Commemoration of the Heroes of the Infantry Regiment of Székesfehérvár

The book of the 93-year-old Elemér Damó, based on his late father’s frontline diary and written in a surprisingly honest tone, was presented and recommended by HDF Joint Force Command (JFC) Logistics Chief Brig-Gen. István Baráth.

The general emphasized in his presentation: “As a soldier of the Hungarian Defence Forces I believe we must understand the struggle of our predecessors. More precisely, we must understand what it was like to experience first hand and to survive the war. Once we are over these, we will be able to stay human. The newly published frontline diary gives us guiding for this, for Elemér Damó Junior was not ashamed to include in his work the doubts, and the weak moments his father had on the frontline as a soldier of the infantry regiment."

The brigadier-general added: “The author has contributed a considerable amount of archives to the Memorial Collection of the Székesfehérvár Garrison, for instance a piece of the regimental colors which, from now on, will be kept and displayed here so that everybody can see it."

Elemér Damó, the author of the book told us: “Our family used to live in the Budai Road Barracks; so I can state that my nursery room was in the courtyard of the barracks. My father was a soldier of the Royal Hungarian 17th Honvéd Infantry Regiment, and after its disbandment, he served in the 3rd Infantry Regiment. I still remember him saying to my mother that he would go to the front. And my poor mother wept while she was packing. He began writing his diary in that period. Later he could not publish the manuscript because the economic crisis prevented him, and then came the next war, after which he deceased. I came across his diary only ten years ago, when I was sorting out things in the attic. It was then that I decided that I would do what he could not. It seems I have succeeded in that, for the book has been published, thanks to the Hungarian Defence Forces, the local NGOs, and the town leaders of Székesfehérvár."

Following the book show, the statue to the Colonel of the Royal Hungarian Armed Forces Gyula Sipos Márkosfalvi, the late commander of the infantry regiment, was unveiled by András Cser-Palkovics, the Mayor of Székesfehérvár, Deputy Chief of the MoD Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Zoltán Orosz, and Brig-Gen. István Baráth. The sculpture was created by Lajos Horváth.

Afterwards the participants of the event laid wreaths on the memorial of the 17th Infantry Regiment in the Zichy-Liget.

After the wreath-laying ceremony Mayor András Cser-Palkovics told us: "The 17th Regiment is a beautiful example of heroism and patriotism. It is just natural that the town cherishes and keeps this tradition alive. We are doing a lot to achieve this, but it would not suffice in itself. There is a great need for the work of NGOs, which not only formally revive the tradition for a day or two, but also make efforts every day of the year so that publications, sculptures or exhibitions can be born."

The Mayor added: “As from January 2012, a square in the town will bear the name of the legendary Royal Hungarian 17th Honvéd Infantry Regiment  this is the way how the town will pay tribute to those who had been serving on the frontline for four years, and after their homecoming, with their regiment disbanded, starvation and misery would await many of them. Székesfehérvár will always remember those who had given up their lives for the freedom of the Hungarian nation."

Photo: Zrínyi Média