Born: February 20, 1901, Żytomierz, Russia
Died: February 4, 1998, Edynburg, Scotland
Buried: Edynburg, Scotland – Dean Cemetery
Family: parents – father Edward, mother Matylda (nee Dichhof); wife Marjorie Franklin (1998-2001), son Bolesław
Medals: Polish – Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari Military Order, Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari Military Order, four times the Cross of Valor, Independence Medal; British – Distinguished Service Order; French – Croix de Guerre avec Palm
Prewar fates:
Władysław Zgorzelski graduated from six grades of junior high school in Żytomierz. From 1917, he was a member of the Polish Military Organization in this city. In April and May 1918, he served in the III Polish Corps commanded in Ukraine by General Eugeniusz de Henning-Michaelis. In November 1918, he joined the Polish Army. Participant in the fights for Poland’s independence in 1919-1921, including in the ranks of the 2nd Horse Artillery Division (Virtuti Militari). In 1921 he graduated from the Cadet School in Warsaw and in 1922 in Grudziądz. In 1923, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant of the 15th Poznań Uhlan Regiment. A year later, he graduated from the School of Gymnastics and Sports in Poznań. Since 1925, participant and winner of many national and international equestrian competitions, including: in Nice, New York, Brussels and Amsterdam. In 1932, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and in September 1933, he was transferred to the 6th Mounted Rifle Regiment, and then to the 4th Mounted Rifle Regiment of the Łęczyca Region.
Fates during the war:
In the September Campaign of 1939, he was an operational officer at the headquarters of the Nowogródek Cavalry Brigade. He was captured by the Soviets, from which he escaped and through Hungary and Yugoslavia reached the Polish Armed Forces in France. From mid-January 1940, officer of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, commander of a motorized cavalry division. With it he fought against the Germans in the French campaign at Champaubert and Montbard. After the fall of France through Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, he reached Great Britain.
In England, he was appointed deputy commander of the Reconnaissance Squadron of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade and promoted to the rank of major. From May 1942 to September 1943, deputy commander of the 1st Rifle Battalion named of 14th Jazłowiecki Lancers Regiment, renamed later to the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
From November 1943, commander of the 10th Dragoon Regiment of the 1st Polish Armored Division. In its ranks he fought in the Division’s campaign on the European continent. Seriously injured in the fighting in Belgium near Aalter, he stayed in hospital until February 1945, then returned to the position of commander of his regiment and participated in the Division’s battles in the Netherlands and Germany. He ended his military service as deputy commander of the 10th Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Armored Division.
Post-war fate:
After demobilization from the Polish Armed Forces, Władysław Zgorzelski remained in exile in Great Britain. He became a world-famous trainer of equestrian teams, including: in Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, North and South America. He was promoted to the rank of colonel of the Polish Army. He died in Edinburgh in 1998.
author: Aneta Hoffmann
source: „Biuletyn Towarzystwa Byłych Żołnierzy i Przyjaciół 15 Pułku Ułanów Poznańskich”, nr 4/21, 1998; archive of Military Historical Office, Warsaw, Poland
photo – source: Stowarzyszenie Odwach