Karol Standarski originally came from France, the son of a Polish miner, and initially enlisted in the French army where he joined the French paratroopers in 1943. In October of that year he joined the Polish brigade.

Members of the Polish anti-tank squadron who did not fly with the gliders that carried the cannon guns to allocated Landing Zones, jumped over Driel on 21 September 1944. Without their guns, which were positioned on the north side of the Lower Rhine, they were deployed as infantry. At Driel they took up positions on the south side of the village.

When their positions were attacked by German troops on 22 September 1944, Standarski let an armoured reconnaissance vehicle approach to within a few metres. As soon as a German soldier leaned out, Standarski killed him, whereupon the vehicle retreated and the German attack was repelled.

Together with 43 other members of his unit, Standarski crossed the Lower Rhine to Oosterbeek on the night of 23 to 24 September 1944. Because by then most of the gun pieces were out of use, they were also deployed as infantry in Oosterbeek, west of Arnhem. They moved to the north-west side of the perimeter where they joined the troops of the Border regiment that were dug in there. In Oosterbeek Standarski used the same tactics as in Driel, letting the German vehicles get close during an attack before opening fire, and again he managed to repel the attack. Sadly, it is suspected that he lost his life in the process. His body was found in the positions on the corner of the Van Lennepweg – Utrechtsweg roads in May 1945.

Gunner Karol Standarski received the Polish military award Krzyż Walecznych (Cross of Valour) for his efforts. He found his final resting place in the cemetery in Oosterbeek, grave number XXVII A 4.