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Theodor Palczykewycz with a group of fellow eastern Europeans in pit clothes at Hawthorn training camp, Pontypridd, where they learned new skills for post-war conditions. Boilerhouse can be seen behind them.

"I came to Britain and learned English at a school in Yorkshire and was given a choice of where to work - a farm or a coal mine. Although I was of farming stock I didn't like farming, I always wanted an engineering job. I went to Hawthorn camp in Pontyrpidd and ended up in Bedwas Colliery." Source: Glo. All Poles? Foreign Workers in the Welsh Coalfields.