Bolesław Zawalicz-Mowiński

Portrait of Major Dr Bolesława Zawalicz-Mowińskiego (1903–1993), ca. 1947 (Source: IPMS).

Source: IPMS

IV. “Canadian Period” (1954–1993)

After arriving in Canada, Zawalicz-Mowiński and his wife moved to Toronto, where his wife’s family had settled several years earlier. In the period that followed, he gave several talks on the situation of Polish refugees in West Germany and took part in aid projects for them which were organised by the Canadian Polish Congress. Undoubtedly, the first few months in Canada were not easy for him, especially because Toronto was visited by Hurricane Hazel during this time, which left behind a trail of destruction with many casualties. The Zawalicz-Mowiński family, however, was lucky – their house was saved from destruction. Unfortunately, it is not known exactly how Zawalicz-Mowiński’s life and work developed in Toronto. According to his son, Bolesław Zawalicz-Mowiński found work with an independent insurance company where he worked for 20 years. In 1965, thanks to the advocacy of General Karol Ziemski, he was promoted to first lieutenant of the cavalry reserve in the Polish Army. In June 1979, his wife passed away and he was left to bring up his children on his own. This is where the historical knowledge of his life ends. In 1990, by order of President Ryszard Kaczorowski, Zawalicz-Mowiński was promoted to Colonel.

Colonel Dr Bolesław Zawalicz-Mowiński died in Toronto on 31 January 1993 at the age of 90. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. He had three children who currently all live in Canada.

Awards: Cross of the Order of Merit Virtuti Militari Fifth Class, Order of Polonia Restituta Fourth Class, Golden Cross of the Order of Merit, War Medal 1918–1920, Cross of the Home Army, Order of Valour on the Field of Honour 1920, Medal of Independence Fighters, Golden Cross of the Order of Merit with Swords, Military Medal (three times), Long-Service Medal, Medal for the Tenth Anniversary of Independence 1918–1928.

Łukasz Wolak, February 2018

Bibliography:

Archive material:

Archive of the Polish Institute and of the General Sikorski Museum in London (Archiwum Instytutu Polskiego i Muzeum im. gen. W. Sikorskiego w Londynie, IPMS)
Archive of the Polish Underground Movement in London (Archiwum Studium Polski Podziemnej w Londynie, ASPP)
Military Bureau for Historical Research/Central Military Archive (Wojskowe Biuro Badań Historycznych/Centralne Archiwum Wojskowe, WBBH/CAW)
Archive of the Office for Research into Polish Emigration in Germany (Archiwum Pracowni Badań nad Polską Emigracją w Niemczech, APPEN)
Archive of the Institute for National Remembrance (Archiwum Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej, AIPN)
Author’s private collection
Private collection of Krzysztof Barbarski

Websites:

http://www.1944.pl/powstancze-biogramy/boleslaw-mowinski,32160.html

http://uchodzcywniemczech.pl/kompanie-pomocnicze-przy-armii-brytyjskiej/

http://uchodzcywniemczech.pl/krete-drogi-zycia-o-poszukiwaniach-dotyczacych-pplk-dr-inz-boleslawa-janusza-zawalicz-mowinskiego-czlowieka-zolnierza-dzialacza-i-polityka/