Jan Kirstein, who served with Fife’s 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade, has died at the age of 89.
Born in Poland, Mr Kirstein fled the country when the second world war broke out and spent the rest of his life in Scotland after joining the brigade.
His journey to Fife was not an easy one. After leaving Poland, he was captured and sent to work in a German prisoner of war camp.
He managed to escape with the help of the French Resistance and travelled through France to Britain.
The brigade was formed in Leven in 1941 and was under the command of Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski. Its troops free officers and men who had escaped from Nazi-occupied Poland wore British uniforms.
During his time with the brigade, Mr Kirstein trained as a paratrooper and served as a medic. After the war, he went on to become a craftsman, making clocks, watches and cabinets.
Having left Poland as a teenager, he never made it back even for a visit. The onset of the Cold War and the fact he had two sons in the army prevented him from returning.
Mr Kirstein married Elizabeth and settled in Methil.
He leaves behind three children, Bob, Chick and Elizabeth, and also eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.