WW2 Photo of Woman with the Polish Army FANY Dedication to Diana Napier (Wołkowicka)

A group photo of women serving in the FANY attached to Polish Units, given as a gift to Diane Napier, then Tauber, during her service in the FANY attached to Polish Units in the United Kingdom. Diane Napier was the commander of the FANY attached to Polish Units in the United Kingdom.

A large photo (20.3cm x 15.2cm) mounted on a passe-partout. Below the photo is the dedication: “Presented to Ensign Tauber on relinquishing her appointment as Officer in Charge. By the Members of the Staff Car and Ambulance Unit (F.A.N.Y) Attached Polish Forces, 26th January 1943.”

At the top of the passe-partout is a metal FANY collar badge. On the reverse are attached cards with signatures of women assigned to various Polish units:

• 1st Motor Ambulance Convoy, 
• 1st Brigade, 
• Polish Propaganda Bureau, 
• Medical Stores,
•  No.4 Liaison HQ, 
• Polish Hospital No.1, 
• Polish Hospital No.2,
• Polish Military Bureau, 
• 1st Army Corps, 
• FANY HQ Ambulance Unit.

In total, over 40 signatures. In the photo, numerous Polish eagle cap badges worn on pockets and the 1st Brigade badges worn by several women on the right side are visible.

Diana Napier, also known as Diane Tauber, Diane Mulcaster and Diana (Alice Mary) Wołkowicka, born 1905, died 1982, British film star of the 1930s who appeared in numerous films.

In April 1940, she enlisted in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. After completing her basic training, she was assigned to an Ambulance Unit in Scotland, where she looked after Polish soldiers and eventually became an NCO within a Polish unit. Later, she joined the Polish Welfare Unit in London. In early 1945, she traveled to Holland with the Red Cross to assist Polish soldiers fleeing Germany. Following VE Day, she relocated to Meppen in Germany, where she was highly commended by General Klemens Rudnicki for her dedicated service to Polish servicemen.

After the death of her second husband (Richard Tauber) in 1948, she married a Polish artist and officer of the 10th Mounted Rifle Regiment, Stanisław Wołkowicki, whom she met during the war. They married in 1953, and were together until his death in 1965. They were buried together in the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Sunningdale.