Spurred by his Slovak ancestor and war hero, Briton looks for citizenship
Slovak RAF pilot Pavol Pukančík is Robbie Harris' great-grandfather.
You can read this exclusive content thanks to the FALATH & PARTNERS law firm, which assists American people with Slovak roots in obtaining Slovak citizenship and reconnecting them with the land of their ancestors.
When Briton Robbie Harris told his friends about his Slovak great-grandfather, they were amazed.
"They just said that he was really cool, an amazing figure, and no wonder I had developed a bit of an obsession. And that there should be a movie," recollects the architecture student from Plymouth.
"They completely understood why I'd want to be Slovak and go there and experience it all," he continues. Harris is pursuing Slovak citizenship.
Not long ago he became interested in his family history and uncovered the story of Pavel Jozef Pukančík, a Slovak pilot in the service of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War and received awards.
"I have developed a passion and love for this man through my research. I find it saddening that I shall never have the joy of meeting him," Harris says, adding that he is proud of the history he has uncovered, and the first in his family to pursue the lineage. Pukančík, in fact, came close to being forgotten by his British family.
A story worth the big screen
Although Harris had heard a lot about his other grandfathers, he only learned about Pukančík from passing mentions that only vaguely referenced certain aspects of his great-grandfather's life: that he flew bombers, that he was arrested in his homeland. But nothing specific.
"No one was talking about him. He wasn't known, but he seemed really interesting. I just thought I don't have much pride in the rest of my family. You know? They weren't very nice to me, especially after my dad died," the student says, adding that this eventually prompted his research.
About two years ago he tried Ancestry, an American genealogy company. However, it didn't bring much information and he "sort of gave up". Then, around the turn of this year, he gave it another go and found a different company. This time, it was easier and his search came to fruition; he found pictures, the town his ancestor was born in, the story. According his own words, this actually allowed him to get closer to the family.
Pavol Jozef Pukančík was born in 1920 in Pezinok near Bratislava, western Slovakia. Due to family difficulties and trouble finding work, in 1940 he left home and through Hungary, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon made it to Marseille, and eventually to Great Britain, where he joined the RAF and became a rear gunner and a radio operator in the 311th Czechoslovak Bomber Squadron on Vickers Wellington bombers.
He took part in the bombing of strategic targets in occupied France and Germany and the sinking of a German U-boat in the Atlantic. He also shot down an enemy fighter plane in 1942.
In 1944 Pukančík married Harris' great-grandmother Margaret Parsley and had Harris' grandmother Jana. It is possible they had another daughter, Paula, which according to Harris nobody seems to have known about. He found her birth certificate. Unfortunately, she seems to have died very early.
Two years later Pukančík returned to Pezinok with his family. They didn't stay long as his wife convinced him to go back to England in 1947. However, Pukančík wasn't content and returned to Pezinok once more in 1948, but this time he left his family in England. He was given an inn to supervise.
Soon he fell into disfavour with the newly established communist regime. In 1949, Pukančík was stripped of his military rank and in 1955 even arrested on false charges for alleged economic espionage for the CIA and sentenced to 12 years in the Jáchymov uranium mines labour camp. After his release five years later, he sought rehabilitation, which was given to him after the fall of communism in 1989, with his military rank and many awards restored, even receiving a promotion in retirement.
He died suddenly in 1992.
Keep telling the story
Harris was, admittedly, really excited to finally learn these things. In his opinion, Pukančík's story shouldn't be forgotten.
"It's also a very tragic life story, I mean you are a war hero. You move back to the country you're from, and then the Defence Ministry just strips you of all your ranks. That doesn't seem fair," he says, adding that his great-grandfather is 'a genuine war hero'.
Harris' grandfathers died very young, leaving him with very few opportunities to talk to an older generation and get to know their life.
"Through this research I felt more connected to my family, and that feels important to me. I was able to get in touch with my auntie, Jana's sister-in-law. She's the oldest in the family and I've learned a few things from her. It's just that I really, really want to be something to be proud of," he says.
When asked why he thinks his British family almost forgot about Pukančík, Harris opines that it was probably the distance, his arrest and the regime.
He also told Pukančík's story to his two brothers, but other than finding it 'cool', Harris didn't get the impression they were as interested in it as he was.
"Yeah, my family has not expressed the same enthusiasm towards our history like I have. They like the Harris side. I've always loved history and I was surprised to find someone like that in my family, so I'll keep telling his story anyway," Harris says.
It's important
The architecture student admits that at the moment England is not a place he feels proud of and he is not the only person who thinks that way.
"English politics is a joke and it has been a joke for a long time. It's kind of a mess. I know it's a mess everywhere but... I feel like there's something greater," he claims, adding that perhaps becoming a Slovak citizen will honour Pukančík.
"It just feels right to do. This man is becoming important to me."
His auntie was very impressed with what he had learned so far and encouraged him. Harris himself has never been to Slovakia, but would very much want to go and see the birthplace of his great-grandfather in person.
"I've been there thanks to Google Maps, but that's not the same. I need the visceral feeling of travel and experience."
When asked what he hopes to find, he simply says he has no idea.
"I have an address of the inn he ran, which might still be there. His grave. Maybe I could find his old house. Maybe there is a file on him somewhere in there. Who knows?"
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