The 80th anniversary of the defence of Cowes and East Cowes by the Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica will be commemorated in May.
Every year, the Friends of the ORP Błyskawica hold a ceremony on Cowes Parade to mark the Second World War blitz on the evening of 4th/5th May 1942 when 2 waves of Luftwaffe bombers attacked the strategic ports at the mouth of the River Medina.
ORP Błyskawica was built J S White shipyard in Cowes and was the world’s fastest destroyer when launched. Today, she is moored in the port of Gdynia, Poland. The destroyer is the pride of Poland’s maritime history.
The defence of Cowes by Błyskawica was brought about by her being in port for rearmament, enabling her to defend the twin towns throughout the night of the raid. Friends of the ORP Błyskawica Society, based in Cowes, aims to make the 80th anniversary an important event over a period of 5 days, starting on the evening of 4th May.
The Polish government has taken great interest in this anniversary event. However, due to the situation in the Ukraine and the refugee exodus into Poland, the Polish Ministry of Defence regrets that the Polish Naval Band will not be able to attend the 80th commemoration this year.
Key Commemoration Events …
Saturday 30th April to Monday 2nd May (plus Saturday 7th May)
- Exhibition on ORP Blyskawica at East Cowes Town Hall (10:00-16:00).
Wednesday 4th May
- Blitz Talk and Film `Voices of the East Cowes Blitz’ at East Cowes Town Hall (19:00).
Thursday 5th May
- Arrival of Polish Naval Vessel ORP Wodnik at Cowes Roads. The Royal Yacht Squadron will greet the Polish warship with a 5-gun salute (08:00-10:00).
- Plaque unveiling in Kings Square (adjacent to Waitrose), East Cowes (14:00).
- Guided blitz walk. From Kings Square to Kingston Cemetery (14:30. Memorial service at Kingston Cemetery (16:00).
- Welcome reception by Brigadier Maurice Sheen, Her Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight (18:00-19:00).
- Gala Piano Recital at the Royal Yacht Squadron by Eva Maria Doroszkowska, granddaughter of Captain Francki, Commander of the ORP Blyskawica (19:30).
Friday 6th May
- Concert: Katy Carr and Medina Marching Band in support of the Ukraine Refugees in Poland at East Cowes Town Hall (19:30).
Saturday 7th May
- Exhibition on the Blitz at Northwood cemetery, Cowes (10:00 – 18:00).
- Performances by local groups: Little Karpaty & Karolinka Dancers. Polish food market at Kings Square (adjacent to Waitrose), East Cowes (13:00 – 16:00).
- Cowes Blitz Walk. From the war memorial in Northwood Park to Northwood Cemetery (14:30).
- Rededication ceremony of the refurbished communal war grave Northwood Cemetery, Cowes (16:00).
- 1940s Dance at East Cowes Town Hall. Period dress encouraged (19:00 – 23:00).
Sunday 8th May
- Short remembrance ceremony at Francki Place, Cowes (12:00).
- 80th Anniversary Ceremony of the defence of Cowes and East Cowes. Inauguration of the new Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Cowes in the presence of Poland’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom (13:30).
For further information visit www.blyskawica-cowes.org.uk.
Excellent, the people of Cowes owe a lot to the ships company of ORP Blyskawica, I hope locals of all ages turn out to show their gratitude on this important anniversary.
I think celebrating war whilst people are being staved to death in the Ukraine is in bad taste.
Whilst the Island will be ever grateful for the undoubted protection the crew and ship afforded it must be said that the crew were ultimately protecting themselves and their vessel.
A bit like all the attention the black colonial service men and women now receive by joining up in the last war. They did it for their own benefit, knowing that their lot in life would be far far worse under the Nazi boot.
Yet now the hyped rear vision is they did it for us. Sits better with the modern agenda that way.
Wow! A very tenuous link, Ryde-Guy. Any old excuse to inject a bit of racism, eh?