Blue plaque unveiling to commemorate 80th anniversary of Nettlebed camps

In WW2 and postwar there were once thousands of soldiers and Polish refugees living in brick barrack and tin Nissen huts in two Nettlebed camps. One camp was called Nettlebed North situated on the outskirts of the historic brick-making village, and the other called Nettlebed South on the border with Highmoor. Now all that is left is an unmarked white model castle where the Highmoor camp once stood, and the memories of the families.

On 28 November 2026 we will be commemorating these forgotten camps. The day is jointly hosted by the Friends of Checkendon, Nettlebed and Kingwood Common camps and The Nettlebed & District Commons Conservators, alongside the Oxfordshire Royal British Legion.

We will be honoured by Friends Patron, 100-year-old Polish veteran, Ches Black, who was stationed in 1947 as an Allied Polish soldier in Nettlebed South camp, as well as the families of Polish veterans who will be coming to reminisce and meet for the first time in 50 years. Back in the 1940s-50s the Nettlebed Village Club was a regular meeting place for those who lived in the camps.

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITIES

At 11am gates will open in the nearby village car parks, unfortunately no parking is available at the Village Hall on the day. Please arrive by 12.30 so that everyone can start the day promptly at 1pm for a day of commemorations and musical performance and Veteran recollections. Gates will temporarily close from 1-2pm for the outdoor formal plaque unveiling and ceremony. Light refreshments will be available for purchase in the club bar.

At 12.30pm guests are invited to arrive, followed by a convoy of historic WW2 vehicles of the Berks and Oxon Historic Military Vehicles Enthusiasts led by Martyn Sheldrake along with VIPs and dignitaries, and guest of honour Ches Black.

CEREMONIAL PLAQUE UNVEILING PART OF THE DAY OUTSIDE THE HALL,

At 1pm the event will formally open for a prompt start with welcome by Dr Zbigniew Karpowicz, son of a Nettlebed Polish veteran.

Ceremonial guard of honour will be led by the British Army 7th Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, and combined branches of up to 7-10 Royal British Legion branches, including those of Nettlebed, Henley and Wallingford, and Redline WW2 Home Guard living history soldiers and Polish army officer re-enactors and hopefully members of the Polish Scouts and Guides Association of Great Britain, and local village scouts and guides too.

After the arrival of our guests of honour, including the Chair of South Oxfordshire District Council, and the Mayor of Henley, the Plaque will be unveiled jointly by the veteran soldier Ches Black, who was stationed in Nettlebed/Highmoor camp, alongside Mr Marian Greczyn, son of the last Polish commanding officer at Chechendon and Nettlebed, and Mrs Kate Grimond (nee Fleming), representing the local Fleming family.

This will be followed by prayers and blessing of the plaque by Checkendon and Nettlebed born Polish priest Fr Ryszard Maniak and Fr Rafal Jaroslawski, Chaplain for the Polish Parish mission Reading.

Singing of the Polish and British national anthems will be by the Polish folk song and dance group Lesna Polana - Mlody Las of Slough.

VILLAGE HALL REFRESHMENTS AND TALKS

At 2pm, the outdoor event concludes and invited guests welcomed in the Village Hall for light refreshments.

At 2.30pm, the afternoon will continue with a joint meeting of the Friends and the NDCC Conservators Annual General Meeting .

The afternoon Mistress of Ceremonies will be Ms Irenka Motyka, daughter of a Nettlebed Polish veteran who will invite Polish folk song and dance group Lesna Polana to demonstrate a few songs and dance, followed by inviting all to hear reminiscences about the Polish camps from those who lived there and from their surviving family members. We will also hopefully hear wartime recollections from local villagers.

3.30pm After the presentations everyone will be invited to mingle and chat, and visit the smaller hall to view the Polish Memorabilia, artwork and local displays.

MEMORABILIA AND PARTNERS DISPLAYS IN THE SMALL HALL

In the smaller hall will be a display of Polish memorabilia and photos of Nettlebed and of the Polish families that once lived there. Polish Nettlebed descendant artist Basia Karpowicz will be displaying her Nissen hut artwork, and landscape artist Polish descendant Elizabeth Baldin is also invited to show her artwork, as will local Nettlebed artist Avril Bryant.

There will also be a display by the Nettlebed Estate and Conservators with details about their work and about the commons they manage.

We are also proud of the attendance and support of the Abingdon based British Army 7th Regiment Royal Logistics Corps (inheritors of the Polish traditions within the British army and direct successors to the exiled Polish soldiers of Nettlebed and other nearby Polish military camps who became part of the British Army).

There will be presentations by WW2 Living history re-enactment soldiers and Home Guard, and viewing of WW2 jeeps and other 1940s vehicles.

THE END OF THE EVENT

Formally the day will officially end after 4pm and guests are invited to leave promptly so that the venue can be tidied, empied and readied for a different event.

At 5pm CLOSE OF THE DAY

Info: Living legacy speeches by former residents of the Nettlebed Highmoor Camps giving a brief history of their journey to the camp and their memories of it. AGM of the NDCC

Event venue & nearby stays

Nettlebed Village Hall, 32 high street, Henley on Thames, United Kingdom

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