A NEW monument has been erected in St Briavels to commemorate the Polish Armed Forces.

It was revealed at a ceremony on Monday (25th May).

The monument was first erected by Polish Scout District Szczecin on the 25th anniversary of the victory at Monte Cassino.

Last year, the Consulate General Ireneusz Truszkowski visited the Polish Scout Centre at St Briavels and expressed a willingness to help in the restoration of the monument because the stone was crumbling.

Further discussions gave rise to the idea of a field of remembrance on which a new monument, also dedicated to the Polish Armed Forces, would be erected alongside the old one.

The Polish Scouting Association is an organisation for Polish youth and children living outside Poland. It has members in Australia, Argentina, France, Ireland, Canada, the US and the UK.

The UK has approximately 1,500 members. The Polish Scouting Association outside Poland was founded in 1910.

Rysio Jankowski, direct commissioner of Szczecin, said: "We erected the first monument when Poland was not free. For many years, scouting rituals and ceremonies have been held here.

"Today representatives of a free Poland stand with us in this place which "belongs to Poland" to pay tribute, give thanks and remember."

Helenka Paluch-Machnik, district commissioner of Polish Girl Guides district, Pomorze, said: "Polish history is our history. It is incorporated in our scouting and guiding programmes.

"It is important to us that our young people are proud of Poland, feel a sense of belonging to the Polish nation and take responsibility for her future."