Roots run deep in region

PETER Kormylo was ready to help Ukraine as soon as Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. After all, his dad, Michael, was one of the 463 Ukrainian men who arrived at Hallmuir POW Camp, near Lockerbie, in 1947. Upon their release in 1951, many were unwilling to return to the Soviet Union, and dozens found employment and started families in Dumfriesshire. Speaking at Hallmuir, Peter, who has held on firmly to his Ukrainian roots, explained: “The Italians came here first. At the end of the war, in 1945, the Germans came, in 1947 they were allowed to go home, and then the Ukrainians arrived, and they have been here ever since. “I was born in Annan, down the Welldale. My dad was a prisoner in this camp. We came to this camp once a month for about 70 years. I first came here as a wee boy. I mixed with the guys, because a lot of them had not left. “There were 40 odd families started in Annan and a similar number in Lockerbie.” The 75-year-old, former headteacher and Scottish Government education officer, added: “A guy once came here and asked my dad what he thought of the camp. My dad replied – ‘when the sun shines here this is paradise’. “They had come from Rimini, in Italy, where there were machine gun turrets, barbed wire fences and dogs; the only fence here was to keep the cattle out. “They were POWs – classed as surrendered enemy personnel – for two years, until 1949. They were then offered a contract for three years to work in the local forests and farms.” Two prefabricated huts are all that remain at Hallmuir POW camp today – the Greek Catholic Chapel and the cultural hub. But people still remain involved on the Hallmuir Trust. And they started gathering clothes and medicine to send over days after the full scale invasion. On the response, Peter said: “We were absolutely ready to help, the Ukraine diaspora still holds on to the culture and tradition. “Ukrainian communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh welcomed the Ukrainians with open arms.” He added: “I’m also pleased to say that the UK is supporting Ukraine big style.”