Memorial plaque for Polish community based at Blackshaw Moor during WWII to be unveiled
Staff at The Caravan Club’s Blackshaw Moor Site are preparing to unveil a memorial plaque to commemorate the Polish community based in that area during the Second World War. The plaque will be placed on a gatepost from the original campsite entrance in Staffordshire on 16 September 2015.
Visitors will also be given the opportunity to see what the Polish campsite looked like during the war that shook the world through photos on display at the site.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War 2 so what better way to honor the memories of those often forgotten than with a plaque to stand the test of time? With this in mind, the staff decided to educate people of the often forgotten bit of history from that location.
During the Second World War and up until 1964, allied troops sought refuge and occupation at the land at Blackshaw Moor, later bringing their families to the area.
But the rich history doesn’t stop there. In 1943, the site was used as a transit camp by the American 565th US Anti-aircraft battalion. They stationed there in readiness for the attack on Europe. In 1946, the site was used by Polish troops. Their families later joined them when they couldn’t go back to Poland on account of the looming Russian threat.
In order to get the history right, staff worked with two members of the Polish community to get their accounts of the camp that used to occupy the land. Most of the people who lived on the site must have worked in the local quarries and old buildings are still seen on an adjacent field at the site.
Blackshaw Moor Caravan Club Site is based in Staffordshire, south of the Lake District, which was recently named the most beautiful area to travel in the UK.
