Hi Members,



Could anyone help with finding information about the evacuations from Siberia.

I'm not talking about the evacuations from Krasnovodsk across the Caspian Sea to

Pahlavi.



I would like to find more information, photos,lists of evacuees or whatever in

regards to the smaller "overland" evacuations from Ashkhabad to Mashhad (March

to September 1942). My Father was one of the Polish 2nd Corps drivers in these

overland evacuations.  Years ago he met a lady who was holidaying in Perth and

attended an SPK function. This lady happened to recognised Dad as being the

driver of the truck in which she left Russia. They compared notes and she was

indeed correct.



Nothing much is ever mentioned about these overland crossings and I know from

Dad's stories that these evacuations were extremely dangerous and perilous, so

much so they were given orders that if one truck went over into a ravine they

were not to stop or look down, but keep on driving.  He also mentioned that it

was frightening having so many lives in his hands. Dad's army records show the

date he crossed into Persia as 1st April, 1942.  I would appreciate anyone's

assistance finding more information about these overland crossings. Surely there

has to be other 2nd Corps soldiers or civilians who know something about these

overland crossings?



Perhaps our senior KS members, who were in the Polish 2nd Corps, would be able

to throw some light on this subject and direct me in finding further

information?



I'm at a crossroads about everything that happened to Dad. Pre WWII army service

records unable to obtain.  His arrest by the NKVD in Tarnopol in November,1939,

along with his imprisonment in Tarnopol jail for a few months. Then his

sentence/transportation to Kharkov and after sometime there, he was taken from

Kharkov by cattle train to the depths of Siberia.  I'm still trying to find out

where in Siberia he was deported.



All help is very much appreciated.



Kindest Regards,

Helena Czechowska-Gullotti.

Swan Valley, West Australia.

Hi Helena

Don't have any information regarding the overland route but have you contacted

the Hoover Institute? They may have his Russian release certificate, from it you

will learn which Siberian camp he was in. With that information if you look in

the Files section of this site there is a Corrective Labour camps doc which

might identify his camp location.



Chris...........





________________________________

From: helenagullotti <helenagullotti@...>

To: Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thu, July 1, 2010 10:46:07 AM

Subject: [Kresy-Siberia] Assistance required by members...



 

Hi Members,



Could anyone help with finding information about the evacuations from Siberia.

I'm not talking about the evacuations from Krasnovodsk across the Caspian Sea to

Pahlavi.



I would like to find more information, photos,lists of evacuees or whatever in

regards to the smaller "overland" evacuations from Ashkhabad to Mashhad (March

to September 1942). My Father was one of the Polish 2nd Corps drivers in these

overland evacuations. Years ago he met a lady who was holidaying in Perth and

attended an SPK function. This lady happened to recognised Dad as being the

driver of the truck in which she left Russia. They compared notes and she was

indeed correct.



Nothing much is ever mentioned about these overland crossings and I know from

Dad's stories that these evacuations were extremely dangerous and perilous, so

much so they were given orders that if one truck went over into a ravine they

were not to stop or look down, but keep on driving. He also mentioned that it

was frightening having so many lives in his hands. Dad's army records show the

date he crossed into Persia as 1st April, 1942. I would appreciate anyone's

assistance finding more information about these overland crossings. Surely there

has to be other 2nd Corps soldiers or civilians who know something about these

overland crossings?



Perhaps our senior KS members, who were in the Polish 2nd Corps, would be able

to throw some light on this subject and direct me in finding further

information?



I'm at a crossroads about everything that happened to Dad. Pre WWII army service

records unable to obtain. His arrest by the NKVD in Tarnopol in November,1939,

along with his imprisonment in Tarnopol jail for a few months. Then his

sentence/transportation to Kharkov and after sometime there, he was taken from

Kharkov by cattle train to the depths of Siberia. I'm still trying to find out

where in Siberia he was deported.



All help is very much appreciated.



Kindest Regards,

Helena Czechowska-Gullotti.

Swan Valley, West Australia.















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "helenagullotti" <helenagullotti@...>

wrote:



> I would like to find more information, photos,lists of evacuees or

> whatever in regards to the smaller "overland" evacuations from

> Ashkhabad to Mashhad

It's Meszhed in Polish.

Some snippets of information are available here:

http://zeslaniec.pl/32/Patlewicz.pdf

http://www.konarski.emil.tnp.pl/kg/Azja.htm

... but don't expect any photos, lists &c :-(

Hi Helena,

I am one of those who were evacuated from Soviet Russia to Persia via the

Caspian Sea. I don't know if I can help you much because you seem to look for

the info about the "overland" way. If you are looking for the info abour the

evacuation by the sea, my friend from my regiment lives in Australia and maybe

you can contact him by phone and he could tell you all about it. Also I would

like to know in what regiment your dad did serve. I am a veteran of the 2nd

Polish Corps and if you are looking for the info about our fighting in Italy I

can help you.

