South African Military History Society

Katyn Forest and Warsaw Uprising Memorial


Photo: Derek Walker

Location
James and Ethel Gray Park, Melrose, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa
The park is bounded by Melrose Street, Olympic Streets and Atholl Oaklands Road in Melrose.
Access to the park is through Olympic Street. In the park walk towards Melrose Street. The memorial is roughly midway between the highway and Atholl Oaklands Road on a slight rise alongside Melrose Street.

GPS 26 deg 8 min 31.7 sec S, 28 deg 3 min 52.1 sec E

Significance
The memorial commemorates those Polish citizens who were murdered in the Katyn Forest by the Russian troops in World War 2. The services to commemorate the Warsaw Airlift that was flown to support the citizens in the Warsaw uprising are also held at this memorial annually.

The Memorial has three panels inscribed in Polish, English and Afrikaans.


Photo: Derek Walker


Photo: Derek Walker


Photo: Derek Walker


Photo: Derek Walker

The centre panel reads: 

 
KATYN  - 1940
IN MEMORY OF 14500 POLISH PRISONERS OF WAR MURDERED BY STALIN'S ASSASINS
REMAINS OF 4245 OF THESE PRISONERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN MASSGRAVES AT KATYN USSR
THE WORLD'S CONSCIENCE CALLS FOR JUSTICE


Photo: Derek Walker 

 
The inscription on the left panel reads
WARSZAWA 1.VIII - 2. X.1944
IN MEMORY OF THE HEROES OF THE WARSAW RISING
AND POLISH AIRMEN WHO SUPPORTED THE HOME ARMY


Photo: Derek Walker

The inscription on the right panel reads 
 
WARSZAWA 1.VIII - 21.IX,1944
WARSAW AIRLIFT
GRATEFUL POLES HONOUR THE PART PLAYED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE

References
"South African Air Force, Warsaw Airlift" by Martin and Jean Urry
"The Warsaw Airlift" by Major J.L. van Eyssen, DFC

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org