Zbigniew Jan Zjawin

Born:

08 August 1922, Stryj, Lwów

Death:

25 September 1944, Reijerskamp, Wolfheze

Number:

6182

Rank:

cadet officer

Department:

1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade, Airborne Anti-tank Battery

Cemetery:

Oosterbeek, Airborne begraafplaats (Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery)

Section/row/number:

Plot XXV Row B Grave 15

Field grave location:

Ten noorden van Reijerskamp

Zbigniew Zjawin landed on September 19 at LZ-L in glider 135. The landing zone was overrun by German troops at that time (see story by Edward Trochim).

Zjawin’s body was found near Wolfheze north of the Reijerskamp. The newsletter of The Arnhem Fellowship from February 2023 therefore suggest that Zjawin was killed in the period from 19th to 21st of September before the troops withdrew to Oosterbeek. This calls into question the date of September 25 as stated on the gravestone.

The same newsletter contains an overview of Polish paratroopers who came from areas that are now part of Ukraine. Zjawin came from Stryj in the Lwów region (Stryi, or Стрий in Cyrillic script in Lviv Oblast) and was only 17 when he arrived in the UK in 1940. He completed his parachute course in September1942 and was awarded eagle wings number 1600.