Have a nice day

Romuald

---- helenagullotti <helenagullotti@...> wrote:

> Hi Members,

>

> Could anyone help with finding information about the evacuations from Siberia.

I'm not talking about the evacuations from Krasnovodsk across the Caspian Sea to

Pahlavi.

>

> I would like to find more information, photos,lists of evacuees or whatever in

regards to the smaller "overland" evacuations from Ashkhabad to Mashhad (March

to September 1942). My Father was one of the Polish 2nd Corps drivers in these

overland evacuations.  Years ago he met a lady who was holidaying in Perth and

attended an SPK function. This lady happened to recognised Dad as being the

driver of the truck in which she left Russia. They compared notes and she was

indeed correct.

>

> Nothing much is ever mentioned about these overland crossings and I know from

Dad's stories that these evacuations were extremely dangerous and perilous, so

much so they were given orders that if one truck went over into a ravine they

were not to stop or look down, but keep on driving.  He also mentioned that it

was frightening having so many lives in his hands. Dad's army records show the

date he crossed into Persia as 1st April, 1942.  I would appreciate anyone's

assistance finding more information about these overland crossings. Surely there

has to be other 2nd Corps soldiers or civilians who know something about these

overland crossings?

>

> Perhaps our senior KS members, who were in the Polish 2nd Corps, would be able

to throw some light on this subject and direct me in finding further

information?

>

> I'm at a crossroads about everything that happened to Dad. Pre WWII army

service records unable to obtain.  His arrest by the NKVD in Tarnopol in

November,1939, along with his imprisonment in Tarnopol jail for a few months.

Then his sentence/transportation to Kharkov and after sometime there, he was

taken from Kharkov by cattle train to the depths of Siberia.  I'm still trying

to find out where in Siberia he was deported.

>

> All help is very much appreciated.

>

> Kindest Regards,

> Helena Czechowska-Gullotti.

> Swan Valley, West Australia.

>

>

>

Hi Helena,

My mother reached Persia via Meshed in August, 1942.  She was very, very ill

[25kg and 16 yrs old] and upon arrival was admitted to an American hospital.

After approximately nine months in this hospital she went into the orphanage in

Meshed.  She still has her autograph book from Meshed with many inscriptions

obtained both from the hospital and orphanage.  Mum's memory is not good now and

her only recollection (over breakfast this morning) of the trip is that they

travelled in an army truck and it was scary; also that there were mainly small

children and army personnel.



You're right, there doesn't seem to be much mentioned about Meshed.  Probably

understandable considering fewer than 3000 people arrived this way.  However,

the crossing is fully described in the book "An Unforgettable Journey" by Maria

van der Linden.  This is an Online book. Here is a link to the chapter in case

you haven't already read it:  7.



[The book is fully on line and well worth the read.]



Also, mum has a first holy communion photo of a group of children from Meshed

orphanage.  It is number 11 in my album in the Gallery.

http://kresy-siberia.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=13916



Lonia Sarniak

NZ





--- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "helenagullotti" <helenagullotti@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi Members,

>

> Could anyone help with finding information about the evacuations from Siberia.

I'm not talking about the evacuations from Krasnovodsk across the Caspian Sea to

Pahlavi.

>

> I would like to find more information, photos,lists of evacuees or whatever in

regards to the smaller "overland" evacuations from Ashkhabad to Mashhad (March

to September 1942). My Father was one of the Polish 2nd Corps drivers in these

overland evacuations.  Years ago he met a lady who was holidaying in Perth and

attended an SPK function. This lady happened to recognised Dad as being the

driver of the truck in which she left Russia. They compared notes and she was

indeed correct.

>

> Nothing much is ever mentioned about these overland crossings and I know from

Dad's stories that these evacuations were extremely dangerous and perilous, so

much so they were given orders that if one truck went over into a ravine they

were not to stop or look down, but keep on driving.  He also mentioned that it

was frightening having so many lives in his hands. Dad's army records show the

date he crossed into Persia as 1st April, 1942.  I would appreciate anyone's

assistance finding more information about these overland crossings. Surely there

has to be other 2nd Corps soldiers or civilians who know something about these

overland crossings?

>

> Perhaps our senior KS members, who were in the Polish 2nd Corps, would be able

to throw some light on this subject and direct me in finding further

information?

>

> I'm at a crossroads about everything that happened to Dad. Pre WWII army

service records unable to obtain.  His arrest by the NKVD in Tarnopol in

November,1939, along with his imprisonment in Tarnopol jail for a few months.

