Konferencja Ojca Marcina Chrostowskiego wygłoszona w obozie w Rothesay.
The conference of Father Marcin Chrostowski held in the camp of Rothesay.

A contribution to research on religious of officers on the isle of Bute

Summary/Abstract: The object of this paper is the edition of a textual source which shows religious life of the Polish Armed Forces in the West which were staying on the Isle of Bute. Commander-in-chief, general Władysław Sikorski decided that officers without allocation (Independent Officers’ Camp), Officer Concentration Station, are to be placed there. Both elderly officers (incapable of liner service), people conflicted with superiors and political enemies of gen. Sikorski were directed to this station. This camp existed since 1940 till 1944. More than 800 officers were staying there at this time. Religious matters have been only marginally mentioned in recollections from Rothesay. Fortunately, in the legacy of father Marcin Chrostowski OP (who served as the station’s chaplain) a text of his religious conference has been passed down to ourday. It needs to be said that father Marcin volunteered in 1920 campaign against the Soviets, i.e. before he entered the Dominican order. During WWII he was (among his other tasks) a chaplain of the field bishop Gawlina with whom he went to visit Polish soldiers in USSR. Later, father Chrostowski served in the 1st Armored Division. His heroism was rewarded (among other things) by the War Order of Virtuti Militari.

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