This month’s blog is written by Nottingham University student Lucy Farmer.
It has been 76 years since World War Two ended, but for the Newark community, the memory of its impact still continues in the celebration of All Souls Day, a Polish tradition designed to remember the dead and departed.
Newark-on-Trent, seemingly a small market town miles away from any military action, was heavily involved in the success of the Allies during World War Two, and still carries with it memories of the war. It contains Commonwealth and Polish War Graves, as well as a rich history of victory, defeat, and camaraderie.
This legacy has manifested in a blend of traditions and cultures known as Zaduszki, or All-Souls Day. The memorial service is a remembrance of the lives lost during the war, and the subsequent soldiers buried in this local cemetery. It takes place on the last Sunday of every October and has done so at Newark Cemetery for many years.
A key part of the celebration is the lighting of candles to place on and around graves. As the day draws to an end, the cemetery is cast in darkness except the blossoming of candlelight that forms a field of bright orange and yellows. It creates a sense of beauty and hope in the wake of such a tragedy as the lives lost during World War Two.
With many of the surrounding population attending, members of the Polish Scouts and Guides also make an appearance, as well as the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, the occasion brings together and reinforces the importance of community. The town is deeply saturated in Polish history, and Poland’s fight for freedom that was only recently achieved in 1989. It is this shared history of struggle, as well as triumph, that brings all ages to one place to remember.
The cemetery itself was specifically built in Newark due to its close proximity to a RAF base in Swinderby, which commanded two Polish flying squadrons, the 300 and 301.
With each grave, there is an entire life and history that Friends of Newark Cemetery works to share. This history encompasses not only the events of the War, but the lives lived after it, as many soldiers and war refugees settled locally after peace in 1945.
One such famed resident was Roman Czerniawski, who died in 1985, who remained in England post-war to run a local tobacco shop, but during wartime was a famed double-agent who risked his life on many occasions to bring down the Nazi regime. By feeding back false information to Germany, Roman created diversions essential to the victory of the Allies and is now buried in Newark Cemetery for all to visit and remember.
Preservation of memories and stories is vital to the ideals of Newark Cemetery, and so they focus heavily on reconnecting people with long-lost relatives who died at war and were since buried at Newark. The research of Shaun Noble, found at https://noble1969.wixsite.com/website, works to bring to life the tales of brave soldiers and ensure their stories are told and remembered.
The research completed so far has reunited countless individuals with their past and is still ongoing. In the words of Simon Elmer, organiser of All-Souls Day at Newark Cemetery, “every story is important”, and that is message All-Souls Day looks to spread.
Newark Cemetery is always open, and always looking for volunteer help or just visitors interested in the rich history of the small location.
With thanks to Simon Elmer, as well as Newark Cemetery Memories, for information: https://newarkcemeterynottinghamshirememories.weebly.com/
Pictures from Newark Advertiser (https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk) and Wikicommons