- Birth*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician was born on 20 August 1924 at Gdynia, Poland, .1
- He was the son of Jan Kowalewski farmer and Anna Lemanska.
- (Groom) Marriage*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician married Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier, daughter of Alexander Young Dickson jute mill oiler and Mary Keith Paterson Johnston hotelier, on 13 December 1947 at Lochee, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, ; Margaret was married from the house at 39 Step Row where the family had been living for about a year.2,3
- Divorce*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier were divorced in January 1973 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; Robert Carson (formerly Bruno Kowalewski) v Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson or Carson (formerly Kowaleski): Divorce.4
- (Deceased) Death*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician died on 26 May 1992 at Roxburghe House, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , at age 67.5
- Cremation*: His body was cremated Ashes scattered Gillburn Road say 1 June 1992 at Dundee Crematorium, Dundee, Scotland, .6
- Name Variation: Brunon Kowalewski electrician was also known as Bruno.
- Name Variation: As of circa 1948, Brunon Kowalewski electrician was also known as Robert Carson.
- Address*: As of January 1948, Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier lived at 10 Campbell Street, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .7
- (Informant) Birth: Brunon Kowalewski electrician registered the birth of Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor' on 21 January 1949 at Maternity Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, ; extract from register of births states Robert Carson; 1949, January 21, 4h 25m am; Maternity Hospital Dundee; Father : Bruno Carson (formerly Kowalewski) Pig Breeder, Usual Residence 10 Campbell Street, Dundee; Mother : Margaret Ness McGregor Carson, ms Dickson; Marriage : 1947, December 13th, Lochee, Dundee; Informant : Bruno Carson, father; Signed : 1949, February 4th, Dundee; Registrar : R Howden.8,9
- (Witness) Newspaper Article: Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier was mentioned in a newspaper article about Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor' on 22 January 1949. KOWALEWSKI - At DRI on Jan 21 1949, to Mr and Mrs Kowalewski (nee Margaret Dickson), 10 Campbell Street - a son (Both Well.)10
- (Witness) Photograph: Brunon Kowalewski electrician is in this photograph taken in February 1949 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , along with Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor', Mary Keith Paterson Johnston hotelier and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier Robert Carson's christening.8
- (Witness) Photograph: Brunon Kowalewski electrician is in this photograph taken in March 1949 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , along with Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor', Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier Robert Carson in the pram.8
- (Witness) Photograph: Brunon Kowalewski electrician is in this photograph taken in December 1949 at Campbell Street, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , along with Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor', Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier Bobby's first Christmas.8
- Address: As of before 7 July 1954, Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier lived at 17 Napier Place, Dryburgh, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .11
- Address: As of 1964, Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier lived at 6 Norwood Crescent, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .11
- (Awarded to) Award*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician was awarded the an unknown person on 8 April 1977 at Warsaw, Poland, , Society QSO
with foreign Polonia
Polonia
grants
Robert Carson
Diploma
for outstanding achievements
in the work
strengthening of patriotic ties
Poles in the matrix
The Secretary-General
President
Warsaw, 8 April 1977
No. 233.8
- (Witness) Photograph: He is in this photograph taken in 1978 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , along with Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor'.8
- (Witness) Photograph: Brunon Kowalewski electrician is in this photograph taken in September 1980 at Murraygate, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , along with Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor'.8
- Property Purchase*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor' purchased a property at at 2 Gillburn Road, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , in 1990.12
- Military Service*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician served with the Polish Free Army in Britain between 1939 and 1948 Bruno Kowalewski chat about 1989
First session
Notes made after our chat (& fairly disjointed)
Gdansk – free State – Lived Matania (Matarnia)
4am handing out sweets – papers from father – occupied – Prussian soldiers
2 months later – go to Germany to work – took to Bavarian border near Austria – 200 Polish prisoners working in camp – power stations – private digs – paid apprentice wages – Swiss border just across the river. Whole shift went across border. Refugees for 3 days. Polish authorities in Switzerland – wanting recruits for Polish Army in France. – Got out of France 3 / 4 weeks before Dunkirk – youngsters – Portsmouth, then to Catterick – training – Norway by ship – submarines – back to St Andrews (via Greenland?). Back to Catterick – Algiers – more training – Alamein after battle- chasing back thru’ desert. Back to UK – regrouped near Greenock. 2 wks after D-Day.
Polish 1st Tank division – nr Aachen wounded. Sherman tanks. Polish hosp past Perth. 1000 in cemetery there. Shipped back to UK after war. Reenlisted in ’46 at Buddon as British Army. Demobbed in ’48 in Dec – one of the last.
Brother Hanny (Jan) was in Italy – demobbed from Barry / Buddon – back to Poland. 6/8 months in Labour camps because of being in the army.
Brother Franek conscripted into German Army 1945 – infantry. Wounded in Germany.
