From Siberia to Surbiton:

The extraordinary life of Eugene Nead

Normandy veteran Eugene Nead joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division almost 85 years ago.

Many members of Staywell’s community have lived through extraordinary experiences — among them is 102‑year‑old Eugene Nead, a man whose life spans continents, regimes, and wars. We met him for a chat to learn more about the incredible journey that led him to New Malden.

Born Eugeniusz Niedzielski on 1 September 1923 in a village near Dubno (then in eastern Poland and now western Ukraine), Eugene spent his early years working on the family farm, without electricity and having to travel by horseback on what he describes as a ‘vicious stallion’ to the nearest town. That world vanished in 1940, when the region fell under Soviet occupation after the joint Nazi‑Soviet invasion of Poland. Ethnic Poles like Eugene’s family were targeted by the NKVD, Soviet secret police, and with just one hour’s notice they were forced onto a cattle train bound for Northern Siberia.

The journey was brutal — Arctic winds, overcrowding, starvation, and the dead left aboard until the next station. In Siberia, Eugene worked felling trees, but what he remembers most is the cold: ‘You could spit and it would freeze before it hit the ground,’ he says.

In 1941, as the tides of war shifted, Stalin agreed to form a new Polish army alongside the Allies. Eugene enlisted at just 17. Saying goodbye to his mother and sisters, he left for Persia, on a journey that took him from Siberia to Iran and then around South Africa, before reaching Britain for training.

Eugene (middle) sat atop the Sherman tank he and his comrades fought in until the end of the war.

He joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division, training in the Scottish Highlands and learning to drive everything from scout cars to 32-ton Sherman tanks. In 1944, Eugene’s unit landed in Normandy as reinforcements for the D-Day invasion force, fighting through the bocage near Caen. When a tank driver fell ill, Eugene took his place, driving the same tank all the way to Germany where he would celebrate VE Day in Wilhelmshaven. He received the Cross of Valour and stayed on occupation duty until 1947.

Returning to Britain, Eugene faced uncertainty. His home village had been annexed, then destroyed: the victim of ethnic cleansing and genocide by Nazi Germany, the USSR, and Ukrainian paramilitary forces. The records of his birth no longer existed; lacking such documents, he was never recognised as a Polish citizen despite his ongoing efforts continuing to this day. Attempts to reach Canada – his unit had fought under the 1st Canadian Army – proved costly, and ultimately unsuccessful. He therefore remained in Britain, where his mother and sisters could only reach him by letter from their new home in America.

Building a new life, Eugene worked in construction, including repairing bomb damage at the Houses of Parliament. He quickly embraced London’s nightlife, meeting his future wife at the Charing Cross dance hall. The couple moved to New Malden in 1955, where Eugene still lives in the same house they bought together. This is also where Mr Niedzielski became Mr Nead, legally adopting the anglicised name given to him by a commanding officer in the war, after anti-immigrant sentiment made it nearly impossible to find a school place for his son.

Eugene sat at the dining table in his New Malden home of seven decades.

Eugene went on to work in machine shops and engineering firms, most notably at Neptune Works II in Chessington, home to the deep-water testing tanks for the record-beating Bluebird K7 hydroplane. His employer supported him through his wife’s many hospital stays over the course of a long-term illness, allowing him paid time off to collect his children from school each day – practically unheard of at the time.

In retirement, Eugene has remained busy. One of the few surviving Normandy veterans, he has attended countless celebrations, ceremonies and memorials. He has met the French President Emmanuel Macron, reluctantly spent time with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and has become friendly with King Charles III after running into one another at so many events.  Amidst overseas travel and being guest of honour at high profile events, he still finds time to give talks at local schools to share his story with the next generation.

Eugene remains very independent, and the support he has received from Staywell reflects this. Our Information, Advice and Guidance Team has helped him apply for a Blue Badge to make sure he’s able to get out and about, along with attendance allowance to keep him financially independent too. A key safe, fitted by a Staywell Handyperson, gives him piece of mind — all so he can focus less on the logistics of old age and more on living well.

Help Staywell help more

We're hiring more Help@Home staff!

Help@Home is one of Staywell’s most popular services, offering a little extra help with everyday needs. Our team offers regular and ad-hoc assistance with day-to-day tasks and errands, which are as varied as the clients we serve.

Perhaps someone needs help with their laundry and changing bedsheets, struggles with getting to and from appointments, or just needs a hand with the big shop – our staff can help with it all, while also being a familiar, friendly face who’s always up for a chat. For those looking after a family member and needing a break, we can offer sitting services too.

There are multiple openings for this role as we are keen to meet an increasing demand. The role is flexible, with part-time positions starting from 18 hours a week. You’re never on your own as a Staywell Help@Home worker, as you always have the back-up of an office-based team and our suite of other services, such as Information & Advice or Handyperson.

You can find the full job description on our website, with further information and instructions for how to apply are available on our Current Vacancies page. Email [email protected] for an informal chat to learn more about the role.

A snapshot from a particularly high-stakes game of Higher or Lower at Raleigh House.

With so many uplifting and fascinating stories across the Staywell community worth sharing, this instalment was quite a read. Thank you for taking the time to make it through to the end — we are only able to do what we do because of the care and attention of supporters like yourself!

The weather is looking up. Until you'll hear from us again in June, get out there, enjoy yourself, and live well.

Speak soon,

— Staywell team