Mackowiak, Alfons Wiktor "Alan Mack"

Special Operations Executive (SOE)

Date of birth:: March 29th, 1916
Date of death:: January 31st, 2017
Buried on:: Cmentarz Wojskowy
Nationality:: Polish

Biography

Postumosly promoted to rank of General. His citation reads as follows:-
'Outstanding officer: distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery and his qualifications of a soldier throughout the campaign, especially 2nd and 14th June 1940 at Fremestroff, 15th at Alberstroff and 16th at Dieuze, where he did not cease commanding the fire of his battery, in spite of violent shooting of enemy artillery, giving best example to the gunners. On 17th June he dispersed an adverse company which was attacking positions and on the 18th forced the enemy to evacuate Embermenil, which they had taken. The present mention includes the award of the War Cross with Brass Star" Captured by Germans, interned for a period in Strasbourg. Escaped through Vichy France and Spain to Gibraltar. Boat to Britain, arrived in Liverpool trained in tanks before volunteering for the Polish parachute forces at Upper Largo. Selected for training as an agent with SOE, then becoming an instructor with SOE. Transferred in 1942 to Polish section of SOE (Special Operations Executive) to Audley End House, near Saffron Waldon, Essex, known as Station 43 (STS 43). Instructor in small arms, PT and unarmed combat, 1942-44. Sworn in SOE Cichociemny (Silent & Unseen). Return to action Monday 18th September 1944 at Arnhem. Flew from Manston by glider chalk number 890 as part of Polish Parachute Brigade Advance HQ, piloted by Staff Sergeant John 'Johnny' Cotterill and Sergeant Max Maxwell. Now with the rank of Captain. Fought with distinction as the Polish Artillery Liaison Officer attached to the RA. Operation Market Garden. Sniper hunting in the woods of Oosterbeek and directing allied artillery fire in the Oosterbeek perimeter. Wounded. At conclusion of the Battle of Arnhem, captured and POW at Oflag 1XA at Spangenberg, Germany. Liberated by Americans 4 May 1945. Received his third Krzyz Waleczny. In total during the Second World War he received no less than 14 medals. In 2009 - Awarded the highest medal of bravery by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Demobbed in Fife in July 1947. Remained in the U.K. His peacetime record: entered a burning Wellington bomber rescuing the pilot and crew. Awarded a Commendation by King George V1, in recognition of his bravery and courageous action in extricating the pilot from the blazing Wellington on 11th July 1950. Published in Supplement to the Evening Gazette, Tuesday, 24th April 1951. He was the last living SOE Cichociemny (Silent &Unseen) living in the U.K.'

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