urodzony: 3 grudnia 1918 r., Jaksice koły Bydgoszczy, Polska
zmarł: 26 maja 2015 r., Sint-Gillis-Waas, Belgia
pochowany: cmentarz komunalny w Sint-Gillis-Waas, Belgia
rodzina: rodzeństwo – Bruno, Stanisława, Klemens, Teresa, Mariusz
Sylwester Bardziński
Born: December 3, 1918 in Jaksice near Bydgoszcz, Poland
Died: May 26, 2015 in Sint-Gillis-Waas, Belgium
Buried: municipal cemetery in Sint-Gillis-Waas, Belgium
Family: siblings – Bruno, Stanisława, Klemens, Teresa, Mariusz
Medals: Polish – Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, Cross of Valor, Gold Cross of Merit, “Pro Memoria” Medal and many other Polish, Belgian, French and British decorations
Fate before World War II:
Sylwester Bardziński graduated from the Municipal Primary School in Jaksice. Then he studied at the University of Technology in Inowrocław and Bydgoszcz. He joined the Polish Army in 1938 in the unit in Bydgoszcz.
Fate during World War II:
After the USSR’s aggression against Poland, Sylwester got to Hungary, from where he reached France through Romania, Yugoslavia and Italy. France was already largely occupied by the Germans. Together with his friends, he got to Bayonne in Scotland on the ship “Batory”. Here he joined the Polish Army under the command of General Stanisław Maczek.
After the formation of the 1st Polish Armored Division in 1942, Sylwester Bardziński became a tank driver in the 1st Armored Regiment. He landed with the Division on July 30, 1944 on the beaches of Arromanches. On August 8, during the fighting in Caen, Soignolles was wounded, his commander was killed, and the tank was completely destroyed. After the end of the bloody battle for Mont Ormel and reaching the Belgian border, Prince Andrzej Poniatowski was given command of the tank and crew. After crossing the Belgian border, the 1st Armored Regiment and the crew of Sylwester Bardziński’s tank fought against the Germans, liberating, among others, Roeselare, Aalter, Tielt, Ruiselede, Gadawa and many other Belgian towns and villages. While stationed in Sint-Gillis-Waas, he met his future wife, Marcelle. After a break of several days, the Regiment moved further towards the Netherlands. After the liberation of the Netherlands and the winter stopover, Sylwester and the Division crossed the German border. Here he learned that his sister Teresa had been found in the German camp. He took her to a family he knew in Sint-Gillis-Waas. After a short time, his sister returned to Poland. After the end of the war, Sylwester Bardziński returned to his Marcella van der Hayden and lived with her parents in Sint-Gillis-Waas.
Post-war fate:
After the war, on June 15, 1948, he married Marcella. After settling in Belgium, he initially worked for friends of Marcella’s parents. Then he started working in a metallurgical factory, then in a teflon factory. He volunteered in the Volunteer Fire Department. Involved in activities to commemorate the achievements of soldiers of the 1st Armored Division.
author: Witold Gudyś