Brother Kajek in Airforce V1/2 bombers. Taken to Russia for 18 months. Took whole factory to Russia & reassembled. Poles taken for 3 months for Communist education. E Germans sent home, W Germans stayed.
Bruno Kowalewski chat2 about 1989
Second session
Notes made after our chat
When war (WW2) broke out the Germans needed youngsters to work in the industries. Volunteers were asked for and sent to various areas in Germany. I was sent to the Rhur, near the Swiss border (this under query as the Rhur is NE Germany, not South), about 15 miles or so. We were trained as electricians. I was an apprentice.
By this time there were also Polish POWs over the border – boats – about 100 men.
Swiss authorities – kept in camp – only fed one meal a day – sign up – 3 meals.
Taken to France – disorganised etc – shipped out just 3 weeks before Dunkirk, with French aristocrats etc. Landed Plymouth.
Trained at Catterick near Doncatser. Stationed at or near Dundee.
Sent to Algiers – wounded – sent back to Dundee etc.
When war ended Polish soldiers were given a new uniform, rifle and 5 rounds and put on a ship which sailed from Plymouth to Gdansk. When the ship docked and the men disembarked, they were immediately disarmed (margin note ‘Stalin’). Some were even killed. The Captain of the ship would not let any of the others leave, turned around and sailed for Plymouth again.
Eventually demobbed in ’47. Evident that Poland was no place to be at that time – Communist rule – Stalin wouldn’t have the Poles who had fought for Britain – no work, no food. Very little choice but to settle in Scotland. At least there was some sort of expatriate community – some 500,000 men.
August 2015
Son Bob Carson recalls information from father.
Him & friend called up at same time – went off to railway station – train they were supposed to catch was going (say) North, so they went the opposite way.
Clarification that they would be serving with German army.
Clarification – probably going west, so they went South – by train – missing bit re Border of Switzerland – discussion re route.
Travelling with best childhood friend.
By the time they got to the border, they had met up with others – and crossed the border with them.
Ties in with getting in a boat and rowing overnight – maybe Lake Geneva.
Now in Switzerland – get themselves up to Red Cross or Embassy – given travel docs – which took them to Britain – likely by sea.
Confirmation of arrival in Portsmouth.
Now in Polish Free Army? –
Eventually posted to Barry/Buddon camp with the Polish Free Army
Tank fire – Dad lost his hair and it grew back different colour – ginger as opposed to ?
In tanks corps - What did he do? Mention of Brenn Gun carriers.
At Buddon he was involved in the cookhouse. Waited at table for officers. Officers mess. When they got the chicken (or something) – they used a machine gun as the birds (maybe geese, ducks) flew over Buddon (resourceful people!)
In Europe with the tanks – mention of Monte Cassino – big Polish involvement there – not clear, not talked about. Didn’t talk about Europe. Probably quite unpleasant.
Monte Cassino – Italy – did he serve in other countries? That’s unclear.
Change of name – phone book Carson closest to Kowalewski – OR – box of Carson chocolates at Mum’s bedside in after birth of first child. She had difficulty spelling Kowalewski. Dad told Pat that Kowalewski in Poland was as common as Smith.
His Polish was ‘Northen’ Polish – like Gaelic is to Scots and was different. – Maybe a dialect?
Able to speak Polish to the end of his life.
Michael Demzcuk fought on 3 sides during the war.
Metic was a best friend. He went back to Poland at the end of the war. To his family. He said that he would send a photograph to depict the state of things – if they were standing up , everything was fine. When the photo arrived in Scotland, the guys were all lying down.
Kajek sentenced to 5 years down the salt mines because Dad hadn’t come back.
We met Metic when we visited Poland in 1963. He wanted to hide in the car and come away with the family.14,15 - Military Service*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician served with an unknown person between 26 May 1940 and 4 June 1940 at Dunkirk, Germany, .15
- Military Service: Brunon Kowalewski electrician served with an unknown person between 23 October 1942 and 11 November 1942 at El Alamein, Egypt, .15
- Military Service: Brunon Kowalewski electrician served with an unknown person from 17 January 1944 to 18 May 1944 at Monte Cassino, Italy, .15
- Military Service: Brunon Kowalewski electrician served with an unknown person on 6 June 1944 at Normany, France, , D-day / Normandy Landings.15
- (Groom) Marriage*: He married Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier, daughter of Alexander Young Dickson jute mill oiler and Mary Keith Paterson Johnston hotelier, on 13 December 1947 at Lochee, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, ; Margaret was married from the house at 39 Step Row where the family had been living for about a year.2,3
- Divorce*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician and Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier were divorced in January 1973 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; Robert Carson (formerly Bruno Kowalewski) v Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson or Carson (formerly Kowaleski): Divorce.4
- Note for Web*: Brunon Kowalewski electrician Bruno Kowalewski chat2 about 1989
Second session
Notes made after our chat
Childhood language in Gdynia / Slupsk (pron Swoopks)(northern Poland on Baltic coast) – separate language akin to Gaelic is to Scotland
School – taught standard Polish & German but still spoke ‘our language’ at home.
