Ulrych was born on 9 April 1888 in
Kalisz,
Congress Poland, in a wealthy Lutheran merchant family. His ancestors were ethnic Germans, who settled in the area of Kalisz,
Turek and
Stawiszyn. Ulrych, the son of Emil and Berta née Stark, attended City Classical Gymnasium in Kalisz and St. Ann Gymnasium in
Kraków. After graduation, he continued his education at
Lwów Polytechnic. Since his teens, Ulrych was an active member of Polish independence organizations, such as the
Riflemen's Association. After the outbreak of World War I, he joined Polish Legions of
Józef Piłsudski, becoming one of the officers of the 1st Legions Infantry Regiment. In late stages of the war, he was transferred to his native Kalisz, where, as a member of the Polish Military Organization, he commanded the disarming of German soldiers (November 1918). During the
Polish–Soviet War (1919–1921), Ulrych, among others, formed the 29th Regiment of Kaniów Riflemen (29 Pułk Strzelców Kaniowskich). He was later awarded the
Virtuti Militari and the
Cross of Valour (Poland) (three times). After the Polish–Soviet War, Ulrych worked in the Information Department of the Ministry of Military Affairs and in the Headquarters of the Polish Army. In 1922–1923, he attended Warsaw's War College (
Wyższa Szkoła Wojenna). In 1927–1929, Ulrych was chairman of the State Office of Physical Education and Basic Training, and one of his main ideas was the creation of
Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw. In 1929–1931 he commanded the
36th Infantry Regiment (Poland). In January 1931, he was appointed deputy commandant of the 4th Office of the Army Headquarters. On 13 October 1935 Ulrych became Minister of Communication in the government of Prime Minister
Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski. He remained in this post until 30 September 1939. Furthermore, in 1938–1939 he was a deputy to the
Sejm, and in 1939 was named Chief of Communication in the Army Headquarters. On 17 September 1939 (see
Soviet invasion of Poland), Ulrych, together with his family and other members of Polish government, crossed the Polish-Romanian border. He was interned by the Romanian government in
Băile Herculane. In 1940, Ulrych left Romania and via Turkey and Cyprus he went to France, where he wanted to join Polish forces. Newly formed
Polish government-in-exile, under General
Władysław Sikorski, did not allow him to enter the army, and Ulrych was transferred to clerical work. In 1941 Ulrych moved to England. After the war Ulrych, to support his family, worked in the so-called Silver Brigade, a group of former officials of the Second Polish Republic, who, for lack of other opportunities, cleaned silverware at London's Claridge's Hotel. Later, he worked as a lift operator at
Harrods. In ca. 1950, Ulrych was named a consultant at the British
War Office. He was actively involved in Polish social life in exile, as deputy chairman of Main Council of Independence League, a pro-
Sanacja political organization. ==Death and legacy==