In this podcast we meet Nuna Staniaszek whose mother Tola Turska, nee Styraniec was a volunteer with 317 General transport 2nd Polish Corps. Her service as listed in her Military records began in the Middle East and then on to the Theatre of Operations in Italy between February 1944 and 4th March 1945: On the rivers Sangro and Rapido for Monte Cassino, The Gustav-Hitler Line Adriatic Coast, Ancona, The Gothic Line, Northern Appenines on the River Senio. I was gripped by Pani Tola’s stories of her service and humbled by the selfless dedication that these young women showed.

In Italy 317 transport’s primary task was to supply the 2nd Corps Base from the ports, it was used to bring in ammunition and stores to the 2nd Corps' second supply line. The 317th PWSK Transport Company organised 203 transport columns carrying out more than 12,210 missions across 1,622,500 miles, and delivering just over 113,000 tons of supplies.

We talk about Pani Tola’s story and about the reverberations of her experiences across 2 generations of women, through memory, Polish language, patriotism and culture. Pani Tola loved dancing, she danced in the Polish folk groups during WW2 and a wonderful photograph of her standing in the desert in front of her tent dressed in the Krakowski Stroj - Polish national costume - that she had sewed. In London Pani Tola continued to sew Polish dance costumes for Mazury Polish Dance Company, Nuna her daughter was part of the troupe for 30 years and her grandaughter continues to promote Polish folk dance.

Medals and Awards

Polish Army Medal

British: 1939-45 Star

Italy Star

Defence Medal

The War Medal 1939-45

Pani Tola opened my eyes to the overlooked Polish Women warriors of World War 2, when she took me through her annotated and much-loved copy of In Their Country’s service Women Soldiers of the 2nd Polish corps 1941 – 1946 this commemorative book was published in Italy by The Headquarters of the Polish Women’s Auxillary Corps 2nd Corps.

"We spoke about" Links:

Theodora (Tola) Styraniec - by Nuna Staniszek https://artandmemory.uk/force-of-memory

https://www.facebook.com/PolishForgottenForce/posts/681754709066695/?_rdr

In Their Country’s service Women Soldiers of the 2nd Polish corps 1941 – 1946. Published in Italy by The Headquarters of the Polish Women’s Auxillary Corps 2nd Corps.

https://www.polishexilesofww2.org/photo-books-and-publications

Mazury Dance Company of the Polish YMCA

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-2R2GSQ5c-lH0aBdN613LQ

Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola Piesakowska

Supported by the Polish Cultural Institute

Produced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondyn

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