I have been researching my Fathers line. My Father's British Army discharge papers state he was born in Plotz? in 1886 with the name of Ludwig TRAUNTNER (sounds German/Prussian) but was only aged about five at the time,yet was very proud of being Polish. He could speak Polish, Russian and German.
He and his brother (Johann) and Mother left Poland about 1890 and voyaged to Canada. On the voyage their Mother died. The two boys aged about 10yrs and five yrs arrived as orphans in Canada where they were placed on a farm as boy labourers. When the older boy (Johann or John) was about 15yrs he ran off to the USA. My Father (Ludwig or Lewis) ran away when he reached about 15 also going to the USA. He worked as a seaman on vessels trading from USA to West Afrika. At the outbreak of WW1 he was on a German ship in the Camaroon, Africa. He and the crew took the ship to England. There he joined the Middlesex regiment and served in France. In 1919 he was discharged from the Middlesex regiment to join the Polish army.
After the Polish/Russian war he returned to England, married and had several children.
I do not have any particulars of where he went after his discharge from the Middlesex regiment. Do you have any information of ex-british army soldiers serving in the Polish/Russian war of 1919-1921.
Could you suggest any links where I could find out further particulars on his Polish Army service and his birth origins.
Any reply would be welcome to jamie_trauntner@hotmail.com