Volume: 1b
    Page: 248

    Grab a copy - it should answer your question

    I also note the details below
    Name: Marian Szewczyk
    Death Age: 33
    Birth Date: abt 1914
    Registration Date: Dec 1947
    Registration district: Haslingden
    Inferred County: Lancashire
    Volume: 10c
    Page: 283

    I have no idea if they are related or there is any connection in the closeness of the dates of death

    TD
     
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  4. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Wireless Operator in RAF Coastal Command Squadrons
    Szewczyk Kazimierz RAF Service No. 783263
    date of birth 18.12.1919. place of birth: Roś, Poland. country before WW2 country Belarus
    date of death: 07.08.1947 location of grave Morpeth, Northum., U.K.
    Polish rank trade W/Ost. sierżant. RAF rank Wireless Operator.
    Last posting 304, 301 Sqdn Decorations VM V kl., 4xKW
    from Szewczyk Kazimierz - Krzystek's List

    and CWGC info on the cemetery has
    Morpeth (SS. Mary and James). The Second World War burials form part of a war graves plot in the newer western part. However, there was a Polish camp and hospital at Morpeth during and immediately after the war, and most of the graves in this plot are those of Polish servicemen. In addition to these 74 Polish burials, there are seven war graves of other nationalities.

    EDIT 304 Squadron was transferred to Coastal Command
    On 10 May 1942 it was transferred to RAF Coastal Command along with the Wellingtons. From 14 May 1942 it based at RAF Tiree, from 13 June 1942 at RAF Dale. Apart from patrolling duties over [the Bay of Biscay], seven crews took part in a thousand-aircraft raid at Bremen on 25/26 June 1942 (losing one crew). Several times Polish crews attacked U-boats and fought with German long-range aircraft. On 13 August 1942 the Squadron was credited with sinking a U-boat, without post-war confirmation, though. A noteworthy event was a skirmish of one Wellington with six German Junkers Ju 88 on 16 September 1942 over the Bay of Biscay; The Polish aircraft was badly shot up, but managed to hide in clouds, and claimed one Ju 88 shot down. On 9 February 1943 one Wellington was evading attacks of four Ju 88 for nearly an hour until they ran out of ammunition, escaping with two Polish crewmen injured; similar combat with four Ju 88 took place on 5 September 1943, without losses, in spite of 116 bullet holes found. From 30 March 1943 the squadron based at RAF Docking, from 10 June 1943 at RAF Davidstow Moor (equipped with radar-fitted Wellington Mk XIII), from 20 December 1943 at RAF Predannack, from 19 March 1944 at RAF Chivenor. On 4 January 1944 a Wellington strafed and damaged German submarine U-629. On 18 June 1944 the squadron was credited with sinking a U-boat, quoted to be U-441,but it was negated in new publications. From 19 September 1944 it was based at RAF Benbecula, from 5 March 1945 at RAF St Eval. On 2 April 1945 one Wellington sunk German submarine U-321 with depth charges.
    In Coastal Command the squadron undertook 2,451 missions in 21,331 hours, losing 19 aircraft and 69 KIA, 6 MIA and 31 killed in non-combat flights. It claimed 31 submarine attacked and was credited with two U-boats sunk and five damaged, it also claimed three aircraft shot down, three probable and four damaged.
    (Wiki extract)
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2018
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  5. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Thanks to all who responded. He appears to have been a fit and healthy young man who did 2 tours of duty with no reported wounds or serious injuries. I think, on reflection, he must have been a victim of the 1947 Flu epidemic. He has family still living in the Northumberland/Durham area but I have been struggling to find them
     
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I would suggest you try 192.com

    TD
     
  7. RObert Zarzycki

    RObert Zarzycki New Member

    Hi
    My name is Robert Zarzycki. Kazimierz Szewczyk was brother of my grandfather Józef Szewczyk (from my mother side). As far I know he was shot over Africa and died in the hospital in UK shortly after war. My grandmother has some photos of Kazimierz from Africa Campaign. Also some belongings were sent to Poland after his death.
     
  8. RObert Zarzycki

    RObert Zarzycki New Member

    Hi, i didnt know that brother of my grandfather had a family in UK. It would be nice to find them (if he really had). regards Robert
     
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  9. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    To deal with his assets in the UK after his death the Polish Vice Consul applied for letters of Administration. This is in the Uk probate records of 1950. You can get an online copy of this document, but it will probably only give the extra info of his address in 1947 & that of the vice consul & maybe of Anna. Cost £ 1.50 if you register here
    Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales)

    Screenshot 2022-07-17 at 19.48.57.png

    I can't find an England & Wales marriage for him in the marriage registrations.

    In 1946 the Gallowhill Polish Hospital was for patients with Tuberculosis.
    GALLOWHILL HOSPITAL, MORPETH (Hansard, 10 May 1946)

    war-graves-in-the-churchyard-at-st-mary-the-virgin-morpeth


    The Polish resettlement camp at Morpeth opened in 1947 & many who left the camp settled in the local area. This website is for Polish families in the area.
    Polish Families in the North East of England: Polish Resettlement Camp, Morpeth

    This website on the Morpeth camp has a photo of Sgt Szewczyk's grave stone.

    MORPETH CEMETERY

    Travers
     
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  10. RObert Zarzycki

    RObert Zarzycki New Member

    i was told that he died because of wounds. he had 3 other brothers and all of them had a long life. i remember some photos from Africa, where TB was not so common? but who knows. last of his brothers died few years ago and I have no chance to get more info within my family.
    but i will ask for Anna. anyway, thanks for help
     
  11. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    Here is another record this time from World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 gives his military base (in 1947 ?)

    Name: Kazimierz Scewczyk
    Rank: Warrant Officer
    Death Date: 7 Aug 1947
    Military Base: Dunholme Lodge, Lincs
    Service Number: P783263
    Command: Technical Training Cmnd
    Residence Place: Poland

    From 1945 to 1947 a Polish Record Office was at RAF Dunholm Lodge in addition to No 3 Polish Resettlement Unit RAF.
    History | Dunholme Lodgers
    the-history-of-raf-dunholme-lodge
     

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