Then his sentence/transportation to Kharkov and after sometime there, he was

taken from Kharkov by cattle train to the depths of Siberia.  I'm still trying

to find out where in Siberia he was deported.

>

> All help is very much appreciated.

>

> Kindest Regards,

> Helena Czechowska-Gullotti.

> Swan Valley, West Australia.

>

Sorry the link for chapter 7 of the book above hasn't worked.



Here is the link to the contents page for the book:



http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/START.HTM



Then either read the entire book or go directly to chapter 7.



Lonia

>

Thank you to Lorna, Romuald, Janusz and Chris for your kind assistance. I will

look at the links/information you have given. Please remember "ME" should you

find any further information on the Internet of these overland evacuations from

Siberia. Much appreciated!



Kindest Regards,

Helena Czecehowska-Gullotti

Swan Valley West Australia.









--- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "lsarniak" <margaret.climo@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> Sorry the link for chapter 7 of the book above hasn't worked.

>

> Here is the link to the contents page for the book:

>

> http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/START.HTM

>

> Then either read the entire book or go directly to chapter 7.

>

> Lonia

> >

>

Hi Helena



I hope you are well.



I'm sending a link to a Poland/Iran blog where you may be able to find

more information about the overland route.  If not, you may be able to

ask on the blog for more info.



http://polandiran.blogspot.com/ <http://>



Also if you ask at the Hoover for your father's ankieta (questionnaire)

there should be some information about the journey from Siberia in it.

The Hoover address is on our group site.



Warm regards



Frances





--- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "helenagullotti"

<helenagullotti@...> wrote:

>

> Thank you to Lorna, Romuald, Janusz and Chris for your kind

assistance. I will look at the links/information you have given. Please

remember "ME" should you find any further information on the Internet of

these overland evacuations from Siberia. Much appreciated!

>

> Kindest Regards,

> Helena Czecehowska-Gullotti

> Swan Valley West Australia.

>

>

>

>

> --- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "lsarniak" margaret.climo@

wrote:

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Sorry the link for chapter 7 of the book above hasn't worked.

> >

> > Here is the link to the contents page for the book:

> >

> > http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/START.HTM

> >

> > Then either read the entire book or go directly to chapter 7.

> >

> > Lonia

> > >

> >

>







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Frances



Nice to hear from you again.  I'm so much better, thank you for asking. It took

quite awhile to get back to normal. Now I'm disliking the cold

weather......Brrrrrr!! 0degs in Perth last night, even 5 degs is too cold for

me.  Hope all is going well at your end?



Thanks so much for reading my post and sending the links, very much appreciate.



Talk soon,

Helena

Swan Valley, W.Australia.







--- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "Frances" <frncsgts@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi Helena

>

> I hope you are well.

>

> I'm sending a link to a Poland/Iran blog where you may be able to find

> more information about the overland route.  If not, you may be able to

> ask on the blog for more info.

>

> http://polandiran.blogspot.com/ <http://>

>

> Also if you ask at the Hoover for your father's ankieta (questionnaire)

> there should be some information about the journey from Siberia in it.

> The Hoover address is on our group site.

>

> Warm regards

>

> Frances

>

>

> --- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "helenagullotti"

> <helenagullotti@> wrote:

> >

> > Thank you to Lorna, Romuald, Janusz and Chris for your kind

> assistance. I will look at the links/information you have given. Please

> remember "ME" should you find any further information on the Internet of

> these overland evacuations from Siberia. Much appreciated!

> >

> > Kindest Regards,

> > Helena Czecehowska-Gullotti

> > Swan Valley West Australia.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --- In Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com, "lsarniak" margaret.climo@

> wrote:

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Sorry the link for chapter 7 of the book above hasn't worked.

> > >

> > > Here is the link to the contents page for the book:

> > >

> > > http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/START.HTM

> > >

> > > Then either read the entire book or go directly to chapter 7.

> > >

> > > Lonia

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

This is the link to an account of the overland journey, and the chapter on

that, which is copyright by Maria van der Linden







http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/HTM/L07.HTM



7. Journey to Persia and Life in Meshed



One fleeting life is all we have,

It Is not a rehearsal, but the real thing.

Zen Buddhist



Accompanied by armed Polish Army servicemen, headed by a Polish major, our

long convoy of canvas-covered lorries left Ashkhabad. Some convalescent

soldiers were also part of our transport. Several sick and very weak

children, recently discharged from hospital, were under Mother's special

care. Again she was the only trained nurse, without a doctor, in charge of

this very large contingent of Polish refugees bound for Iran.



       It was mountainous terrain. A steep, windy, dusty road led towards the

USSR-Persian border. In the high altitude the air was fresh and crisp and

the scenery breathtakingly beautiful. The boundary between the two countries

traversed a high altitude mountain plateau, where customs officers of Persia

and USSR awaited our arrival. The Polish officer accompanying our convoy was

present to ensure a trouble-free passage to Iran. At this frontier our

belongings and bodies were thoroughly searched, before permission was

granted to proceed.



