Teofil Sykała (English)
Z Historia Wisły
Teofil Sykała
Co-founder of Wisła Kraków in 1906 as a student of Class V B at the C.K. II Real School in Kraków. He graduated in 1908 and played for Wisła as a left midfielder until that year.
We know of at least two matches in which he played for the first team:
June 14, 1908: Pogoń II Lwów – Wisła Kraków 3:3 October 11, 1908: Wisła Kraków – Pogoń Lwów 2:1 According to press reports from the second match, he also played for Wisła’s reserve team at that time.
From the following season (until 1914), he represented Pogoń Lwów.
Family Roots. Childhood (1888-1900)
Birth Record
The birth record states:
Theofil Sykała was born on October 30, 1888, in Tyczyn [1] near Rzeszów, at house number 242, to the legal marriage of Jan Sykała – a carpenter (born in Chorzów near Pruchnik, employed by Count Ludwik Wodzicki) and Zofia Południak (from Boguchwała near Rzeszów), as the youngest of seven children. Theofil was the younger brother of Julian Sykała (a mining engineer, member of the first term Sejm, and co-initiator of the creation of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków) and Władysław Sykała (a teacher, school director, social activist, and councilor of Przemyśl).
During Zofia’s delivery, midwife Debora Berenfeld assisted. The child was baptized on December 22, 1888, at the parish church in Tyczyn, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Catherine. The godparents were Michał Fuk (a blacksmith) and Agnieszka, the wife of Walenty Warchół (a servant). The sacrament of baptism was administered by Rev. Pastor Władysław Cymbuł.
It is difficult to determine at which primary school Theofil began his education, whether he attended the People’s School in Tyczyn from 1894 to 1900, or possibly in Rzeszów.
In 1893, Theofil's oldest brother, Julian Sykała (born September 13, 1874 – 14 years older than Theofil), graduated from the Gymnasium in Rzeszów and began studies at the Mining Academy in Leoben, Austria, graduating in 1896. After completing a year of military service in the Field Artillery Division in Kraków, in 1897 he took a position as a mining engineer in the Orłowa-Łazy mine in Cieszyn Silesia. After marrying teacher Władysława Wojciechowska on January 9, 1905, he remained there until February 24, 1919, before moving to the Dąbrowskie Basin. On November 5, 1922, he was elected as a member of the Sejm of the first term and moved to Warsaw, leaving his family in Silesia. In early 1925, after resigning from his parliamentary mandate, he was appointed by the Ministry of Treasury as a member of the supervisory board of the Potash Salt Exploitation Company, and later became the general director of the company. He died on April 9, 1925, in Lwów. From 1896, he helped his younger brothers with their education.
Sister Paulina Dynowič (born January 13, 1877 – 11 years older than Theofil) was buried in Przemyśl on March 21, 1930.
Sister Leonora (born February 15, 1881 – 8 years older than Theofil) married J. Urbański in Lwów on July 5, 1902.
Brother Władysław (born June 18, 1883 – 5 years older than Theofil) attended the Gymnasium in Rzeszów from 1894 to 1902 (completing the third class in the 1896/97 academic year at the Franciszek Józef Gymnasium in Lwów). He graduated in 1902 in Rzeszów. He studied in Lwów (1902/1903 at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Lwów University) and in Kraków (1903–1907 at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków). After completing his studies on October 15, 1907, he took up a teaching position in Przemyśl, where on June 8, 1913, he married Honorata Kling. From December 1914 to August 1915, during the siege of Przemyśl, he was evacuated to Graz. During World War II, he worked for the Sapieha family, taking care of their garden in Korytniki (1941–1942). He died in Przemyśl on October 29, 1948.
When Theofil's mother, Zofia Sykała [2], died on October 15, 1902, Theofil was not yet 14 years old.
On March 24, 1902, a postcard was sent from Jarosław by Theofil to his brother Władysław, who was then an eighth-grade student in Rzeszów [3]. The postcard stated that Theofil would arrive at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and asked his brother to "come to the train station," ending with: "We all kiss you." At that time, Theofil was 13 and a half years old.
Education. Sports Fascinations (1900-1911)
Wisła 1907
Wisła 1907 1910-1911 - Player for Pogoń Lwów
1910-1911 - Player for Pogoń Lwów 1910, wearing Pogoń colors in a match against Wisła
1910, wearing Pogoń colors in a match against Wisła
From 1900 to 1908, Theofil Sykała was educated at the seven-year Imperial-Royal II Higher Real School [4] on Michałowskiego Street in Kraków. This institution had the status of a secondary school with a mathematical and natural sciences profile. It was established in 1902, formed from the existing school on Graniczna Street [5]. Classes at the Michałowskiego Street school began in early September 1903. It can be assumed that from 1903 to 1907, he was looked after by his older brother Władysław, who was studying in Kraków at that time.
Sykała was a co-founder [6] of the Wisła Kraków Sports Society [7] in September 1906, as a student of class V B of the Imperial-Royal II Higher Real School in Kraków and a member of the football club.
From 1906 to 1908, he played football for Wisła Kraków [8] as a left midfielder. He was part of the Wisła squad in the 1906, 1907, and 1908 seasons.
In 1907, he was a student in class VI B of the Imperial-Royal II Higher Real School in Kraków; he passed his maturity exam – the matriculation exam – in 1908 in Kraków.
After graduation, he moved to Lwów, likely with the intention of studying at the local Polytechnic, and from 1909 to 1914, he played football for the Lwów Sports Club Pogoń Lwów [9].
