Born: 1921, Stanisławów, Poland
Died: 1986, Canada
Buried: Park Lawn Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Military service in the 1st Armoured Division:
Mieczysław Poprawa was a veteran of World War II. After the outbreak of the war, he escaped from Poland and made his way through numerous countries to France, where he completed his education in Val d’Isere. He joined the Polish army in England and was sent to the front in Narvik, Norway. He was then accepted into the army cadet and joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division as a tank commander. He took part in the battles that were fought in Normandy, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Post-war activities:
After the war, together with his wife Wanda, he emigrated to Canada in 1950, where they raised two children: Andrzej (born in 1952) and Izabella (born in 1954). In Toronto, Mietek worked in tool and die companies for 35 years. He was known for his attention to detail, precision and patience, which became his trademarks and widely recognised. He was a devoted father and grandfather, and family was the most important thing to him. After his retirement, he travelled to Spain and was an active supporter of Polish organisations – he was active in the Association of Polish Combatants Branch 20 in Toronto. He loved reading history books and was an avid stamp collector.
author: Andrzej Poprawa
