More than 200 people attended a remembrance service yesterday at a Polish War Memorial in the Highlands.
Invergordon was used as a World War II base for Polish soldiers who had fled from their homeland.
Veterans’ relatives, local residents and members of the Polish community, as well as representatives from various local authorities and voluntary groups turned out to pay their respects.
Rev Kenneth Macleod, of Invergordon Friars Church, led the service which included scripture readings, psalms and prayers, as well as the British and Polish anthems.
Among those present was Lord Lieutenant Janet Bowen of Ross, Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh .
Polish chaplain Father Piotr Rytel was also in attendance yesterday.
He said: “It was a nice service and was attended by a number of Polish people including relatives of the soldiers who live here and also from the new generation of Polish immigrants, Polish people from the Ross-shire area.”
After the country was invaded by Germany in 1939 many Polish soldiers came to the UK.
Many of these soldiers were based throughout Scotland to help protect the British shores and many stayed in their adopted country after the war.
From 1945 an infantry battalion of Polish soldiers, the 25th Battalion, were stationed in Invergordon.
A camp was built within the old castle grounds, Castle Avenue and as the soldiers worked to protect the area they also integrated into the local community and developed relationships with the local people.
About 600 Polish soldiers were camped in the Easter Ross town, with most of them staying after the war.
The Polish war memorial was erected their to remember those that served.
Event organiser Vanda Hardy, whose father was a member of the battalion, also received a Gold Cross of Merit by the President of the Reublic of Poland and was presented to her by the Polish Consul General, Piotr Siwicki.
The award recognised her years of service to the Polish community in Scotland.