Service in the Austrian Army. Studies at Lwów Polytechnic (1911-1918)
April 15, 1917 - Prisoner in Le Puy
April 15, 1917 - Prisoner in Le Puy
Because Theofil Sykała was registered in Lwów on July 5, 1911, by the draft commission and threatened with conscription for long-term service in the Austro-Hungarian army [10], he voluntarily enlisted as a one-year volunteer to avoid this conscription.
The military commission detailed Theofil Sykała’s description and basic data: height 180 cm, shoe size 11, hair blonde, face elongated, eyes gray, eyebrows blonde, nose proportional, mouth proportional, chin elongated, no special marks, vaccinated.
As a one-year volunteer, he was drafted into the 30th Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian army on October 1, 1911, where he served until he was transferred to the reserve on September 30, 1912, with the rank of non-commissioned officer. He did not receive a promotion to officer due to a severe (two-month-long) illness during his one-year service.
From October 1912 to July 1914 [11], he completed 4 semesters at the Lwów Polytechnic School, in the Faculty of Engineering.
On July 27, 1914, as a result of mobilization, he was drafted as a non-commissioned officer into the 30th Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Austro-Hungarian army until November 26, 1914, on the Serbian front.
On November 26, 1914, as a non-commissioned officer of the Austrian army, he was captured by the Serbs and subsequently by the Italians. By the end of 1915, during the joint Austro-German and Bulgarian offensive on Serbia, he was evacuated with other prisoners to Italian-occupied territory and then transported to Italy. After a seven-month stay in Italy, he was sent to France. He remained a prisoner in France until December 13, 1918.
While in captivity, he corresponded [12] with his brothers Julian and Władysław, who supported him by sending books and clothing [13]. In the prisoner-of-war camp in Le Puy, he became involved in the activities of the "Central Brotherhood Aid for Polish Prisoners" association, where at the V General Assembly on July 29, 1918, he was elected to the Board of the "Polish Prisoner" Publishing House as the treasurer [14].
Soldier in Haller's Army and the Reborn Polish Army (1918-1921)
1918 - Enlistment in Haller's Army
1918 - Enlistment in Haller's Army
On December 13, 1918, in Le Puy, under the pseudonym Teofil Sema born in Warsaw, he volunteered for the Polish army being formed by General Haller. He was enlisted and, with the rank of private, was assigned to the non-commissioned officer artillery school in Le Mans, where he stayed from December 13, 1918, to March 5, 1919. Immediately after completing the non-commissioned officer school, he continued his training at the artillery officer school in Le Mans from March 5, 1919, to May 30, 1919.
Theofil Sykała received his officer rank of second lieutenant [15] by order of General Haller No. 41 on June 19, 1919.
From May 30, 1919, to December 1, 1919, he served in the "Instructional Division" of Haller's army as an officer in a battery, and from December 1, 1919, to June 1, 1920, he served as a supply officer in the "School Division of Artillery."
Upon returning to Poland, he intended to continue his higher education and requested a certificate for military purposes from the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the Lwów Polytechnic School. On February 21, 1920, the Dean certified that Theofil Sykała met the conditions for admission as a regular student at the Polytechnic School for the summer semester of the 1919/1920 academic year, which began on March 1, 1920, and ended on July 15, 1920.
These plans were disrupted by the war with the Bolsheviks and his service on the Bolshevik front in the "School Division of Artillery" from June 1, 1920, to August 12, 1920, where he served as a supply officer. After the unit was withdrawn from the front, he continued to serve as a supply officer from August 13, 1920, to October 2, 1920. He was discharged from this position at his own request and from October 2, 1920, served in the "Artillery Training Group" as an officer in a battery.
Peaceful Service in the Polish Army. Studies and Professional Career (1921-1934)
c. 1922 with Niece Janina
c. 1922 with Niece Janina
1930s
Commemorative Graphic for the 115th Anniversary
On September 15, 1921, Theofil Sykała was released from active service in the 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Battalion, and transferred to reserve status. From October 1, 1921, he received an indefinite leave from the Command of the Artillery Training Group in Toruń, as a student at the Lwów Polytechnic [16].
During the academic year 1921/1922, he completed the remaining two semesters of his engineering studies and graduated [17] from the surveying department of the Lwów Polytechnic in 1922.
On February 8, 1924, Sykała was promoted to the rank of reserve lieutenant [18] and transferred from the 8th Field Artillery Regiment to the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment.
From June 7, 1927, to July 18, 1927, he completed six weeks of military exercises with the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment as a platoon commander.
In the 1927 assessment by the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment command, Theofil Sykała was described as follows: single, childless, Roman Catholic, six semesters of polytechnic education, proficient in German in speaking and writing, private employee – mine technician, mining surveyor. Technical officer at the Warsaw Coal Mining Company. General assessment in 1927: good. Mature, calm, steady, and conscientious. Socially adept. Physically well-developed but not very resilient. High intelligence. Suitable as a platoon commander in artillery. Line service ability – category A.
Residence: Niemce [19] (now an eastern district of Sosnowiec, bordering to the northwest with the Kazimierz Górniczy district).
He probably worked at one of the mines of the Warsaw Coal Mining Company: Feliks, Kazimierz, or Juliusz.
On January 29, 1929, Sykała was transferred to the 4th Field Artillery Regiment, and on March 21, 1933, he was transferred to the Officer Reserve Cadre of District No. V (ORO No. V) with the rank of reserve second lieutenant [20]. Theofil Sykała was never subject to disciplinary, judicial, or honorary court actions [21].
He died on September 23, 1934, at the age of 46 (on a Sunday at 7 a.m. [22]) in Pogoń (a district of Sosnowiec located northwest of the city center since 1902) and was buried in the parish cemetery in Będzin on Małobądzkiej Street, belonging to the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle in Sosnowiec. The grave was removed during the reconstruction and widening of Małobądzkiej Street in Będzin between 1975 and 1977 [23].
