With Grateful Thanks.

This is a photo of a family friend, Roman, (pronounced "Romick"). The photo was taken "somewhere in Europe" and Roman was serving with the Polish 1st Armoured Division. Roman is the one in the middle and the tank in the background was "his".
How did we get to meet Roman and his colleagues? From 1942 onwards, my parents lived in The Scottish Borders and had a few Polish officers billeted with them.
Roman survived the war, emigrated to Canada and raised a family there. In 1971, my father and I visited relatives in Canada and were able to meet up with Roman and his family. Curiously, following the fall of the Iron Curtain, Roman was able to go back to Poland to visit his old home town and he discovered that he had lost his ability to speak and understand Polish!
Roman, like so many of his old comrades has long ago faded way but today I remember him and honour his memory and all those who have served - and still do.