       The Persian border was inhabited by fierce and independent tribes of

Kurds and Lurs, therefore necessitating the continued presence of our Polish

soldiers and armed Iranian Police officers on Persian territory. Our convoy

continued over the ever-winding, dusty roads. The journey seemed endless. We

felt glad to be on Iranian ground and secure in the knowledge that we were

protected by armed escorts. Again we were facing the unknown, but we were

resigned to our fate. We rested on the lorry floors, our bodies bouncing up

and down and felt sick and drowsy much of that time. After travelling

steadily for most of the day we finally stopped for the night at a

predetermined destination, a small, remote village. Here we slept in a large

white, clay-brick building surrounded by a high wall with doors and windows

facing a square courtyard in the centre. An iron gate and a doorway led to

this private, well protected dwelling. Iranian armed police manned this

single entrance to the compound around the clock. In the same village

similar dwellings were occupied by caravans of merchants, which regularly

travelled to the village market (bazzar) to trade their goods.



       That night we received hot soup, bread, a slice of melon and tea with

condensed milk, a great feast to us, but many children were still unable to

cope with this nourishment. We slept on straw mattresses on the floor,

covered by army blankets. No pillows or sheets were provided, but we

expected no luxuries, having long been accustomed to the bare necessities of

life. Most of us slept soundly after the long, arduous journey over very

rough roads. The next day began with a communal prayer and a hymn at the

crack of dawn, as it always did.



       As the sun rises in the morning,

Yours is the earth and the sea.

For You sing all earthly creatures,

Be praised the Almighty God.

***

As the familiar tune of the morning hymn ended, a flurry of activities

followed. First, a quick wash in basins spread near the courtyard well, then

hot tea and porridge prepared us for the long day's journey and new

experiences ahead. This time we travelled through hilly land, a hot,

desert-like terrain. Dust covered our weary bodies and our nostrils and

mouths felt drier and drier as the day progressed. In fact, dust penetrated

everything inside the lorries. Water was rationed to make it last through

our journey.



       At last we reached the province of Kharasan, the most fertile area of

Persia, but still extremely hot and dusty because of its proximity to the

desert. River beds were often very dry, with narrow, meandering streams

traversing wide, sandy beds in summer and early autumn. Now in October, just

before harvest, the fields were covered with a carpet of scarlet poppies

grown for opium. Along the country roads tea houses (chat-khanah) were

scattered. They were clay-brick dwellings with wide, open verandahs in

front. A few adjacent trees provided the much desired shade for their

customers. Its scarcity made water a very precious commodity. It usually

came from muddy hollows or shallow clay-bottomed wells and therefore was

always murky and needed boiling before drinking. In village streams while

donkeys drank, women did their washing and cleaned their bodies. Nearby

other women gathered water for cooking and for drinking. Water was carried

in large, earthenware bowls, perched on a cloth ring on their heads. Usually

after refreshments at a predetermined village and a brief rest we resumed

our journey.



       Finally, we arrived at our destination Meshed, where a Polish refugee

centre had been established through the Teheran Polish Embassy to take care

of us. Here we were to remain, to recharge our weary minds and bodies, until

8th December 1942. Our temporary Persian haven was similar to many dwellings

we had encountered along the way. It was a large, white, rough-cast,

clay-brick structure, a rectangular building, with a spacious courtyard in

the centre, into which all windows and doors opened. A high wall built from

similar material protected our privacy. The only outside door and an iron

gate were constantly guarded by armed Iranian policemen. It was permanently

locked and opened only briefly when required.



       Our dormitories were large, with adjoining staff rooms. Boys and girls

occupied opposite sides of the complex. Children were distributed in

chronological age. Again we slept on straw mattresses on the floor. A large

common room was used for school, recreation and as a makeshift chapel. A

large dining room, kitchen and toilet facilities catered for our daily

needs. Meshed had a resident British Consul and also a US Mission Hospital

where several ill children were soon admitted. My brother, weakened by

jaundice and diarrhea, was among them.



       At first we were exhausted by the long journey from Ashkhabad to

Meshed. Many of us were ravaged by persistent, chronic diarrhea. A period of

prolonged rest was needed in the new, tranquil haven of our orphanage in

Meshed. Although the very ill children were transferred to the local US

Mission Hospital soon after their arrival, others of us also spent some time

In that institution, where new American drugs were administered to cure our

organic disorders. Most of our health problems stemmed from malnutrition and

the lack of hygiene and sanitation in the USSR. My brother Alek was

emaciated and too weak to sit on arrival at Meshed. I was still able to walk

for short periods. We survived, but several weaker children died and found

their final resting place on the friendly Iranian territory.



