Col. LePan and the Polish Army Camp in Niagara-On-the Lake

Mjr. Arthur D'Orr LePan
COTC.
Toronto, 1916

Lt.-Col. Arthur D'Orr LePan
Commandant of the Polish Army Camp.
Niagara-On-the Lake, 1917

Col. LePan's Final Report on the Polish Army Camp in Niagara-On-the Lake
(title page)
Niagara-On-the Lake,
Mar. 26, 1919

Chester and his charges - the young LePans: Josephine, Arthur and Douglas

Arthur's letter to Santa Claus written on the Camp's letterhead

Col. LePan's
Order of POLONIA RESTITUTA

Col. LePan's
HALLER'S SWORDS

Col. LePan's
ARMED DEED CROSS
OF THE POLISH EMIGRANTS TO AMERICA

Col. LePan inspecting Polish troops
Charles W. Jefferys

Pisz do domu ! Write Home !
Charles W. Jefferys

Mother's farewell gift to her son joining the Polish Army in Canada
A home-made flag featuring Poland's national symbol - the White Eagle against red background. Brought initially to the Polish Army Camp in Niagara-On-the Lake, the flag went subsequently with the Polish soldiers to Europe, had seen battlefields of WWI in France and later accompanied Polish soldiers in the Soviet-Polish War of 1919/1920. Several Soviet bullet holes can be seen upon a closer inspection.

Polish Falcon of America
The vast majority of volunteers, who came to the Polish Army Camp in Niagara-On-the Lake from the USA, were members of the Polish Falcons of America, a youth organization promoting physical and mental health as well as patriotism among young Americans of Polish descent.

Polish Army volunteers turning Polish soldiers
A hand grenade drawing by a NCO trainee, Jan Wojnarowicz of Hamilton, Ontario.
Under the watchful eye of Canadian Army officers, as instructors, the Polish Army volunteers were meant to become well trained, combat-ready soldiers, not just another Great War cannon fodder. Their training was intensive and extensive - those, who qualified and successfully completed the course, advanced to the ranks of NCOs and officers.

Sgt. Jan Wojnarowicz
A volunteer to the Polish Army from Canada - after his return home from the Soviet-Polish War.
Hamilton, Ontario, 1922

POLAND IS NOT YET LOST - AS LONG AS WE ARE ALIVE !
White Eagle over "Poland is not yet lost" ("Jeszcze Polska nie zginela" - first words of the Polish Anthem), embroidered on red velvet - as demonstration of Polish patriotism, it was commonly seen in many homes of Polish emigrants throughout the World during and after the Great War.
During all of those one hundred and twenty three years of Poland's Partitions, Poles and Polish emigrants throughout the World never abandoned their hopes and ultimate goal - Poland Restituted, Free and Independent. They had tried several times, paid a terrible price in blood... and failed. But never gave up!
When the Great War wrecked successfully Europe's political and territorial status quo, designed so carefully in 1814-15 by the participants of the Congress of Vienna, Polish patriots rose to the challenge and committed to Poland's Independence the best, they could: the will, the soldiers, political influence and money. And they succeeded - there was POLAND again !
Her restitution and existence were proclaimed by Jozef Pilsudski on November 11, 1918.