Let's fund the bust of General Anders in London
Never has any Polish commander’s sculpture made it into a British museum. This can change thanks to the Polish community. The National Army Museum in London has expressed a desire to exhibit a bust of one of the greatest Polish heroes – General Władysław Anders.
The National Army Museum is the main museum of the British Army. It is located in the prestigious London district of Chelsea. It underwent a major renovation in 2017 that cost over £23 million. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II herself.
Every Polish child knows who the indomitable Polish general Władysław Anders was. But does a British one know? Is the British community aware of the accomplishments of this outstanding general?
Anders held the most important military and political functions in the country. He was a Lieutenant-General and the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, as well as the successor of the President of the Republic of Poland in Exile, and eventually a full General. After the war, he settled in Great Britain and from there he also left on permanent watch on May 12, 1970 – exactly on the 26th anniversary of the victorious battle of Monte Cassino he commanded and on the 50th birthday of his wife.
On the initiative of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Italy, Anna Maria Anders, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the United Kingdom, Arkady Rzegocki, and the portal “British Poles” – Instytut im. gen. Władysława Andersa and Fundacja Skarbowości im. John Paul II announce an extraordinary initiative to honour the figure of General Władysław Anders on the 50th anniversary of his death, which will fall in 2020. We want to use the joint efforts of our countrymen in the country and in emigration to fund a bust of the general by master Andrzej Pityński – a Polish sculptor living in the States United, Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, member of the Polish Army Veterans Association, known primarily as the author of the famous Katyn Monument in Jersey City, USA. The aim of the campaign is to raise funds for the production and casting of the bust, its protection and transport to Great Britain from the United States. The cost of the entire project is £12000 of which £4000 has already been collected at a Polish fundraiser. We need only £8000 more. The money will be transferred to The Polish Army Veterans Association (SWAP) 2nd District in New York who commissioned the bust from the famous sculptor Andrzej Pityński. He declined an additional fee for his work which would amount to a minimum of £20000. The bust will be his last masterpiece as he has sadly passed away a few months ago.
Those who support the cause with over £500 will be invited to the unveiling ceremony.
We hope that the British and Polish diaspora scattered around the world will join the collection, which will result in the display of a bust of one of the most outstanding sons of Polish soil in the most prestigious military museum in Great Britain. Having a bust of General Anders at the National Army Museum will be a powerful symbol of the close friendship between Poland and the United Kingdom. A friendship formed in the skies above England, on the battlefields of Italy and northwest Europe, and continued today.
Therefore, we are asking you to support this much-needed collection. Every, even the smallest payment counts. It is not only our duty, but also a reason to be proud that we are honoured to make a small contribution to this great work.
