The Poles played during the day and the British soldiers at night to limit mixing. The housekeeper’s room became a recreation room with comfortable chairs, and the dining parlour was used as a billiard room as it had been in the 19th century. Though the training was tough, time was set aside for recreation to keep up morale. He died in 2017 aged 100 and was given a military funeral in Warsaw and posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by the Polish President, Andrzej Duda. After the war he settled in Britain, running a guesthouse in Essex before becoming a PE teacher at Bishop Stortford College.įor 25 years he also worked as a coach at the Oxford University Athletics Club. When Station 43 closed in 1944 Maćkowiak rejoined the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade and took part in the Battle of Arnhem, where he was wounded and again taken prisoner. We were just killers – every man wanted to kill Hitler. Physically and psychologically, the men had to be very strong. I set up six or seven mechanical targets in the grounds, which I controlled electronically. The soldiers had to practise firing at moving targets in the dark. I taught silent killing: shooting with different revolvers, rifles and machine guns. In 1942 he volunteered for the Cichociemni but was given a training role because of his combat experience. Maćkowiak eventually made his way to England from the unoccupied part of France and joined the Polish Army in exile.
He was taken prisoner by the Russians and then the Germans, but escaped on both occasions through his skill, quick wits and sheer good luck. He was an experienced soldier, having served as an artillery officer in the Polish Army during the early years of the war. Most of the Polish instructors and trainees also slept on the second floor.Ĭaptain Alfons Maćkowiak (later known as Alan Mack) was an instructor at Audley End, in charge of fitness, shooting and unarmed combat. Authentic Polish clothes were tailored in the North Turret Room, which had the best light conditions during the winter months. One room was used for making documents that the agents would need in Poland. SOE lectures, language training and other courses were held on the second floor. The British commanding officer took over the Red Bedroom Suite on the ground floor.īedrooms in the north wing of the first floor were used by the Polish officers. Guns and munitions were stored in the cellars and Muniment room. On the ground floor, the Bucket Hall was an orderly room the great hall was used as a lecture room and dining hall for officers the Museum Room, butler’s pantry and butler’s bedroom were all mess rooms. Before the Poles arrived at Audley End, all the pictures and furniture had been stored away in the state rooms, chapel and picture gallery on the first floor and the fine interiors covered with boards to protect them.