World War 2 and prisoner of war survivor Jozef Pilarski from Newcastle turns 102

From the ravages of war as a young lad, to a life full of meaningful memories in Newcastle, this 101-year-old WWII veteran and POW survivor has seen it all. Here’s his story.

Jozef Pilarski from Newcastle, who turns 102 on April 26, used to march in ANZAC parades. Supplied.

At nearly 102 years young – his birthday tomorrow – Jozef Pilarski can’t walk the ANZAC march anymore but gets comfy at home to watch commemorations play out on TV, for a day that carries so much meaning for him.

The polish immigrant, World War 2 veteran and prisoner of war survivor has spent the last 75 years in the Hunter region.

Far from the horrors endured at war as a strapping young lad, there’s still a sparkle in the eye of the centenarian whose infectious smile brings heart warming positivity.

His secret to longevity is simple – “hard work”.

“No other secrets, just living,” he smiled.

Polish immigrant Jozef Pilarski (right) who lives in New Lambton turns 102 on 26th April, 2025, and was a WWII survivor, with his son Kas Pilarski (left) Supplied.

WWII survivor and polish immigrant Jozef Pilarski with his wife Anna. Supplied.

And of course the Whiddon Community Care client has a big loving family - kids, grandkids and even great grandkids, who spoil him, especially for his big birthday bash set for Sunday at Cardiff RSL – including an all you can eat buffet.

“He loves mushroom soup and prawns and three cups of coffee,” his son Kas Pilarski laughed.

Polish immigrant Jozef Pilarski looking through memories with his son Kas. Supplied.

His heartbreaking but triumphant story starts in Kiszewy, Wielkopolskie, Poland where he was born on April 26, 1923.

At just a teenager he was faced with the unthinkable; war triggered by the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939 which saw his older brother Henryk and both parents killed in retributions for Polish resistance.

“He struggles to talk about the war because it was so horrible, but he joined the military and because Poland was overtaken so quickly, he was taken prisoner and a lot of his family were,” Kas explained.

“Because of his youth they (the German forces) could use him to work and he was transported to Germany to clean the streets after bomb blasts.

Mr Pilarski, who turns 102 on 26th April, 2025, survived a German bombing. Supplied.

Mr Pilarski and family members. Supplied

“He was made to work for about five years during the war until he got hurt.”

Mr Pilarski was driving a group of men around when the deafening sounds of sirens rang out.

His passengers dived out inside a nearby building as he scrambled to take cover.

“He had to stop to pull the handbrake, so he didn’t make it into the building, but the bombs hit that building and he dived under the truck,” Kas said.

“Those people that ran into the building all got killed and all the bricks that fell on the truck actually crushed his legs.

“They took him to hospital and were going to amputate but he said no so they put it all together and put him on a farm to recuperate.

“With the bomb going off so close he lost all his hearing in his left ear.”

Jozef Pilarski built a house in Belmont North when he was 59 years old - he turns 102 on 26th April, 2025 and is WWII survivor. Supplied.

While a tragic event, it was one that led him to a local farm to recuperate and where he would meet his wife Anna, which was the beginning of a beautiful love story and resilience.

They later got married in Germany before their first son Jan ‘John’ Pilarski was born in 1949.

The family of three migrated to Australia in 1950 to a migrant centre in Wagga Wagga.

That’s where Mr Pilarski and his family were given a second chance.

It’s then their second son Kas was born before they moved to Mayfield where he worked at BHP as a labourer and later worked as a rigger and crane operator, with Newcastle to become his forever home.

Mr Pilarski and son Kas. Supplied.

He finally retired at 65 but built a two-storey house in Belmont North to raise his kids. Sadly his wife died from cancer at age 66.

As time went on, Mr Pilarski moved to New Lambton to downsize and these days loves reading and volunteering at the Polish association at Broadmeadow.

A simple life but proudly independent.

Still walking down the street to the bakery to get bread and a sneaky cake of course.

Mr Pilarski hasn’t been back to Poland since he left all those years ago, fearing the war in the past has changed what he once loved and knew about his home country.

But with family by his side, there’s no place he’d rather be.