The Polish Ambassador to the UK Piotr Wilczek has laid a wreath at the Polish Air Force Memorial in Northolt to mark the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Mr Wilczek was joined on 2 September 2023 with Polish Ambassador to Italy Anna Maria Anders and Deputy Defence Attache Colonel Robert Pawlicki at the Polish Air Force Memorial in Northolt.
Saturday’s ceremony saw the British and Polish audience remembering more than 18,000 Royal Air Force and Polish Air Force soldiers and commemorating over 2,000 who tragically died during the Battle of Britain. It is estimated that during the Battle of Britain, Polish pilots shot down more than 203 enemy aircraft and Poles played an important role in the Allied victory.
The special event saw Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL welcome those attending and was followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Polish Air Force Officer Cadets.
The ceremony ended with the Polish and UK national anthems and withdrawal of the Standards followed by the playing of ‘White Roses’, with music provided by performing musicians of the RAF Central Band.
The Polish Air Force Memorial is located at the junction of the A40 and the West End Road, South Ruislip.