A man who survived the Nazi camps is turning 100 at Nailsea care home

A man who endured six years living under the Nazis, including time in internment camps as a young man, has looked back on his “eventful life” as he turns 100 in the quiet of a care home near Bristol.

George Durkal was just 15 years old when his childhood in Poland was shattered by the Nazi invasion of 1939. He returned home from school one day to find his house burning down and surrounded by the Gestapo.

He and his family endured and survived six years of harsh German occupation, but in 1945, when the Nazis lost the war, they ordered one member from each family to be sent to Germany to work in a concentration camp. forced labor – and George, then 21, set out to spare the rest of his family.

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One of six brothers, George was sent on a cattle truck across the border to Germany to work as a carpenter, repairing farmers’ carts. He was then sent to an internment camp to build underground bunkers, but was released with the Allied victory over Germany 79 years ago this month.

After the war, George joined the Polish army and was stationed in Italy for two years. With the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the Russians occupying his native country, he took the opportunity to emigrate to England. He quickly learned English and got a job as a carpenter, making furniture.

He settled in Somerset and worked for many years at British Cellophane in Bridgwater.

George met his wife Joyce and they married in 1955 and had a son, Neil. They were married for more than 68 years until Joyce died last year and George moved to Argentum Lodge care home in Nailsea to be close to his great grandchildren and great grandchildren.

“I’ve certainly led an eventful life, which is perhaps the secret to a long life,” he said. “I have been blessed with a wonderful marriage of over 68 years with my soulmate Joyce, who has brought me great joy,” he added.

Staff at the care home threw a special birthday party for George, who received a card from the King to mark the big day. “I had a very nice birthday and the staff at Argentum Lodge went out of their way to help me celebrate my century,” he said.

Care home manager Jessica Hawker said with the 80th anniversary of D-Day next month, it was important to share the stories of those still living the conflict first-hand.

“It was a privilege for us to join George in marking this incredible milestone,” she said. “As the country marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day D-Day Landings this year, the remarkable first-hand stories of people like George who lived through that terrible conflict are becoming increasingly rare – and so with all the more important to hear.

“George is a much-loved member of our Argentum Lodge family and still manages to participate fully and actively in life at home,” she added.