One of Poland’s highest honours has been awarded to the family of a late Angus peer.
The Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland was given in recognition of Lord Fraser of Carmyllie’s outstanding services to the Polish community in Scotland.
His efforts in commemorating General Stanislaw Maczek and the Polish Armoured Division during the Second World War were particularly admired.
The Polish general and his troops were given the role of defending Scotland’s east coast, including the area that became Lord Fraser’s adopted home.
Subsequently, they took part in the D-Day landings and liberated French and Belgian towns and then Breda in the Netherlands, whose people voted for him to be made a Dutch citizen after the war.
Unable to return to the town of his birth, which became part of communist Russia after the war, General Maczek made his home in Edinburgh.
Lord Fraser became interested in the achievements of General Maczek when he represented the UK Government at his funeral in 1994.
At a presentation ceremony at the Polish Embassy in London, ambassador Witold Sobkw said: “Lord Fraser understood what an important figure the general had been in the history of Scotland and how little had been done to honour his deeds.
“The idea to honour General Maczek became for him a very personal, emotional and important issue.
“After he learned about the life of General Maczek, he started to believe strongly that the achievements of this Polish general must be remembered and honoured.”
Just over a year ago, Lord Fraser announced plans to erect a memorial to the general, which was warmly welcomed not just by the Polish community in Scotland but by Scottish society and politicians.
Mr Sobkw said: “Lord Fraser’s contribution to promoting the history of Poland abroad and advancing the friendship between our two nations is enormous.”
The award was accepted by Lady Fraser, who was joined at the ceremony by her son Jamie and daughters Jane and Katie.
Some of Lord Fraser’s former colleagues and closest friends also attended including Lord Lang of Monkton, Lord Cameron of Lochbroom, Lord Mackay of Drumadoon, Lord Hope of Craighead, and Lord Patel of Dunkeld, as well as members of the Polish community from Scotland.
Lady Fraser said: “I am deeply honoured to accept the award, but of course would have much preferred that Peter had been here to receive it himself.
“Peter would probably not have regarded his efforts as particularly outstanding, but my family and I are greatly pleased that he has been honoured in this way.”