       After leaving hospital I attended the Polish school in our orphanage.

We were given lessons in reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, religious

studies and singing. There were no text books available and no planned

syllabus. All lessons were in Polish and each teacher Improvised as best she

could. All our teachers were women, and Indeed there were no men on the

staff of our entire orphanage initially, except for Iranian cooks and

policemen. Our formal education had been very fragmented over the past three

years, since being deported from Poland. We needed to make a fresh start in

our new life. I was blessed with a photographic, retentive memory and a

strong desire to succeed. Soon I learned enough to take a class when our

teacher was absent caring for one of her own dying children. I enjoyed this

short teaching experience, little realizing then that it was the forerunner

of my teaching career in later life.



       We looked forward to receiving clothing donated by the US Embassy In

Teheran. We were especially fascinated by attractive buttons, which we often

cut off and exchanged to add to our collections kept in small drawstring

bags which we made at school. My brother spent much time In hospital. I saw

Mother very seldom, because she was kept very busy looking after

convalescent children who returned from the American hospital and needed

constant care. As I only saw her during the course of her nursing duties, I

became fully integrated Into the daily life of Polish orphans. As autumn

progressed temperatures became cooler. We felt nostalgic seeing the trees

assuming their autumn splendour of changing colours, with crowns of gold,

scarlet, orange, brown intermingled with shades of green leaves, all around

us and recalling a similar scene at that time of year in our native Poland.



       At the beginning of November we heard the sad news that the Russian

authorities had closed the USSR-Persian frontier and stopped further

evacuation of Poles, many of whom were ordered back to the places they had

come from when they were deported from Poland. We felt deeply for the over

one million Poles remaining In the USSR, forcibly deprived of the freedom In

which we were now rejoicing.



       My own experiences in Meshed revolved around the daily routine

established at the Polish orphanage. Each day commenced with prayers, then

breakfast and school till lunch time, after which an enforced rest period

followed, before lessons resumed till 4.00 p.m. After school we were free to

run around, play ball games or just sit and talk with our friends. Marbles,

hopscotch and card games were popular pastimes. After our main meal, dinner,

we assembled for prayers and once again concluding our devotions with a

familiar, daily evening hymn, 'All our daily tasks bless 0 Lard'. We

generally retired early to our dormitories and to our straw mattresses,

fortunate to have the woolen army blankets to keep us warm on the cooler

late autumn nights.



       We had few opportunities to venture beyond the tall wall of our

private haven of the orphanage complex. One such occasion vividly stands out

in my mind, when my mother with a few other staff members and accompanied by

a small group of children visited the Meshed Mosque. For Muslims it is

second in importance only to Mecca. It contains the tomb of the eighth Imam

Au Rezo. It is an impressive ornate building with richly decorated mosaics

and magnificent dome-shaped towers, several covered with turquoise stones.

The largest dome is clad with gold. It overlooks the Golden Road to

Samarkand. It glitters in the burning sun and is visible as a landmark from

a long distance. We were very fortunate to have been permitted to visit the

Meshed Mosque, because women had only just been accorded this special

privilege. I was enchanted with the beautiful interior, which seemed like a

fairyland of bright mosaics, decorative inscriptions from the Koran, and

silk Persian carpets over marble floors.



       Meshed was famous for its turquoise stones, which could be purchased

at the local bazaar, which we also visited later that day. We were

fascinated by the great variety of jewellery for sale. Gold, silver, brass,

precious and semiprecious stones were in abundance. The most Impressive were

the beautiful shades of green-blue turquoises. Mother purchased a turquoise

necklace and a bracelet, which I now possess. They remind me of that most

enjoyable day we shared together. As we walked through the long arcades with

stalls on both sides, I felt as if we were visiting a dreamworld from Alice

in Wonderland. There were so many impressions to absorb.



       As December approached, nights became quite chilly, reminding us of

the coming winter. By now most of us were sufficiently recovered to face the

future. Now we were able to embark on the next part of our journey. Our

destination was the British colony of India.



       Other Polish refugees from transitory camps in Iran were sent through

Karachi in India to British Colonies in East Africa, notably Tanganyika and

Uganda. Smaller transports went to North and South Rhodesia and to South

Africa. About 1,500 Poles found a haven on Santa Rosa Hacienda in Mexico and

733 Polish children In Pahiatua in New Zealand.















From: Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com]

On Behalf Of lsarniak

Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 11:46 PM

To: Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [Kresy-Siberia] Re: Assistance required by members...



Hi Helena,

My mother reached Persia via Meshed in August, 1942. She was very, very ill

[25kg and 16 yrs old] and upon arrival was admitted to an American hospital.

