born: August 22, 1915 in Suwałki, Poland
died: October 11, 2005 in Worcestershire, Great Britain
wife: Hanna Maria Janikowska (1926-1995), wedding in Rome 29 June 1946
children: Barbara, Tadeusz, Zofia, Tomasz
military rank: major
medals: Polish: Cross of Valour (1945), Silver Cross of Merit with Swords (twice), Commemorative Cross of Monte Cassino, Commemorative Cross of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1986), Great Ribbon of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1989)
Fates before joining Anders Army :
A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (1936). He completed a course at the Cadet School of the Artillery Reserve in Włodzimierz Wołyński. Soldier of the 29th Light Artillery Regiment in Grodno. Then he completed a scholarship at the London School of Economics and started his scientific work at the Warsaw School of Economics.
He took part in September Campaign of 1939. On September 19, 1939 interned in Lithuania. After the occupation of Lithuania by the USSR, he was a prisoner of the Soviet POW camps in Ponoj and Juża. He was freed under the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement.
Military history:
On September 5, 1941, Edward Szczepanik joined the Polish Armed Forces in the USSR in Tatiszczewo. He went through the entire combat trail of the 2nd Corps – initially as an officer of the 5th Light Artillery Regiment, and then as an information officer in the Artillery Command of the 2nd Corps. Participant in the battle of Monte Cassino, Ancona and Bologna. Decorated with the Cross of Valour in 1945.
Post-War:
After World War II, he remained in exile in Great Britain. In 1956 he obtained a PhD from the London School of Economics. In the years 1953-1961 he was a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, and then also at Harvard University in Karachi (Pakistan) and the University of Sussex (England). Member, and in the years 1981-2003 President of the Polish Scientific Society Abroad. In the years 1981-1986 Minister of the Interior Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister in the Polish Government in Exile. In 1986-1990, the last Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile. Author of numerous scientific and journalistic publications. Founder of World Research Council on Poles Abroad. Edward Szczepanik died in Worcestershire in 2005 and was buried in the cemetery in Suwałki.
author: Aneta Hoffmann, Warsaw, Poland
