Promotion - and a flypast - for Polish war hero

Adam Gazur survived a Siberian concentration camp and also fought in one of the hardest campaigns of the war.

Now, aged 95, his war efforts have been recognised with promotion from Lance Corporal to 2nd Lieutenant of the Polish 2nd Corps.

The honours were bestowed on Mr Gazur by representatives from the Polish Embassy and the Polish 2nd Corps, who called at his home in Mytholmroyd to the applause of his family and neighbours.

Born in Kamienie, Poland in 1925, Mr Gazur was the third of five children. He left school as war was declared on Poland. Whilst his family made their way East away from the Nazi invasion they were unfortunately captured by the Russians and placed in a Siberian concentration camp where sadly his younger sister died.

Mr Gazur and his family, along with other prisoners, escaped by building six rafts, taking three weeks to make their way down the river Czulim to safety.

He then joined the Polish 2nd corps as a reconnaissance tank driver, travelling through Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt. From Egypt he was posted to Italy to fight at Monte Casino, one of the hardest campaigns of the war.

See the flypast: https://www.facebook.com/peter.holmes.5074644/videos/1593870020793921/