[Polish School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, in the years of World War II. (50th anniversary of closure)]

Half a century ago the activity of the Polish School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh came to an end. It seems a good occasion to recall its beginnings and recognise its merits for Poland and for medical education. The school was a Scottish-Polish academic enterprise, unique in the history of universities, presenting an example of international academic co-operation. It was then the only legal Polish medical school in the years of World War II. The founders of it were: Lt.Col. Professor Francis A. E. Crew, Commanding Officer of the Military Hospital at Edinburgh Castle, who conceived the idea of a Polish medical school as a part of the University of Edinburgh, the Dean of the Medical Faculty, Professor Sidney Smith, who along with Sir Thomas Holland, the Principal of the University put the idea into motion through the University authorities on the Scottish side-and the Commander in Chief of the Polish Forces and Prime Minister General Władysław Sikorski, who gave his whole-hearted support and Lt.Col. Dr Antoni Jurasz, Professor of Surgery at the University of Poznań, who became the main organiser and first dean of the Faculty-on the Polish side. It was an independent Polish academic institution being simultaneously an integral part of the University. The medical training underwent 337 undergraduates, 227 out of whom obtained the degree M.B.Ch.B. and 19 degrees of Ph.D. after submission of doctoral thesis. The majority of them had served in the Polish troops being referred by the Military authorities and many of them took later part in the war campaigns. Much emphasis is put on the activity of Wiktor Tomaszewski, Associate Professor of medicine, ex-Senior Lecturer of the School, explorer of historical bounds between two nations, and above all, the organiser of the anniversary celebrations, so much animated by a passion for unceasing memory of the school. He was honored by granting F.R.C.P. (Ed.) and honorary doctorship of the University.