The family grave of Andrzej and Irena Liebich
[lot C1 026 ]
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Andrzej LIEBICH
( 1893-1958 )
( 1893-1958 )
Born in southern Poland. Colonel in the Polish army, which he had joined in his youth. Fought in the 1918-1920 war against the Bolsheviks. After graduating from Poland's Military Academy, worked at army headquarters in Warsaw, and was subsequently appointed military attaché (1931-1936) in Latvia, Estonia and Sweden. Headed an infantry regiment in Lwow 1936-1939. Transferred to HQ in Warsaw.
In 1939, after the German and USSR invasions, he was put in charge of evacuating his department to safety in Romania. Here, he assumed authority over the retreating Polish servicemen, helping many to reach the reconstituting Polish army in France.
In January 1940, Liebich managed to reach France himself and was assigned to the Polish HQ in Paris. After the fall of France, he helped redirect servicemen to Britain and was one of the last officers to board a ship out of St-Jean-de-Luz. In England and Scotland he helped reorganize military staff before being again called to Polish HQ in London. In 1941-1943 he served as military attaché in Turkey, then held top staff positions in Poland's Ministry of Defence in London until the end of the war. Liebich was awarded many medals and military decorations for distinguished service. After the war, as a political refugee in England he published a history of Poland's armed forces during WW II entitled On Foreign Land.
He emigrated to Canada in 1950 settling in Montreal where he was a prominent organizer of "Danina Polska Inc ", the Canadian-Polish community's effort to provide financial support for independent Polish institutions in the West. He died at age 64, mourned by his wife Irena (below) and their daughter Flora, as well as daughter Halina and son Andrzej from his first marriage.
His daughter Halina Lewandowska and grandaughter Krystyna Wacek lie in grave no. 53 [lot C1 214].
In 1939, after the German and USSR invasions, he was put in charge of evacuating his department to safety in Romania. Here, he assumed authority over the retreating Polish servicemen, helping many to reach the reconstituting Polish army in France.
In January 1940, Liebich managed to reach France himself and was assigned to the Polish HQ in Paris. After the fall of France, he helped redirect servicemen to Britain and was one of the last officers to board a ship out of St-Jean-de-Luz. In England and Scotland he helped reorganize military staff before being again called to Polish HQ in London. In 1941-1943 he served as military attaché in Turkey, then held top staff positions in Poland's Ministry of Defence in London until the end of the war. Liebich was awarded many medals and military decorations for distinguished service. After the war, as a political refugee in England he published a history of Poland's armed forces during WW II entitled On Foreign Land.
He emigrated to Canada in 1950 settling in Montreal where he was a prominent organizer of "Danina Polska Inc ", the Canadian-Polish community's effort to provide financial support for independent Polish institutions in the West. He died at age 64, mourned by his wife Irena (below) and their daughter Flora, as well as daughter Halina and son Andrzej from his first marriage.
His daughter Halina Lewandowska and grandaughter Krystyna Wacek lie in grave no. 53 [lot C1 214].
Irena LIEBICH
born RZADKOWOLSKA
( 1918-2007 )
born RZADKOWOLSKA
( 1918-2007 )
Born and raised in Wloclawek, she studied in Warsaw, then worked for Poland's Ministry of Defense. In September 1939 she was evacuated, together with the General Staff, to an internment camp in Babadag, Romania, where she joined the intelligence service, helping Polish soldiers leave the country clandestinely to join the Allied Forces. She continued to work for the Polish Government-in-Exile, first in France, then in England and Scotland, specializing in communications. After the war, Irena worked at the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, and married Col. Andrzej Liebich (above). They moved to Montreal in 1950, where their daughter, Flora, was born. Their Montreal home was the seat of Polish émigré social and political activities and welcomed many historical Polish figures, including Flora’s godfather, General Sosnkowski. Following her husband’s death in 1958, Irena received a scholarship to study social work at McGill University. She worked at several Montreal hospitals, at the Children’s Service Centre, and at the Rehabilitation Institute with some of the first thalidomide cases. After completing her M.S.W. she spent many years as a medical social worker at the Montreal Neurological Institute, led by Dr. Wilder Penfield. She also worked for the Polish Section of Radio Canada International, both in Montreal and at the United Nations in Geneva, besides being active in several community organizations. She died aged 89.