In 1918, Niagara-on-the-Lake was home to a military training camp called Niagara Camp. One of its two facilities, opened in May 1918, housed mostly Canadian Army conscripts. The other, known as Camp Kosciuszko and established in fall 1917, was for North American Polish volunteers who had enlisted to help their homeland, which had been partitioned by Russian, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary in the late 1700s; they fought in a separate force, under the French flag. By 1919, 21,000 Polish soldiers had trained there under Canadian officers.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
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POLISH SOLDIER'S BURIAL PLOT
1917 - 1919
THIS BURIAL PLOT COMMEMORATES THE POLISH SOLDIERS WHO TRAINED IN THIS COMMUNITY FROM 1917 – 1919 AT CAMP KOSCIUSZKO AND SUBSEQUENTLY MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE – THEY PERSONIFIED THE POLISH SOLDIERS’ MOTTO: “FOR YOUR FREEDOM AND OURS!”
HISTORY: AS A RESULT OF THE MOVEMENT TO REGAIN THE INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND AND POLICY DIFFERENCES WITH THE UNITED STATES, 22,174 VOLUNTEERS OF POLISH DESCENT CROSSED THE NIAGARA RIVER FROM YOUNGSTOWN, NY TO THIS COMMUNITY AND JOINED 221 POLISH CANADIANS FOR MILITARY TRAINING FROM 1917 TO 1919. THE POLISH FALCONS OF AMERICA, POLISH PATRIOTS AND PIANIST IGNACY PADERWSKI AND U.S. PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON ALL FIGURED PROMINENTLY DURING THESE EVENTS. THE POLISH VOLUNTEERS WERE TRAINED BY CANADIAN OFFICERS UNDER THE COMMAND OF LT. COL. A.D. LEPAN AND OUTFITTED & FINANCED BY FRANCE. AS A RESULT, THEY WORE FRENCH UNIFORMS AND HENCE WERE CALLED THE “BLUE ARMY.”
IN EUROPE, THE VOLUNTEERS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE FOURTH FRENCH ARMY IN BATTALION & REGIMENTAL GROUPS AND PARTICIPATED ON THE WESTERN FRONT IN THE CHAMPAGNE SECTOR OF FRANCE IN 1918. IN OCTOBER 1918, THE BATTALION & REGIMENTAL GROUPS WERE UNITED TO FORM A SEPARATE POLISH ARMY, WHICH WITH ADDITION POLISH VOLUNTEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD NUMBERED 80,000 UNDER THE POLISH COMMANDER GENERAL JOSEPH HALLER.
AT THE END OF WORLD WAR I, THE SOLDIERS WERE TRANSPORTED ACROSS GERMANY TO JOIN THE GREATER POLISH FORCES TO ENSURE THE NEW-FOUNDED INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND AND ALSO TO REPEL THE BOLSHEVIK INVASION OF THE LAND. THEY ENGAGED IN MILITARY ACTION AT LWOW, WOLYN AND POMORZE.
AT THIS BURIAL PLOT REST 25 SOLDIERS OF 41 WHO WERE STRICKEN WITH AND DIED FROM INFLUENZA WHILE IN TRAINING. WE ALSO HONOUR THE MEMORY OF ELIZABETH ASHER, A NONPOLE AND RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO RISKED HER OWN SAFETY IN CARING FOR MANY OF THE SICK SOLDIERS.
DEDICATION OF THIS PLAQUE AND RESTORATION OF BURIAL SITE FOR THE YEAR 2000 BY POLISH AMERICAN AND POLISH CANADIAN VETERAN ASSOCIATIONS, CANADIAN POLISH CONGRESS, NIAGARA REGION POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS, WESTERN NEW YORK DIVISION.
Visitor information
Location
Polish Soldier's Burial Plot
85 Byron Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ontario
Polish Soldier's Burial Plot
85 Byron Street
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ontario
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 43.2548992
Long. -79.0677589
Lat. 43.2548992
Long. -79.0677589
Polish Soldier's Burial Plot Plaque
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Polish World War I Military Cemetery
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Polish Soldier's Burial Plot Plaque
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