Syrena

36th Heavy Air Defence Regiment |

Syrena

Maid of Warsaw

Syrena was the name of a mermaid associated with early greek mythology famous for her beauty

and her signing. Many sailors sought her affection, but were lured to their deaths when their

ships were wrecked upon the rocks where she dwelt.

Many years later a statue of Syrena was erected in the main square of the Polish city of Warsaw.

The statue showed her carrying a sword and shield and she became the symbol and rallying point

of the Ploes during the German occupation in World War 2. The silhouette of the statue was used

as the shoulder badge,or formation sign, of the 2nd Polish Corps.

In the summer of 1944 several British Regiments were placed under command of 2nd Polish Corps

during the Adriatic Campaign. The British units fought with such distinction that the Polish

Corps Commander granted them the priviledge of wearing the Syrena Badge. One of these Regiments

was 26 Medium Regiment which included 10 (Assaya) Battery and 111 (Dragon) Battery.

In 1946, 26 Medium Regiment was retitled 37 Field Regiment, which later became 37 Heavy Air

Defence Regiment. Recognition of the link between 37 Regiment and 2nd Polish Corps was

officially acknowledged in 1966. It was in that year that 37 Regiment were granted the right to use

the Syrena motif as a Regimental symbol. When 36 and 37 Regiments amalgamated the Syrena

tradition was adopted by this Regiment.

This is the Flag of 2nd Polish Corps

Please click on 'Syrena' to learn about the 2nd Polish Corps,

and the Polish Soldier in World War Two

654 "Maid of Warsaw" Squadron

Army Air Corps

You will be pleased to know the "Syrena" lives on in the Army Air Corps 654 Squadron and they

proudly wear the Maid of Warsaw on their No2's.The Syrena Squadron are based at Wattisham Airfield, Suffolk.

My thanks to Pilot Murray Nicol for telling me of this Syrena link.

Keith Holderness 2001 - 2006