Tributes paid after the death of 101-year-old heroic Auschwitz survivor and former Stirling Albion player
dailyrecord.co.ukTributes have this week been paid to a heroic Polish Auschwitz survivor and former Stirling Albion star who has passed away at the age of 101.Jan Szpula passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family, at Randolph Hill Nursing Home in Dunblane last week.Born in the Polish village of Lasiska Górne, a mining town in the south of the country, close to the Czech border, he grew up in a family of five, with father Augustyn and mother Maria as well as older sister and older brother – also named Maria and Augustyn.At the tender age of 16, brave Jan joined the Army at the outbreak of the Second World War broke out – walking with his brother and father more than 125 miles over three days to enlist.He spent time during the war in forced labour in Germany and Auschwitz and also with the Polish Army in Poland, Russia, Belgium and France.Jan then moved to Scotland in 1946, where he was stationed at recovery barracks in Causewayhead.His grieving family this week paid tribute, saying: “He lived a great life and he adored his family, especially his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.“He will be sadly missed by all who knew him as he was a tremendous character who always had an interesting story to tell.“He could keep you entertained for hours about his childhood, wartime Europe, football, golf and Rossleigh garages.
He lead a very eventful life and we are all glad to have spent so much time with him.” Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
A keen footballer, Jan played for the Polish Army, who toured Scotland at the time. He was eventually offered a room at the house of Frank Robertson, in Wallace Gardens, Causewayhead.He later starred for Ayrshire junior side, Beith.
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