Mr and Mrs Truchan

Gregory Truchan was born in the village of Minowyczi, in the city of Yroslaw in the Ukraine, on the 11^th December 1921, in an area that was occupied by Russia.

Wanting to strike back at the Russians, who he held responsible for the killing and deportation to Siberia of "millions" of his countrymen and women, Gregory joined the Ukrainian army in the summer of 1943. They were, however, unable to halt the Russian advance and his Division, having covered many hundreds of miles on foot, found themselves in Austria at the end of the war in 1945. At this point nobody was clear about what should happen to the Ukrainian soldiers, and eventually they were sent to Italy where Gregory spent the next two years working in a British camp. From Italy Gregory came to England where he worked on a farm for one and a half years, after which time he was free to choose for himself where he wanted to work and live.

Gregory married his wife Olga, who is also from the Ukraine, in Manchester in 1949. Following their wedding they moved to Gloucestershire, living first of all in lodgings in Tewkesbury, and then, after 8 months, moving into the house of a work colleague in Gloucester Road. During this time he was working at the British Depot in Ashchurch.

Gregory's next job was on a Mushroom Farm where he stayed for 5 years. This was a happy time as with the job came a cottage with a large orchard and Gregory was able to keep pigs and a cow. From here he and his wife moved to Gloucester where he went to work at the 'Derby Road' Foundry, remaining there for 21 years until his retirement.

Initially Gregory and his wife found the people of Gloucester unfriendly and not prepared to help, Olga in particular finding that being 'foreign' made it very difficult for her to get a job. Although they were grateful that, unlike their relatives remaining in the Ukraine they were free, it was nevertheless a very hard and difficult period. Feeling that there was little chance of getting accommodation through the council, and wanting a place of their own, they saved as much money as they could and, with help from some of their friends, eventually had enough for the deposit on their first house in Slaney Street. As time has passed, however, things became a little easier and they now feel that Gloucester is their 'home'.

Gregory has worked hard on behalf of the Ukrainian community over many years and was Chairman of the Community Group for 2 years. As Chairman he played a major part in the setting up of the Ukrainian Club, first of all finding the property and then in raising the money for its purchase. Whilst all the families gave what they could Gregory feels particularly grateful to Mr King who lent them money and helped with the negotiations.

The club itself has acted as a focal point for the Ukrainian community helping to keep the language and traditions alive. The Ukrainian School, which ran on a Saturday and Sunday, was started by Gregory and has been particularly important in teaching the younger generations the language, customs and traditions of their parents.

Gregory has worked on behalf of the Ukrainian community for many years, including 40 years as Chairman of the Ukrainian Legion in Gloucester in which role he would parade with the Ukrainian Combatant Standard and lay a wreath on poppy day. He also represented the Ukrainian Community in meetings with the Gloucester City Council over a number of years. Working with a group from the Cheltenham Ukrainian Community Gregory was also involved in the erection of a memorial in Cheltenham cemetery to the 7 million Ukrainians who died under Stalin.

In recognition of all his work on behalf of the Ukrainian Community in Gloucester Gregory has received a number of medals and certificates.

Although he has returned to the Ukraine, Gregory has never returned to his village as, after the war, it was occupied by Poland and burnt to the ground.