Born: March 7, 1921, Poland
Died: October 9, 2000, Toronto, Canada
Buried: Canada, Toronto – Park Lawn Cemetery, plot E
Family: wife – Stefania, children – Ewa, Andrzej
Medals: Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valor
Fates before joining 1st Polish Armored Division:
Took part in the September 39 Campaign. Later Blaszyk made it to Hungary where since he was underage (18), he was interned in a camp in Szakaly Hogyesz. He escaped and made his way to Budapest where he arrived on January 7, 1940. He received a passport from the Polish consulate. From there they made it to France where they were directed to the camp at Coetquidan. From there he was sent to the camp at where the armoured division was in training and he was assigned to the 24th Lancer Regiment.
Military service in 1st Armored Division:
After the capitulation of France, he was evacuated from a port at Le Verdon-sur-Mer on June 22, 1940 aboard the “Royal Scotsman” The regiment was sent on to Douglas and they were told that they were to defend the British shoreline in Scotland. Here he underwent further training and the regiment received their first tanks. He was sent for officers’ training to Catterick. He returned to the regiment in March 21, 1944 as Corporal Cadet and was placed in command of a tank with the 2nd Polish Armoured Regiment. The regiment landed in Normandy on August 2, 1944. Czesław Błaszyk took part in all the major engagements. On August 18, 1944, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and placed in command of a tank platoon. He was seriously wounded during one of the engagements and was returned to England where he recuperated at the 4th Polish military hospital in Ormskirk, near Liverpool.
After War:
He became an international trader after the war and settled in Toronto.
author : Stan Skrzeszewski, Canada
source of information: SPK w Kanadzie, October, 1995 (4/136)