A late Angus peer’s hopes to recognise one of the Second World War’s forgotten heroes have been rekindled.
General Stanislaw Maczek was largely forgotten after he played a key part in the Allied liberation of France and organised Scotland’s defences against possible German invasion.
His Polish Corps kept watch over the 130-mile stretch of coastline between Montrose and the Firth of Forth.
The 10th Cavalry Brigade, based at Carmyllie, defended Arbroath harbour and the beaches of Barry Links, controlling the approach to Dundee.
And General Maczek’s troops marched past King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Forfar in 1941, the same year they were visited by Winston Churchill.
Before his death in 2013, Lord Peter Fraser of Carmyllie had been planning a memorial bench and bronze figure of the general.
Now his daughter Katie, former adviser Archie Mackay and lawyer Roddy Harrison have rallied efforts with the General Stanislaw Maczek Memorial Trust.
The trust aims to raise £100,000 for the Edinburgh memorial, drawings for which were approved by Lord Fraser before his death. The Polish Ex-Combatants Association has already offered £5,000.
Patrons of the new scheme include one of the general’s men, retired Captain Zbigniew Mieczkowski.
He said: “It is difficult to find words to describe the hospitality and warm welcome we were given by the Scottish people in 1940.
“I hope that the memorial to General Maczek will soon be realised as planned.
“It will bring back the memories of the days of hope and glory, and the Scottish-Polish friendship in the past, and for the future.”
A documentary by Pawel Nuckowski was unveiled as part of the memorial fund’s launch.
Lady Fiona Fraser said: “I am extremely pleased that the project to recognise General Maczek is once again moving forward with support from my daughter Katie and Peter’s former colleagues. I hope it will attract a great deal of support and enable the creation of a permanent memorial to the general.”
Cheques can be sent to General Stanislaw Maczek Memorial Trust, c/o RAH, bto solicitors, 48 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5HS.