After approximately nine months in this hospital she went into the orphanage

in Meshed. She still has her autograph book from Meshed with many

inscriptions obtained both from the hospital and orphanage. Mum's memory is

not good now and her only recollection (over breakfast this morning) of the

trip is that they travelled in an army truck and it was scary; also that

there were mainly small children and army personnel.



You're right, there doesn't seem to be much mentioned about Meshed. Probably

understandable considering fewer than 3000 people arrived this way. However,

the crossing is fully described in the book "An Unforgettable Journey" by

Maria van der Linden. This is an Online book. Here is a link to the chapter

in case you haven't already read it: 7.



[The book is fully on line and well worth the read.]



Also, mum has a first holy communion photo of a group of children from

Meshed orphanage. It is number 11 in my album in the Gallery.

http://kresy-siberia.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=13916



Lonia Sarniak

NZ















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for this passage;



  In the bolded paragraph, about 5 paragraphs from the end,   my mother age

13 at the time ( part of a family of 10)  was part  of the lucky 1,500 who

went to the Santa Rosa Hacienda in  Mexico.   She is now 83 and talks often

about the  painful journey from Siberia to Persia to Karachi  to Bombay,

India where they boarded the USS Hermitage for the 2  month journey to the

California then to the Santa  Rosa Hacienda in Mexico.  The death from disease,

cold and  famine to this day makes my mother cry when remembering this

journey.   What I only recently learned ( and I was always  curious about) was

why the U.S. didn't keep these 1,500 refugees in  California? Why did they put

them on trains to Mexico?  Apparently the  Polish government in exile made

a deal with Mexico to house these refugees  because the U.S. didn't want to

upset Stalin ------ hard to  believe.  Russia has just become our allies to

help defeat Hitler.



If any others are descendants of the 1,500 who emigrated to the Santa  Rosa

Hacienda in Mexico,  I would love to hear from them.  My  mother's maiden

name was BERDNIK,  thus it was ten of the Berdnik's  that found their way to

Santa Rosa and all made their way to the  U.S.



Regards,



Ed Lazor   U.S.



____________________________________________________________________________

___________





In a message dated 7/5/2010 11:28:04 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

stefan.wisniowski@... writes:









This is the link to an account of the overland journey, and the chapter  on

that, which is copyright by Maria van der Linden



_http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/HTM/L07.HTM_

(http://www.antoranz.net/BIBLIOTEKA/LINDEN/HTM/L07.HTM)



7.  Journey to Persia and Life in Meshed



One fleeting life is all we  have,

It Is not a rehearsal, but the real thing.

Zen  Buddhist



Accompanied by armed Polish Army servicemen, headed by a  Polish major, our

long convoy of canvas-covered lorries left Ashkhabad.  Some convalescent

soldiers were also part of our transport. Several sick  and very weak

children, recently discharged from hospital, were under  Mother's special

care. Again she was the only trained nurse, without a  doctor, in charge of

this very large contingent of Polish refugees bound  for Iran.



It was mountainous terrain. A steep, windy, dusty road led  towards the

USSR-Persian border. In the high altitude the air was fresh and  crisp and

the scenery breathtakingly beautiful. The boundary between the  two

countries

traversed a high altitude mountain plateau, where customs  officers of

Persia

and USSR awaited our arrival. The Polish officer  accompanying our convoy

was

present to ensure a trouble-free passage to  Iran. At this frontier our

belongings and bodies were thoroughly searched,  before permission was

granted to proceed.



The Persian border was  inhabited by fierce and independent tribes of

Kurds and Lurs, therefore  necessitating the continued presence of our

Polish

soldiers and armed  Iranian Police officers on Persian territory. Our convoy

continued over the  ever-winding, dusty roads. The journey seemed endless.

We

felt glad to be  on Iranian ground and secure in the knowledge that we were

protected by  armed escorts. Again we were facing the unknown, but we were

resigned to  our fate. We rested on the lorry floors, our bodies bouncing up

and down  and felt sick and drowsy much of that time. After travelling

steadily for  most of the day we finally stopped for the night at a

predetermined  destination, a small, remote village. Here we slept in a

large

white,  clay-brick building surrounded by a high wall with doors and windows

facing  a square courtyard in the centre. An iron gate and a doorway led to

this  private, well protected dwelling. Iranian armed police manned this

single  entrance to the compound around the clock. In the same village

similar  dwellings were occupied by caravans of merchants, which regularly

travelled  to the village market (bazzar) to trade their goods.



That night we  received hot soup, bread, a slice of melon and tea with

condensed milk, a  great feast to us, but many children were still unable to

cope with this  nourishment. We slept on straw mattresses on the floor,

covered by army  blankets. No pillows or sheets were provided, but we

expected no luxuries,  having long been accustomed to the bare necessities

of

life. Most of us  slept soundly after the long, arduous journey over very

rough roads. The  next day began with a communal prayer and a hymn at the

crack of dawn, as  it always did.



