1st Polish
Armoured Division
foto: Eddy Van Deun




MICHALAK Louis (text on headstone is incorrect)

Date of death:  30.7.1944 Kortrijk, Belgium
Initially buried:  Sint-Eloois-Winkel, Belgium
Today buried:   Polish War Cemetery, Lommel, Belgium   
Grave:             III.C.12

On the places III.C.11 and III.C.12 we find the graves of Kotewicz J, and Michalak L. On both graves is mentiomed RAF but they are not found in the records of the Polish Military Forces, which are kept in England.

Upon closer examination it became clear that their graves were transferred from Sint-Eloois-Winkel, Belgium, to Lommel.

In local historiography is proved that they belonged to a group of four armed Poles who lived in France, who became involved in a fire-fight with a patrol of the German Feldgendarmerie on the 30th of July roundabout 8 o'clock in the evening. This happened in the neighbourhood of the airfield of Kortrijk, Belgium.

Kotewicz Joseph, born at Poznań and living at Liévin, France and Michalak Louis, born at Choques (Pas-de-Calais) and living at Béthune, were taken prisoner by the Germans and shot down later on.

According to local records the third man has been shot down by Germans at "De Barakken". He should be buried at Moorsele, Belgium, but is grave is not to be found there.

The fourth man escaped with help of the Belgian Resistance.

Source: "Kortrijk tijdens de 2de Wereldoorlog" author José Vanbossele.

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