Plaque made by Polish paratrooper to go on display in Newark Cemetery chapel

A plaque designed by a Polish paratrooper has been gifted to the Friends of Newark Cemetery, to be near the 26 Polish paras buried there.

It was presented to the chairman of the friends, Roy Williams, by Bill Marshall of Nottingham Parachute Regimental Association (PRA).

The plaque will be put on display in the cemetery chapel, alongside a commemorative Nottingham lace which will also be framed and put on display.

The plaque was designed by Arnhem veteran airborne engineer Sergeant Eugeniusz Jakubowskis — known as Jim — who first presented it to Nottingham PRA in 1981.

A wreath in the claws of the eagle depicted on the plaque represents the events at Arnhem.

Jim was a member of the association and lived in the city, having remained in England after the war.

It was decided that due to the Polish connection to the chapel and the cemetery, with the commonwealth war graves, it would be the best place for the plaque to be displayed.

Not much is known about Jim, who died in 1999, but Mark Holding, former treasurer of the Nottingham PRA, explained he had served with the second British paratrooper regiment, and had been a member of the PRA since its formation in 1960.

He was described as a “real character”.

Mark added: “I’m just sad I can’t say more on it now.”

After the presentation, made on Thursday, August 8, Roy Williams said: “On behalf of the Friends of Newark Cemetery thank you, and we will take good care of it.”

The chapel is open to visitors every Thursday morning.

The Newark PRA meet on the last Thursday of each month from 7pm, at the Newark Services Club, located behind Odeon in the London Road carpark. All serving or ex members of airborne forces are welcome.