As the sun rises in the morning,

Yours is the earth  and the sea.

For You sing all earthly creatures,

Be praised the Almighty  God.

***

As the familiar tune of the morning hymn ended, a flurry of  activities

followed. First, a quick wash in basins spread near the  courtyard well,

then

hot tea and porridge prepared us for the long day's  journey and new

experiences ahead. This time we travelled through hilly  land, a hot,

desert-like terrain. Dust covered our weary bodies and our  nostrils and

mouths felt drier and drier as the day progressed. In fact,  dust penetrated

everything inside the lorries. Water was rationed to make  it last through

our journey.



At last we reached the province of  Kharasan, the most fertile area of

Persia, but still extremely hot and  dusty because of its proximity to the

desert. River beds were often very  dry, with narrow, meandering streams

traversing wide, sandy beds in summer  and early autumn. Now in October,

just

before harvest, the fields were  covered with a carpet of scarlet poppies

grown for opium. Along the country  roads tea houses (chat-khanah) were

scattered. They were clay-brick  dwellings with wide, open verandahs in

front. A few adjacent trees provided  the much desired shade for their

customers. Its scarcity made water a very  precious commodity. It usually

came from muddy hollows or shallow  clay-bottomed wells and therefore was

always murky and needed boiling  before drinking. In village streams while

donkeys drank, women did their  washing and cleaned their bodies. Nearby

other women gathered water for  cooking and for drinking. Water was carried

in large, earthenware bowls,  perched on a cloth ring on their heads.

Usually

after refreshments at a  predetermined village and a brief rest we resumed

our  journey.



Finally, we arrived at our destination Meshed, where a Polish  refugee

centre had been established through the Teheran Polish Embassy to  take care

of us. Here we were to remain, to recharge our weary minds and  bodies,

until

8th December 1942. Our temporary Persian haven was similar to  many

dwellings

we had encountered along the way. It was a large, white,  rough-cast,

clay-brick structure, a rectangular building, with a spacious  courtyard in

the centre, into which all windows and doors opened. A high  wall built from

similar material protected our privacy. The only outside  door and an iron

gate were constantly guarded by armed Iranian policemen.  It was permanently

locked and opened only briefly when required.



Our  dormitories were large, with adjoining staff rooms. Boys and girls

occupied  opposite sides of the complex. Children were distributed in

chronological  age. Again we slept on straw mattresses on the floor. A large

common room  was used for school, recreation and as a makeshift chapel. A

large dining  room, kitchen and toilet facilities catered for our daily

needs. Meshed had  a resident British Consul and also a US Mission Hospital

where several ill  children were soon admitted. My brother, weakened by

jaundice and diarrhea,  was among them.



At first we were exhausted by the long journey from  Ashkhabad to

Meshed. Many of us were ravaged by persistent, chronic  diarrhea. A period

of

prolonged rest was needed in the new, tranquil haven  of our orphanage in

Meshed. Although the very ill children were transferred  to the local US

Mission Hospital soon after their arrival, others of us  also spent some

time

In that institution, where new American drugs were  administered to cure our

organic disorders. Most of our health problems  stemmed from malnutrition

and

the lack of hygiene and sanitation in the  USSR. My brother Alek was

emaciated and too weak to sit on arrival at  Meshed. I was still able to

walk

for short periods. We survived, but  several weaker children died and found

their final resting place on the  friendly Iranian territory.



After leaving hospital I attended the  Polish school in our orphanage.

We were given lessons in reading, writing,  arithmetic, geography, religious

studies and singing. There were no text  books available and no planned

syllabus. All lessons were in Polish and  each teacher Improvised as best

she

could. All our teachers were women, and  Indeed there were no men on the

staff of our entire orphanage initially,  except for Iranian cooks and

policemen. Our formal education had been very  fragmented over the past

three

years, since being deported from Poland. We  needed to make a fresh start in

our new life. I was blessed with a  photographic, retentive memory and a

strong desire to succeed. Soon I  learned enough to take a class when our

teacher was absent caring for one  of her own dying children. I enjoyed this

short teaching experience, little  realizing then that it was the forerunner

of my teaching career in later  life.



We looked forward to receiving clothing donated by the US Embassy  In

Teheran. We were especially fascinated by attractive buttons, which we

often

cut off and exchanged to add to our collections kept in small  drawstring

bags which we made at school. My brother spent much time In  hospital. I saw

Mother very seldom, because she was kept very busy looking  after

convalescent children who returned from the American hospital and  needed

constant care. As I only saw her during the course of her nursing  duties, I

became fully integrated Into the daily life of Polish orphans. As  autumn

progressed temperatures became cooler. We felt nostalgic seeing the  trees

assuming their autumn splendour of changing colours, with crowns of  gold,

scarlet, orange, brown intermingled with shades of green leaves, all  around

us and recalling a similar scene at that time of year in our native  Poland.



