"From 7th July to mid October 1940 about 4,000 Czechoslovak troops were
encamped at the park by Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumly) Castle, near Malpas in
Cheshire. Most had come by ship from France, but they were joined by about
300 troops already in England. The Czechoslovak Government in Exile formed
two infantry batallions and many men were assigned to the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Some 500 men who refused to accept the authority of President Benes, were
expelled from the forces and were assigned to the British Pioneer Corps. On
28th September 1940 a party was held for local people on St Vaclav (St
Wenceslas) Day when a stone was erected that still stands in the grounds of the
house.
Some men died whilst they were at Cholmondeley and they are buried with
Czechoslovak military stones in nearby graveyards in Cheshire and Shropshire.
In mid October the camp moved to Warwickshire where the Czechoslovak Army took
up locations in and around Leamington Spa.
Today the local Czechoslovak community gather for an annual memorial service on
the first Sunday in July. In July 1990, the then recent fall in communism,
allowed a great gathering when veterans from Czechoslovakia and Britain gathered
at Cholmondeley for the 50th anniversay of their arrival in England. At
this time a memorial stone was also unveiled in Chester Cathedral to thank the
people of Cheshire for their hospitality."
Search