Polonia Northern England
Deep allegiance to a lost Poland
The only charity in this region that holds records of underexplored history dating since the pre and post WW2 era, which show the history of a refugee community in exile in Northern England.
We Have One Goal
This sole repository of such records includes photographs, personal files, military documents, biographies, programmes and costumes
The collection shows histories of
forced civilian deportation of innocent people (mainly ethnic Poles) to gulags, vagabond journeys across three continents, frail men and women joining General Anders Army in the East to train to defend Europe, participation in military battles for the freedom of Europe, civilian life in temporary refugee camps in British colonies, loss of homeland
and post war resettlement in exile in Northern England. PNE records include the important role of the Polish Government in Exile in London and the Polish Ex-Combatants’ association who assisted with establishing education centres to enable the community to preserve their culture in exile -including in Northern England.
Additionally, there are records of trained missionaries who arrived to provide care and support for the exiled community and descendants.
PNE aims to save and preserve these records
PNE aims to save and preserve these records and to use them to reconnect this hidden and important history with local communities, schools, researchers and heritage organisations across Northern England the United Kingdom. Volunteers (descendants) with the same hidden history are coming forward and PNE anticipates receiving additional archival and heritage materials to build collective memory that will become an important resource for education, research, and reconciliation. The potential for use in engagement with the community and for education is considerable and the charity looks forward to sharing these fascinating records and stories more widely.
This charity also aims to carry out professional assessment of the archive which will
help to identify thematic strengths to help lay the foundation for future public
engagement. In doing so, the charity hopes to reconnect this hidden collection with local communities, schools, researchers and heritage organisations.
significant value in filling gaps in local community and national history
Such important and unique historic records of a large and under-represented
community in exile in Northern England have significant value in filling gaps in local
community and national history. The records cover gaps across a wide range of subjects including history, culture and education. PNE promotes educational benefits for persons of all ages and backgrounds. Sharing this complete and representative history will also promote inclusion and will strengthen social bonds.
Another significant value is that of supporting the academic field focusing on refugee
studies and the broader patterns of forced migration including refugee circumstances, displacement and trauma. The circumstances of WW2 unlawful arrests and forced deportation of mass numbers of civilians, mainly from Eastern Poland, to remote regions further East remains an unknown holocaust, yet this community resettled in exile in Northern England and upheld and practised their specific culture whilst shielding and concealing from their families and the larger community the extent of their horrific journey to exile.
Building Strong Links
The charity is seeking to develop strong working links with local authorities, other
organisations and stakeholders to foster community engagement to help build stronger
community cohesion.