The Polish Tree stands as a memorial to Poland's resistance against the Nazi occupation during the Second World War. In May of 1941, Owen Sound received the first contingent of Polish and American-Polish recruits, requiring instruction in British Mechanized Warfare. Owen Sound was chosen because large empty factories could be easily converted into barracks. Altogether, about 700 young soldiers were trained in Canada between 1941 and 1942. A brave young Polish soldier carved his heartfelt message into the Beech tree located on the Bruce trail , and although time has made it difficult to decipher, one can read the following.

 

 

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14 IV 1942. Jeszcze Polska nie zginela. Zolnierz wola pomagac

This translates to: April 14th 1942. Poland has not yet perished. Soldier will help ( Known to be the Polish national anthem)