"The Young Artilleryman and the Great War" blog

This Blog presents the correspondence of Tadeusz Rawski, whom the Great War found in the barracks of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment in Dąbie, now the district of Krakow. In the family collection of Krystyna Rusin (née Rawska), his cards, letters and a few photographs have been preserved, covering the period from August 1914 to 1920 and some individual ones from later years.

Tadeusz Rawski was born on August 28, 1895 in Brzesko. He was the eldest son of Michał Rawski and Kamila née Kerekjarto. In 1913 he graduated with honors from C.K. Middle School in Jarosław. It states in the School Directorate's report, that he chose a career in the army and to continue his education at the Military Academy.

During the First World War he fought in the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, in the Carpathians and Italy. After the end of the war, in November 1918, he joined the Polish Army. As a lieutenant, he participated in the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1919-1920 in the ranks of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment. For bravery shown on the battlefield, he was awarded the Virtuti Militari Order class 5.

He continued his service in the Polish Army as a quartermaster of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Inowrocław, then as the commander of a squadron in the 30th Light Artillery Regiment in Włodawa before becoming the deputy commander of the regiment in the 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment in Poznań in Sołacz.

             In the period from November 20, 1935 to August 27, 1939 he commanded the 12th Light Artillery Regiment in Zolochiv. From August 28, 1939, he was the commander of the divisional artillery of the 12th Infantry Division and fought in this position during the September 1939 campaign. After the Campaign of 1939 he made his way through Hungary to France, where he served in the Polish Armed Forces and after the fall of France in June 1940, he managed to get to Great Britain . He was, among other roles, commander of the 7th Light Artillery Squadron in the 7th Infantry Brigade Squadron, then in the Artillery Training Center.

              After the war, he remained in Great Britain and lived in Mickley, Shirland in Derby. He worked as a surveyor until he retired. Tadeusz died on January 5, 1973, his ashes were brought to Poland and placed at the cemetery in Maków Podhalański.