To renew a subscription please login first

Sir Paul Strzelecki

Sir,—Following the article celebrating the philanthropic actions of Sir Paul Strzelecki during the Famine (HI 27.3, May/June 2019), it might be noted that his generosity was recognised on an earlier occasion. Strzelecki (1797–1873) was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London. During the Second World War the area was bombed and his grave was blown up. Funds to repair the grave and reinter Strzelecki were raised by a committee presided over by Shane Leslie. When in Dublin in 1944, Leslie lectured on ‘the historical and cultural relations of Ireland and Poland’ to the Catholic Association for International Relations (Sunday Independent, 20 February 1944; Irish Press, 21 February 1944). In the course of his lecture he underlined Strzelecki’s role. Earlier in the war the memory of Strzelecki was brought into play as part of the relationship-building that took place between Britain and the Polish government-in-exile. His remains were reinterred in Poland in 1997.—Yours etc.,

PHILIP McEVANSONEYA