Polish military personnel to be remembered in Newark All Souls Day ceremony at London Road cemetery
The All Souls Day Ceremony of Homage and Remembrance, will take place in the Commonwealth War Graves Section of the Newark Cemetery on Sunday, commencing at 3pm.
Guests should use the Thoresby Avenue entrance (NG24 4DJ) where they will be directed to park their car.
They will then be asked to make their way over to the designated area at the Commonwealth War Graves Section.
The Procession of the Collegiate Body, led by the standards, will move off from the Thoresby Avenue entrance at 3pm, guests are asked to be in place by 2.45pm.
Members of the public who want to participate in a ceremony of remembrance and reflection are welcome to attend — the ceremony normally lasts an hour and it is advisable to wear warm clothing and footwear.
More than 400 Polish airmen and paratroopers who died during the second world war are buried in Newark Cemetery.
A town and district councillor, Laurence Goff, who is also part of the Friends of Newark Cemetery group, said: "We must not forget the Polish airman and those from the Commonwealth; they fought for freedom against the enemy and didn't flinch.
"They fought to the end and then carried on the fight, we should be grateful. We certainly owe them a great deal of credit that they so rightly deserve.
"There are no covid requirements to wear masks etc but please consider your distances, please feel free to stand amongst the graves, with honour and respect for the many Polish Army, Air Force and Navy personnel who died so we can have our freedom.
"For our freedom and yours, Za wolnosc nasza i wasza.
During the second world war, the Royal Air Force welcomed into its ranks thousands of exiles from German-occupied Poland.
Polish personnel served in all RAF commands and earned a reputation for exceptional courage and devotion to duty.
Tragically, although the Poles fought so hard to liberate Europe from tyranny, it would take another 54 years before Poland would be free once again and many of their leaders in exile are buried in the Polish War Graves Section of the cemetery too.
Sunday is an opportunity to honour all of them.
