RiP LESZEK KOT

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Mr Leszek Kot on Friday, 14 October 2016. Mr Kot was the President of the Junacka Szkoła Kadetów Association and Deputy President of Katyń Families Association in the UK,  He died at the age of 86 after a severe illness. 

Leszek Kot was born in 1930 and spent his early life in Stanisławów, in Polish Kresy.  At the outbreak of WW II, his father, a Polish policeman, was arrested by the Soviets. It was not until many years later that the family learned that he had been killed by the Soviets in Bykovnia near Kiev.

Leszek and his family were deported by the Soviets to Kazkhstan on 13 April 1940. After the so-called "amnesty", Leszek joined the Polish  Army under General Anders and, as a cadet (junak ), was evacuated to Iran. Together with other Polish boys, he was a cadet in the Junacka Szkoła Kadetów in  Camp  Barbara, Palestine, and he was proud to have been a Polish cadet to the end of his days.

After the war, he settled in the UK, where he worked as an engineer. He was a very active participant in many Polish associations and initiatives, and was particularly interested in working with young people, especially in promoting cadet schools in modern Poland. He was a kind and generous individual who missed his father very much and was very happy to have been able to visit the place of his burial in Bykovnia a few years ago.

He leaves behind three beloved daughters and will be sadly missed by his many friends here in England and in Poland.   
May he rest in peace.
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