Some people think that the recent influx of Poles into Britain represents a new wave of immigration.

In fact Poles have been in Britain in general and Bradford in particular for many years – at least since the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Poles were among the multi-national RAF squadrons of fighter pilots who defeated the Nazi Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. Operating mainly in Hawker Hurricanes, they shot down an estimated one-in-six of the enemy.

The war started, of course, after Hitler invaded Poland 70 years ago on September 3, 1939. What few people in Britain remember is that at the same time the Soviet Union, then an ally of Nazi Germany, invaded Poland from the east. Poland as a sovereign entity disappeared from the European map until the spring of 1945.

After the war, up to 5,000 Poles settled in and around Bradford. They integrated but retained a firm hold of their language, religion and culture.

Polish Communities In Britain, an exhibition of 70 photographs by Bradford-based freelance Tim Smith at Cartwright Hall, includes archive pictures from the Imperial War Museum, the Sikorski Museum and Bradford’s National Media Museum. These show scenes from the war and during the post-war Communist domination.

“Most of the Poles in Bradford come from the eastern part of Poland that no longer exists,” Tim said.

“Trailing through the wreckage of the former Soviet empire in the early 1990s was an amazing introduction to the complex history of the region, and opened my eyes to the extraordinary stories of its people.

“I sought out Poles living around me in Bradford, and then those in other towns around Britain. This resulted in the book Keeping The Faith – The Polish Community In Britain.

“The latest exhibition has been a great opportunity to bring the story of Poles in Britain up to date, by exploring the experiences of recent arrivals and their relationships with established communities.

“They have been the best-organised community I have ever worked with. If they say they are going to do something, they do it well.”

The pictures in the exhibition range from thousands gathered at big celebrations in Trafalgar Square and Wembley Arena to small family gatherings, people at work, at prayer, in school and at leisure.

They include contributions from two young Poles. Maciek Wojciechowski is studying photography at Bolton University and has taken pictures of journeys between Britain and Poland. Magdalena Oczkowska is a graduate from Salford University whose film Home Again is a portrait of a Polish retirement village in North Wales.

Apart from Bradford, Tim’s project took him to London, Leeds, Ipswich and Melton Mowbray.

“I tried to choose places that were representative of different Polish communities,” he added.

The influx of Poles came after Poland was accepted into the European Union in 2004. They were said to be the biggest single group of migrants to arrive in Britain. They came for work and money and to improve their English.

Since the decline of the value of sterling against the Polish zloty, however, many thousands have returned home.

Tim said: “But there are a lot of people with families or businesses who are here for the long haul, and they tend to be the better-qualified people.”

Polish Communities In Britain, photographs by Tim Smith, are on view at Cartwright Hall from Friday to June 28. Admission is free.