THE POLISH 1st Carpathian Brigade had been earmarked for the defence of Greece. However, it had been held in reserve since the fall of Cyrenaica. The troops of the Brigade were well trained.

The Brigade was formed in Syria in April 1940 under the orders of the Polish Government (in exile). It's commander was Colonel Kopanski (later Major-General at Tobruk). When France fell to the Germans, Syria came under Vichy control, and the Brigade marched to Palestine to join forces with the British Middle East Command.

The Brigade was made up with Poles who escaped Poland and from prisoner-of-war camps. There were a high proportion of Polish officers from the vanquished Polish Army.

They were very keen to fight the Germans to avenge the invasion of their homeland. So keen, that they were disappointed whenever they faced Italian troops across no-man's-land.