A memorial to the thousands of Polish troops who died fighting for the Allies in the Second World War has been unveiled today.

Veteran Polish soldiers, who settled in Bradford after the war, were present at the unveiling of the memorial at Bradford War Memorial yesterday along with civic representatives including the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Howard Middleton, who gave a tribute to the Polish servicemen as well as those who settled in Bradford 60-years-ago.

Romana Pizon, of the Polish Veterans’ Association, who lives in Baildon and helped arrange the ceremony, said: “I think the Polish community is very proud for what has happened for us. Everything went absolutely wonderful. We are so grateful that we live like one happy family in Bradford.

“This is a very special day for – a very honourable day.”

Wreaths were laid at the memorial by former servicemen and women as well as dignitaries of Bradford Council.

Among the veterans was Edmund Jagielski, 85, who was born in Poland but has lived in Bradford for 60 years.

Mr Jagielski fought with the Fifth Polish Infantry, which took part in the fourth battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, enabling Allied forces to reach the road to Rome. He started working in Bradford at Crofts Engineering, in Leeds Road, before becoming an industrial chemist.

He and his wife also ran an off-licence in Queen’s Road, Bradford, before holding a continental stall at Shipley Market until he retired.

He said: “I never thought I would see our own war memorial near the cenotaph. It has made me feel proud today that Bradford did not forget us, because when I came to Bradford there were about 5,000 Poles at first.”

Jozef Wojciechowski and his wife Emilia, both 86, settled in Bradford as weavers following the Second World War.

Mr Wojciechowski, treasurer of the Polish Combatants’ Association, was among the Poles who fought in Operation Market Garden which aimed to secure bridges over the main rivers of the German-occupied Netherlands.

Mr Wojciechowski started his civilian life in Barnsoldswick but moved to Bradford because of the textile industry. He said: “Today has been wonderful – it is wonderful how the Bradfordians have honoured us.”

Maria Skowronska, 84, and Maria Denis, 79, were both living in Poland when it was invaded by the German Army.

Mrs Denis said she was taken to work for the Germans, including a stint on a farm near the Auschwitz concentration camp, near Krakow.

She ended up at a nursing school in York before spending the rest of her working life as a nurse in Bradford.

Mrs Skowronska said she was taken to work on a German farm until the war finished and she moved to Denmark for three years. She came to England in 1948 where she found work in the mills in Bradford Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Council’s Labour group, attended the ceremony.