Who Are They?
Antoni Lekstan was born in Ujko Stary, Poland in 1915.
He enlisted in the Polish Army in 1937 and saw active service in 1939 with the Second Armoured division against the German invasion of Poland.
After the capitulation of Poland he joined the formed Polish Ranks of the First Armoured Division.
When France fell, he crossed over to England with his army unit. (Polish soldiers who had fought with the Allies were unable to return to their country of birth, which had been occupied by the Soviet Union).
After D-Day his army unit crossed back to France and then went on to Belgium, Holland and Germany together with American and British Forces.
He travelled to Australia on the Asturias in 1947, arriving in Fremantle. He eventually found his way to Tasmania where he married in Hobart in 1950. He and his wife moved to Franklin and then in 1955 they left Tasmania and settled in Adelaide, South Australia. Anton Lekstan's daughter, Pola, has supplied this story, and photos of her father and other soldiers taken on board and in Tasmania.
She can be contacted through the site administrator.
.
He enlisted in the Polish Army in 1937 and saw active service in 1939 with the Second Armoured division against the German invasion of Poland.
After the capitulation of Poland he joined the formed Polish Ranks of the First Armoured Division.
When France fell, he crossed over to England with his army unit. (Polish soldiers who had fought with the Allies were unable to return to their country of birth, which had been occupied by the Soviet Union).
After D-Day his army unit crossed back to France and then went on to Belgium, Holland and Germany together with American and British Forces.
He travelled to Australia on the Asturias in 1947, arriving in Fremantle. He eventually found his way to Tasmania where he married in Hobart in 1950. He and his wife moved to Franklin and then in 1955 they left Tasmania and settled in Adelaide, South Australia. Anton Lekstan's daughter, Pola, has supplied this story, and photos of her father and other soldiers taken on board and in Tasmania.
She can be contacted through the site administrator.
.
PHOTOS
1. R - Antoni Lekstan in uniform
2. Antoni Lekstan on the right
3. Antoni Lekstan on right-hand side
4. Antoni Lekstan shielding
his eyes on board
5. At the hostel, Tasmania
6. Antoni Lekstan (second left) - receiving welcome gifts of pineapples and coconuts
7.
On board (unidentified)
8. At the hostel - with Tasmanian aboriginals
9. Antoni and motor bike
[Click on photos to enlarge]
Antoni Lekstan
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Ship's Voyage Logs
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Statistics about the Ship
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