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Photo showing Description of Polish memorabilia in London
Photo showing Description of Polish memorabilia in London
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ID: DAW-000302-P/148725

Description of Polish memorabilia in London

ID: DAW-000302-P/148725

Description of Polish memorabilia in London

The text mentions the cemetery in Highat, where there is a partially destroyed grave and tombstone monument of Albert Darasz, Stanisław Worcell and Karol Sztolcman. The inscription on the gravestone, written in English, is described in detail (Source: "Tygodnik Illustrowany", Warsaw 1913, Półrocze II, p. 692, after: Digital Library of the University of Lodz).

A modernised reading of the text.

Polish souvenirs in London.

There is a strange grave in a quiet cemetery in Highat, a remote district of London. I know eminent Polish writers and artists who have spent years in London and do not know this memento. I know rich people, Polish pensioners, I know presidents of intelligentsia circles and Polish circles in London, who are surprised to hear about this memento. It is watched over by tailors, carpenters, hairdressers and Polish steelworkers in London. I visited the cemetery for the first time in the company of Mr Rauch, former president of the Polish Society in London, whose efforts restored the grave in 1890. The photographs were supplied to me by Mr Władysław Krupiński, owner of a carpenter's shop in Hoxton. In addition to his hard gainful employment, this man found the time and resources to get out permission and photograph the monument. Steelworkers from the Charlton glass factories recently organised a crowded trip to the grave. As you can see from the accompanying photograph, the memorial is in decline. The eagle's likeness has been tarnished by some vandal. Mould covered the inscription until recently. We quote it here in the original English:

"Here Rests
All that is mortal
of
ALBERT DARASZ
Lieutenant in the Polish army
Knight of the Order of Military
Who was born at Warsaw
on the nineteen of August MDCCCVIII
and departed this life
in exile at London
on the nineteen of September MDCCCLII
Also of
STANISLAUS WORCELL
Who was born at Stepan
in Wolhynia in MDCCXCIX
Was a delegate to the Polish Diet of MDCCCXXXI
Went likewise into exile
and died at London
on the third of February MDCCCLVIII.
BOTH
Ardent lovers of their country
Indefatigable workers
and devoted to the people
Presiding for many years
(in a foreign but friendly land)
over the Polish Democratic Society.
Of their people and nation
to them
on account of their excellent virtues
on account of their deserts
in their toils
undertaken for the public good
Their countrymen in exile
With some English friends
well-wishers to the cause of Poland
have erected this monument.
In memory also of
their colleague and friend
CHARLES STOLSMAN
Lieutenant Colonel in the Polish army
Who was born at Warsaw in MDCCXCIII
Died on the eighteen September MDCCCLIV
and lies buried at Haverric in Cumberland.
FOR OUR LIBERTY AND YOURS.
Restored by The Polish Society in London 1890."

The Polish translation of the inscription reads:
"Here lie the mortal remains of Albert (Wojciech) Darasz, lieutenant of the Polish army, cavalier of orders, who was born in Warsaw on 19 August 1808 and ended his life in exile in London on 19 August 1852. - as well as - Stanisław Worcell, who was born in Stepan, Volhynia, in 1799, was a member of the Polish Sejm of 1831, went into exile like a sage, and died in London on 3 February 1857. Both fervently loved their homeland, were indefatigable workers, devoted to the people's cause, long-serving chairman (in a foreign but friendly country) of the Polish Democratic Society, and worked tirelessly for the freedom of the people and their nation. In recognition of their extraordinary virtues, in recognition of their services and work for the public good, their exiled countrymen, together with a handful of English friends, sincerely sympathetic to the Polish cause, erected this monument. Also to the memory of their colleague and friend, Karol Sztolcman, a lieutenant in the Polish army, who was born in Warsaw in 1793, died on 18 September 1854 and lies buried in Haverric, Cumberland. For our freedom and yours."
"Restored by the Polish Society in London 1890.

There is a Society for the Protection of Polish Monuments in our country. To the attention of this Society a memorial in London is recommended.

Time of construction:

1913

Publication:

29.11.2023

Last updated:

11.07.2025
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 Photo showing Description of Polish memorabilia in London Gallery of the object +1

 Photo showing Description of Polish memorabilia in London Gallery of the object +1

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