Courage & Devotion

Date: Saturday 26 June 2021 – Saturday 12 March 2022

Free Entry

Monday – Saturday. 10am – 4pm.
Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays.
Plan your visit here.

This exhibition remembers the lives of the Polish Airmen based at RAF Woodvale, the iconic Spitfire and some of the stories associated with the area during World War 2.

RAF Woodvale was originally conceived as a fighter base for the protection of Merseyside. It opened in 1941 with 308 Krakowski Squadron. Conditions were harsh in the early days, even for battle-hardened airmen, some of whom described facilities as being worse than Tobruk. A total of 145 Polish fighter pilots served in the RAF during the Battle of Britain, making up the largest non-British contribution. By the end of the war, around 19,400 Poles were serving in the Polish Air Force in Great Britain and in the RAF. During WW2 The Atkinson held numerous events to help fund the Polish servicemen including music concerts and exhibitions of work by Polish artists.

Along with the stories of the airmen and objects to help illustrate the story we have commissioned a replica scale model of a Spitfire Vb AB273 from paper artist sculpture Suhail Shaikh.

Events

Saying Goodbye to Courage & Devotion: Polish Day
Saturday 12 March 2022, 11am-3pm, free
This free event will be taking place across The Atkinson as we bid “do widzenia” to our exhibition. Join us for a celebration of free family friendly activities and delicious Polish food.

Courage & Devotion: Chopin Recital by Andrew Wilde
Saturday 12 March 2022, 7pm
£15. Plus booking fee £1 per ticket online/phone.
In 1943 The Atkinson hosted a pianoforte recital by Jerzy Sulikowski, a Polish pianist, featuring arrangements from Polish composers Paderewski, Zarembski, Szymanowski, Statkowski and Chopin. The recital was a benefit concert to help raise awareness of the Polish war effort. In March 2022 The Atkinson presents a Chopin recital from classical pianist Andrew Wilde, hosted alongside our moving exhibition.