At the beginning of November we heard the sad news that the  Russian

authorities had closed the USSR-Persian frontier and stopped  further

evacuation of Poles, many of whom were ordered back to the places  they had

come from when they were deported from Poland. We felt deeply for  the over

one million Poles remaining In the USSR, forcibly deprived of the  freedom

In

which we were now rejoicing.



My own experiences in Meshed  revolved around the daily routine

established at the Polish orphanage. Each  day commenced with prayers, then

breakfast and school till lunch time,  after which an enforced rest period

followed, before lessons resumed till  4.00 p.m. After school we were free

to

run around, play ball games or just  sit and talk with our friends. Marbles,

hopscotch and card games were  popular pastimes. After our main meal,

dinner,

we assembled for prayers and  once again concluding our devotions with a

familiar, daily evening hymn,  'All our daily tasks bless 0 Lard'. We

generally retired early to our  dormitories and to our straw mattresses,

fortunate to have the woolen army  blankets to keep us warm on the cooler

late autumn nights.



We had  few opportunities to venture beyond the tall wall of our

private haven of  the orphanage complex. One such occasion vividly stands

out

in my mind,  when my mother with a few other staff members and accompanied

by

a small  group of children visited the Meshed Mosque. For Muslims it is

second in  importance only to Mecca. It contains the tomb of the eighth Imam

Au Rezo.  It is an impressive ornate building with richly decorated mosaics

and  magnificent dome-shaped towers, several covered with turquoise stones.

The  largest dome is clad with gold. It overlooks the Golden Road to

Samarkand.  It glitters in the burning sun and is visible as a landmark from

a long  distance. We were very fortunate to have been permitted to visit the

Meshed  Mosque, because women had only just been accorded this special

privilege. I  was enchanted with the beautiful interior, which seemed like a

fairyland of  bright mosaics, decorative inscriptions from the Koran, and

silk Persian  carpets over marble floors.



Meshed was famous for its turquoise stones,  which could be purchased

at the local bazaar, which we also visited later  that day. We were

fascinated by the great variety of jewellery for sale.  Gold, silver, brass,

precious and semiprecious stones were in abundance.  The most Impressive

were

the beautiful shades of green-blue turquoises.  Mother purchased a turquoise

necklace and a bracelet, which I now possess.  They remind me of that most

enjoyable day we shared together. As we walked  through the long arcades

with

stalls on both sides, I felt as if we were  visiting a dreamworld from Alice

in Wonderland. There were so many  impressions to absorb.



As December approached, nights became quite  chilly, reminding us of

the coming winter. By now most of us were  sufficiently recovered to face

the

future. Now we were able to embark on  the next part of our journey. Our

destination was the British colony of  India.



Other Polish refugees from transitory camps in Iran were  sent through

Karachi in India to British Colonies in East Africa, notably  Tanganyika and

Uganda. Smaller transports went to North and South Rhodesia  and to South

Africa. About 1,500 Poles found a haven on Santa Rosa Hacienda  in Mexico

and

733 Polish children In Pahiatua in New Zealand.



From: _Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com_

(mailto:Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com)   [mailto:_Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com_

(mailto:Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com) ]

On  Behalf Of lsarniak

Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 11:46 PM

To: _Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:Kresy-Siberia@yahoogroups.com)

Subject:  [Kresy-Siberia] Re: Assistance required by members...



Hi Helena,

My  mother reached Persia via Meshed in August, 1942. She was very, very

ill

[25kg and 16 yrs old] and upon arrival was admitted to an American

hospital.

After approximately nine months in this hospital she went into  the

orphanage

in Meshed. She still has her autograph book from Meshed with  many

inscriptions obtained both from the hospital and orphanage. Mum's  memory is

not good now and her only recollection (over breakfast this  morning) of the

trip is that they travelled in an army truck and it was  scary; also that

there were mainly small children and army personnel.



You're right, there doesn't seem to be much mentioned about Meshed.

Probably

understandable considering fewer than 3000 people arrived this  way.

However,

the crossing is fully described in the book "An Unforgettable  Journey" by

Maria van der Linden. This is an Online book. Here is a link to  the chapter

in case you haven't already read it: 7.



[The book is  fully on line and well worth the read.]



Also, mum has a first holy  communion photo of a group of children from

Meshed orphanage. It is number  11 in my album in the Gallery.

_http://kresy-siberia.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=13916_

(http://kresy-siberia.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=13916)



Lonia  Sarniak

NZ



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