Religious Education – one afternoon during the school week was reserved for RE. It was not taught at the school. You went to your Church – whichever denomination – for this. between 1925 and 1938.14 - [S43] Certificate of Registration, Aliens Order 1953 no 196651 issued 23 Dec 1957 at Dundee.
- [S6] MNMD [Sept 2009].
- [S64] General Record Office for Scotland, online www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, General Record Office for Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland), GROS Statutory Marriage 1947 Lochee ref 282/04 0165 [no image].
- [S41] Website National Archives of Scotland online (http://195.153.34.9/onlinecatalogue/) ref CS258 Court of Session: Unextracted Processes, 4th arrangement 1935-1994; ref CS258/1973/3553 & Unextracted Processes, 4th arrangement 1973; ref CS258/1973/3553 [Mar 2011].
- [S43] R & PCC.
- [S6] PCC.
- [S6] From MNMD [Sept 2009].
- [S43] PCC.
- [S14] General Record Office for Scotland, online www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, General Record Office for Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland), Statutory birth 1949 Dundee St Clement ref 282/2 150 index screen capture [Oct 2019].
- [S54] Website findmypast.co.uk (www.findmypast.co.uk) Find My Past Newspapers Collection Dundee Courier & Advertiser 22 January 1949 [Nov 2018].
- [S6] MNMD [Sept 2009].
- [S6] PCC [1991].
- [S49] Website Web Site online (www.) http://www.fdca.org.uk/FDCATransport1.html [Nov 2011].
- [S43] PCC conversation with Robert/Bruno in about 1989.
- [S43] Son RC recalled in August 2015 conversations with Robert/Bruno.
Brunon Kowalewski electrician
M, #4126, b. 20 August 1924, d. 26 May 1992
Last Edited: 25 May 2024
Parents:
Father*: Jan Kowalewski farmer b. 4 Aug 1895, d. 6 Oct 1978
Mother*: Anna Lemanska b. 5 Apr 1897, d. 18 Apr 1976
Mother*: Anna Lemanska b. 5 Apr 1897, d. 18 Apr 1976
Relationship:
Father of Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor'
Military Service
Family:
Margaret Ness McGregor Dickson hotelier b. 16 Jun 1930, d. 20 May 2023
Child:
Robert Carson 'the Computer Doctor'+ b. 21 Jan 1949, d. 22 Jul 2021
Notes
Citations
Charts:
Adamson, Susan c1799 descendants
Barrie, John c1793 descendants
Chalmers, Robert c1823 descendants
Conlin, Patrick c 1795 descendants
Deuchars, Anne c1800 descendants
Dickson, David c1795 descendants
Dickson, Mary c1795 descendants
Downie, David c1785 descendants
Downie, Isabella c1795 descendants
Findlay, Alexander c1725 descendants
Forgan, Andrew c1750 descendants
Grubb, William s1755 descendants
Hay, Margaret c1793 descendants
Henderson, Mary c1810 descendants
Jaap, Margaret c1736 descendants
Kowaleski, Jan 1895 descendants
Laing, John c1768 descendants
Lemanska, Anna 1897 descendants
Madden, James c1799 descendants
McManus, John c1810 descendants
Menmuir, Janet 1779 descendants
Nicol, David c1726 descendants
Nicoll, Mary c1770 descendants
Orkney, John c1768 descendants
Paterson, Robert c1775 descendants
Pert, Catherine c1750 descendants
Ramsay, Helen c1750 descendants
Ramsay, Helen c1755 descendants
Smith, John c1800 descendants
Stewart, David c1820 descendants
Strain, Sarah s1795 descendants
Young, Margaret c1824 descendants
Barrie, John c1793 descendants
Chalmers, Robert c1823 descendants
Conlin, Patrick c 1795 descendants
Deuchars, Anne c1800 descendants
Dickson, David c1795 descendants
Dickson, Mary c1795 descendants
Downie, David c1785 descendants
Downie, Isabella c1795 descendants
Findlay, Alexander c1725 descendants
Forgan, Andrew c1750 descendants
Grubb, William s1755 descendants
Hay, Margaret c1793 descendants
Henderson, Mary c1810 descendants
Jaap, Margaret c1736 descendants
Kowaleski, Jan 1895 descendants
Laing, John c1768 descendants
Lemanska, Anna 1897 descendants
Madden, James c1799 descendants
McManus, John c1810 descendants
Menmuir, Janet 1779 descendants
Nicol, David c1726 descendants
Nicoll, Mary c1770 descendants
Orkney, John c1768 descendants
Paterson, Robert c1775 descendants
Pert, Catherine c1750 descendants
Ramsay, Helen c1750 descendants
Ramsay, Helen c1755 descendants
Smith, John c1800 descendants
Stewart, David c1820 descendants
Strain, Sarah s1795 descendants
Young, Margaret c1824 descendants