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America's Greatest Generation
Living Their Finest Hour:
World War II -- 1941 - 1945Stories of Men and Women who experienced the greatest event in the history of the world -- World War II...As seen through their eyes and told in their words.
Today we begin a NEW catagory of World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words. The pages that follow are dedicated to our neighbors to the north...the Canadians. We recently came into contact with a gentleman by the name of Stanley Scilowski who served with the Canadian forces during World War II. Stan served with the Perth Regiment of Canada, 11th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division.
Stan served mainly during the Mediterrian Campaign and received the Canadian Voluntary Service medal; the Defence of Britain medal; the 1939/45 Star for 6 months or over in a war theater; the Italy Star for service in that campaign; the Victory medal.
He indicated that the Canadians once looked and scoffed at the "Yanks" for their proliferation of medal handouts. Now he has come to the conclusion that might have been so, but his people (Canada) were too damed stingy with similar citations.
Stan has kindly arranged for us to display exerpts from his published works entitled: Not All of Us Were Brave published in October 1997 by Dundurn Press. His book contains 400 pages, and contains some 20 illustrations.
The pages that follow in the category of "Canadian Army Heroes" are dedicated to the men and women served with distinction in the forces of the Canadian (Military) Army.
They served in many theaters of the war including North Africa, the Italian Peninsula, D-Day and the massive invasion of Normandy. Many served thought the arduous campaigns of France and continuing on into Germany.
Though less heralded, there were many who served throughout the war at home and were just as determined and dedicated in their efforts. Many of these helped train the men who went off to fight and others served less glamorous rolls in guarding vital military installations back home.
These men and women were common citizen soldiers who were placed into heroic situations and performed their duties -- not for glory or rewards; but, because the job had to be done.
They did their part. These citizen soldiers came from every walk of life in this vast country, putting on their uniform and marching off to an uncertain future. When the war finally ended, most returned to family and home...many did not. They all served -- with pride!
Not all came home boasting a chest full of medals -- nor all did heroic deeds on the great battlefields of the world. But each one was a hero in his own right all the same; enduring and dedicating himself to the task at hand. Thus, another small piece of the vast picture we called the "great war" was fulfilled. Another soldier had done his duty and could come home to his just rewards holding his head high in pride.
This series of pages will be a sounding board, have you, for collecting and dissiminating stories from folks such as Stanley Scislowski and others from our neighbor to the north: Canada. It is our hope that by placing these stories by Stan on our website, that others will follow in offering to share their experiences during World War II. With luck and time this section will contain many stories thus far untold.
Thank You, Stan for getting in touch with us at World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words and for your generous effort to share with us -- your collective memories of World War II.
Heroes: the Canadian Army
Stan Scislowski
Perth Regiment of Canada, 11th Infantry Brigade
of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division
Image of Stan Scislowski. Photo shows Stan's son, Jerry on left, Stan's nephew, Fred in center and Stan on right.
Not All of Us Were Brave
About the Author: Stanley Scislowski
Unit served in: Perth Regiment of Canada, 11th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division.
Mr. Scislowski served in Canada, the U.K. and Italy.
Mr. Scislowski claims that he received no citations for bravery. He earned the Canadian Voluntary Service medal; the Defence of Britain medal; the 1939/45 Star for 6 months or over in a war theater; the Italy Star for service in that campaign; the Victory medal.
In his opinion -- Where we Canadians once looked and scoffed at the Yanks før their proliferation of medal handouts, now I've come to the conclusion, that might have been so, but our people were too damn stingy, and if I had enough info on the subject I'd write a scathing rebuke of what it was all about.
Theater of Operations: Mediterranean.
Stan Scislowski was born on Sept.14, 1923.
Stan's father, was Victor Scislowski who died in 1932. His mother, Tekla, emigrated to Canada (Montreal) from Poland in 1912 where she met and married John Hatrycz and had three offspring from that marriage. Her 1st husband, John, died in the 1918 world flu epidemic. After marrying Mr. Scislowski in Montreal, she had a daughter and then subsequently moved to Windsor, Ontario where she bore three more children.
Stan's family: Peter Hedgewick, Michael Hedgewick, Anna Hatrycz (confused? When the children registered for school in Montreal, the registrar must have not understood the pronunciation of their name and it was entered as Hedgewick. The oldest in the family, Anna, kept her real name. Peter, the next oldest, and Mike kept the misnamed Hedgewick which they made legal much later on.)
The four Scislowski children, in order of birth, were Olga, Joe, Stanley, and Theodore (Teddy). Stan was the only one who saw action in World War II. Peter served for one mandatory month in 1939; Mike served on shore duty in Halifax as a welder, and as a football player (halfback) on the Navy team. He was one of Canada's top halfbacks in 1937, and was the Dominion of Canada scoring champ that year.
Joe was deferred from service because of of his trade as a toolmaker.
Teddy was too young to serve.
Stanley married Joyce Elaine Barnes in Windsor, Ontario 1950 and together they raised six children, four girls and two boys. Joyce passed away suddenly last April at 69 years.
In 1950 Stan, his brother Joe, and his brother-in-law Leo Horodyski went into the Electroplating business. They sold it in 1980s to an American Company out of Buffalo, NY. He was the key man in the deal because of his being the plant chemist. Stan stayed with them for six years until retirement.
After retirement Stan wrote monthly feature Articles (free-lance) for two years for the American based magazine "METAL FINISHING". He also wrote several articles for "PLATING & SURFACE FINISHING" and was Secretary/ Treasurer of the Western Ontario Branch of the American Electroplating Society for 22 years. He finished off his last two years of membership as the President. He was invited by the Communist Chinese government about 10 years ago, when the China was almost a closed society, to a completely-paid-for visit to the country to tour their heavy truck plants to show them what they might be doing wrong. He declined in a face-saving way.
Stan published his first book in October 1997 entitled: Not All of Us Were Brave published in October 1997 by Dundurn Press. His book traces his experiences during World War II and contains 400 pages, along with some 20 illustrations. As of this writing, Stan is currently working on his latest book which deals with the subject of his "Pilgrimage to Italy".
Currently Stanley Scislowski resides in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
You may begin reading about Mr. Scislowski and his World War II experiences by clicking on the following link - OR - return to the main catagory page containing our Canadian Story Links:
Stans friend: Bill Greaves "Battle of Verrieres Ridge"
Canadian Army HeroesOriginal Story from messages received on 11 February 2002.
Material originally submitted on: 25 February 2002.
The following exerpts dealing with Mr. Scislowski's service in World War II were written and contributed by Mr. Stan Scislowski, who served with the Perth Regiment of Canada, 11th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. This moving story is a part of his published work entitled: Not All of Us Were Brave which was published by Dundurn Press.
Would you care to read more tales of World War II written by Mr. Stan Scislowski? His work is featured on a website devoted to the Perth Regiment of Canada. Check out this very interesting website and while you are there look at Stan's Corner .
We at World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words wish to offer our profound "Thanks" for the excellent material contributed by Mr. Stan Scislowski.
Do YOU have a story to tell?
Contact me, Joe Richard and I can help you tell YOUR story.
Send an e-mail to this following e-mail address:
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Updated on 25 February 2002...0720:05 CST
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