Soldier, community worker.
Born in Poland in 1899, he served in the Austro-Hungarian army in the First World War, and then fought for the independence of Poland in 1920, being a participant at the Battle of Warsaw against the Bolsheviks. Drapala was taken to a Siberian labor camp with his family in 1940 after the Soviet seizure of Eastern Poland and remained there until receiving amnesty in 1942, going to the newly formed Polish Army in Russia under General Sikorski and then the Polish Second Corp under Montgomery’s British Eight Army. He was awarded service medals in both World Wars. Lawrence then came to Canada in 1948 with his wife and three children, settling in Winnipeg and being an active member of Holy Ghost Parish and a generous contributor to the Holy Ghost building funds. He died on 5 January 2000.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 7 January 2000, page 34.
This page was prepared by Kris Keen.
Page revised: 31 May 2024
Memorable Manitobans
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