I am trying to find out as much information as possible about my maternal grandfather. His name was Michal Bracio and he was born in Sliwnica, Krasiczyn, Przemysl, Poland on 16th February 1924. In 1942 he was taken from his family to work as forced labour for the Third Reich in Austria. When the war was over he made his way to Italy, where he joined the British Army. He eventually enlisted in the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) and served here in the UK until he was discharged in 1949.

My grandfather died in 1988, and I know very little about his life before the war. From his military records I found that his parents were called Michal and Zophia, and I believe he had two brothers and two sisters. I have been trying to obtain a copy of his birth certificate from the Polish Authorities, but have been unsuccessful so far – although I have established that a Jana Bracio (possibly my grandfather’s brother) was born in Sliwnica in 1921.

I also understand that at some stage certain members of my grandfather’s extended family moved to America.

I know it is a long shot, but I would be most interested to find out if there is any connection between my grandfather and your family.

Tom Kelsall