THE Polish servicemen who are buried in Leominster were remembered during a moving service.

Around 70 British and Polish people attended the service at Leominster Cemetery and the local Squadron 151 of the Air Cadets, commanded by Flying Officer Martin Fulloway, formed a guard of honour beside the seven Polish graves.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, many Polish men from their Army, Air Force and Navy fled to France and subsequently arrived in Britain.

The airmen amongst them formed squadrons in the RAF, one of which shot down more enemy planes than any other squadron and was the highest scoring of the Hurricane squadrons during the Battle of Britain.

At times, one in five pilots aloft was Polish and the head of RAF Fighter Command later said the victorious outcome of the Battle of Britain would not have been the same if it had not been for the efforts of the Polish pilots.

Leominster resident Joe Cocker, who organised the memorial service, spoke solemnly about the country's debt to the Polish servicemen and similar expressions of praise came from the Mayor of Leominster Councillor Roger Pendleton, and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Air Vice- Marshal Michael Smart.

Also present at the service were Tadeusz Stenzel, President of the Federation of Poles in Great Britain, the Federation Secretary Bogna Maramos and town and county councillors.

Father Aidan Doyle OSB concluded the service with prayers, and the congregation vowed to remember the Polish heroes.

A meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 17 at 7.30pm in the Talbot Hotel to discuss ideas for future commemoration events.