Zbigniew Ryszard Leman was born on 11 June 1923 in Warsaw – Zacisze, son of Henryk and Józefa née Garboniak. From 1941, he was a Home Army soldier, nom-de-guerre "Darek". He was 18 years old at that time. He actively participated in the Warsaw Uprising in the "Ruczaj" battalion. After the war he was two-time Chairman and the Treasurer (for the period of 10 years) of the Polish Home Army Ex-servicemen Association in Melbourne. He was an active member of the Association and its Board from its establishment on 26 August 1951.
He came to Australia in 1949. He was one of the most distinguished activists for the Polish community in Melbourne. President of the Polish Home Army Ex-servicemen Association in Melbourne, co-founder of the Pilecki Project Committee INC acting as the Honorary President of the Committee, member of the Association of Polish Veterans. Performing various functions in associations operating for the benefit of the Polish community abroad.
He actively cooperated with the Institute of National Remembrance. Thanks to also his efforts, the "Report" X "exhibition was created, dedicated to Captain Witold Pilecki, the Warsaw Uprising and the Australian soldiers participating in the Uprising. The exhibition originator was the Management Board of the Pilecki Project Committee in Melbourne, which, together with the Polish Home Army Ex-servicemen Association in Melbourne, based on materials from the Archive of the Institute of National Remembrance, developed the exhibition design, and published books, posters and bulletins. These organizations were able to unite many institutions, associations, people who selflessly helped to bring the project into existence, among others, in the Polish Marian Shrine in Essendon, Divine Mercy Shrine in Keysboroughm Ashfield Sydney Polish Club, Jewish Holocaust Center un Elsternwick, Atrium Federation Square, "Kadimah" Jewish Cultural Center, Parliament of Victoriam Parliament of Western Australia. The exhibition dedicated to Captain Pilecki, created on the basis of materials from the Archive of the Institute of National Remembrance, was accompanied by two thematic exhibitions by the Institute regarding the “Żegota" Council for Aid to Jews and the Ulma family from Markowa.
In February 2014 the Pilecki Project Committee furnished copies of original historical documents from the IPN's archival collection, to the Jewish Museum of the Holocaust in Melbourne. They concerned resistance activites of Captain Witold Pilecki in the Auschwitz camp.
During each opening of the exhibition, Zbigniew Ryszard Leman delivered a symbolic speech describing his dramatic experiences from the period of the war. He answered numerous questions and participated in the discussions.
Above all, however, it should be emphasized that he was a role model and at the same time a living History, a man with impeccable manners. Faithful to the ideals of the Home Army until the end, until the last day of his life he remained a Home Army soldier. Always on duty, always reliable. Great authority for people who knew him.
Let his memory live on!
https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/1420,Exhibitions-on-Polish-heroes-in-the-Western-Australian-Parliament-in-Perth-6-15-.html
https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/1114,Exhibition-on-Captain-Witold-Pilecki-to-be-held-in-the-Parliament-of-Victoria.html