Jozef Olszewski – Polish Army, K.U.1.

Kapral (Corporal) Jozef Olszewski – Polish Army, K.U.1.

Early Life

Jozef Olszewski was born in 1909 in Poland, one of the many Polish servicemen who later found themselves stationed in Britain during and after the Second World War. His civilian life remains largely undocumented, but his presence in Swansea reflects the wider movement of displaced Polish forces who continued their service abroad following the occupation of their homeland.

Military Service

Jozef served as a Kapral (Corporal) with the Polish Army, attached to K.U.1., an administrative Polish Army unit operating in Britain in the immediate post‑war period. The designation K.U.1. most likely refers to a Kompanja Uzupełnień (Replacement Company), responsible for processing, supporting, and organising Polish servicemen who were awaiting reassignment or demobilisation. Units of this type played a vital role in the months following the end of hostilities, ensuring that Polish soldiers in Britain received accommodation, documentation, training, and administrative support while the Polish Resettlement Corps was being formed.

Jozef Olszewski Morriston Cemetery credit - findagrave

Death and Burial

Jozef died on 15 September 1945, making his grave the last but one burial of 1945 at Morriston Cemetery. His death occurred during the uncertain transitional months immediately after the war, when many Polish servicemen remained stationed across Britain under administrative units such as K.U.1. He was laid to rest at Morriston Cemetery, where his grave stands among the final wartime and early post‑war burials.