Kocyan, Frantisek (Frank) (Sergeant, b.1923 - d.2010)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of Sergeant Frantisek (Frank) Kocyan, 2nd Czechoslovak Parachute Brigade. Collection consists of: an original certificate for Czechoslovakian Medal of Merit first grade; an original temporary passport paper from Czechoslovakian consulate in Germany in 1949; and an original Certificate of Registration under the Commonwealth of Australia Aliens Act for Frank Kocyan after his migration to Australia as a displaced person following WW2.

Sergeant Frantisek (Frank) Kocyan was born in Cesky Tesin, Czechoslovakia. When Germany invaded Czechoslovakia during WW2, Frank was sent to the Eastern Front as a forced labourer. On his third escape attempt he succeeded in crossing to the Russian lines where he later joined the Czech forces in exile. He joined the Czech Parachute Battalion under General Prikryl and was dropped behind German lines in Slovakia in 1944 where he fought with the resistance under extemely trying conditions until the Russian's forced the Germans back in 1945. Frank was a displaced person after the war and migrated to Australia in 1950, ultimately settling in Canberra.