Monte Cassino cross

[Anthonyburak1]

Edward Burak

Born on: 13 October 1921 at Newark, New Jersey, USA
Died Darlington UK 5 Oct 1991

Prior to 1939 lived in Mołodeczno, county of Wilno, Poland (now Belarus), which after the 1939 September campaign in Poland was occupied by the former Soviet Union. Being of Polish nationality he was deported to the former USSR in 1940 – exact date(s) and place(s) of his deportation/forced labour within the former Soviet Union not recorded.





On the basis of the Sikorski-Maisky (Polish-Soviet) agreement of 30 July 1941, released for the purpose of joining the Polish Armed Forces, which were being organised in 1941-1942 on the former Soviet territory. Enlisted in the Polish Army on 12.05.1942 and was posted to the Army Organisation Centre.

Together with the Polish Army units, crossed the Soviet-Iranian border, was evacuated to Iran, thereby came under British command with effect from 15.08.1942. Via Iraq was transferred to Palestine.

On the re-organisation of the Polish Army in the Middle East was transferred to 3 Company, 6 Tank Battalion (re-named 6 Armoured Regiment on 01.07.1943), 2 Warszawska Armoured Division, 2 Polish Corps, 8 British Army on 16.11.1942.

Served in the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt) 1942-1944 and in Italy 1944-1946, when together with 2 Polish Corps was transferred to the United Kingdom – exact date of arrival in the United Kingdom not recorded.

Due to a gradual demobilisation of the Polish Forces under British command, enlisted in the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) and served in the United Kingdom until finally discharged on 13.01.1948 on absorption into industry.

Theatre of Operations:

Italy 09.04.1944 – 02.05.1945

09.04.44-23.04.44 Action on the Rivers Sangro and Rapido/Southern Apennines
24.04.44-31.05.44 Battle for Monte Cassino/Gustav-Hitler line of enemy defences
01.06.44-04.09.44 Battle for Ancona/Goths line of enemy defences
05.09.44-09.10.44 Rearguard of 8 British Army
10.10.44-01.01.45 Action in the Northern Apennines
02.01.45-08.04.45 Action on the River Senio
09.04.45-02.05.45 Battle for Bologna/Lombardy Plain

Medal Entitlement:

Polish: Cross for Valour, Cross of Monte Cassino No 30436, Army Medal

British: 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, The War Medal 1939-45.

[Woody]

Hello Woody,

Many thanks for your post and congratulations to your friend for purchasing them at the time of the award of the Monte Cassino Cross the receipients details were as follows:

Rank: Strzelec (Rifleman)

Surname: SOJKA

Christian Name : Witold

Date of Birth : 1919

Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1919-133-III

Unit : 6BSK (6th Carpathian Rifle Battalion, 2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigade, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division.

Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 12885

By the end of the war Witold Sojka had been promoted to Starszy Strzelec (Lance Corporal) and had been awarded the Krzyż Walecznych (Cross of Valour 1939-1945).

That is all that I have been able to find for you on this particular soldier, I hope it is of some use and interest to your friend.

Best wishes

Andrzej

Andrzej,
Many thanks for the information....I managed to acquire these off my friend at Malvern this weekend...one medal is missing as there is a ribbon there but no medal which I presume is the polish war medal type 1?.....there was also the other ribbon with the eagle stick pin stuck through it.....I have seen this eagle on ribbons before is that official?

Again thanks for any info in advance,
Cheers
Gary

[Wisnia]

Hello Everyone

Supplement to the post #2116,page 212:

1.Władysław DROZDOWSKI.MCC number?


2.L.cpl.Jerzy RADIUKIEWICZ,born:1926,army number:1926-25-III,unit:1BS,3 DSK.MCC number:11044, KWx1.


3.ułan Józef ZAGÓRSKI,born:1918,unit:15 Pułk Uł. Pozn;5 KDP.MCC number:24410.


4.cpl.Jerzy NALIWAJKO,born:1925,unit:5 PAP-lot;5 KDP.MCC number:23227.


5.L.sgt.Edward JEŻEWSKI,born:1909,unit:5 Baon Łączności;% KDP.MCC number:26204.


Ps.:That's what I managed to find.


Best wishes

Artur

[Wisnia]

Hello DEAR Andrzejku

Is it possible to give the number of the MCC if the soldier was awarded:
L.sgt.SZYMCZAK Ignacy:army number:1900-133-III;unit:13. komp. zaop.3 DSK.

THANK YOU

Best wishes

Artur

[andrzejku98]

Hello Gary,

Many thanks for your post, you are correct that the ribbon without the medal is the Army Medal (Medal Wojska) as shown below, the other ribbon with the Tie pin is the Order Odrodzenia Polski better known by the motto of the order "Polonia Restituta". The Eagle pin is not official Gary.

Best wishes

Andrzej

p.s. the Best book to show Polish Ribbons, is "Ribbons of Orders, Decorations and Medals. by Guido Rosignoli, published in 1976 by the Blandford Press, ISBN : 0-7137-0775-5

[andrzejku98]

Hello Artur,

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross Ignacy Szymczak was a Kapral, awarded Monte Cassino Cross Nr : 12294

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Artur,

Re Post Nr : 2133 : Władysław Drozdowski, he was awarded the Monte Cassino Cross, at the time of award His details were as follows:

Rank : Kapral pdchr. (Corporal / Officer Cadet)

Surname : Drozdowski

Christian Name : Władysław

Date of Birth : 1906

Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1906-35-III

Unit : 1PPomArt. (1st Survey Artillery Regiment)

Hope that this helps

Best wishes

Andrzej

[prauster]

Hello Andrzej,

I'm new on the forum, please, what information is there on the owner of cross number 33 333? Thank you for your great work!!

Best Regards

[andrzejku98]

Hello Prauster,

May I be the first to welcome you to the War Relics Forum, at the time of the award of the Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 33333, the recipients details were as follows :

Rank : Kapral (Corporal)

Surname : KUBIAK

Christian Name : Władysław

Date of Birth : 1913

Army Number : (Also found on His ID Tags) : 1913-409-III

Unit : 9PAC (9 Pułku Artylerii Ciężkiej) (9th Heavy Artillery Regiment).

When the 9PAC left Italy for the UK they where sent to Stobs Camp in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland.

The only other information that I could find was that a Władysław Kubiak married a Maria Leduchowicz in Gloucestershire in 1949, this Władysław applied for and was granted British Citizenship in Feb 63 and died on 1983, no guarantee that it is the same man.

Once again Prauster welcome to the Forum

Best wishes

Andrzej

[prauster]

Andrzej,
Thank you for all the information and quick reply. It is great to know the name and the unit. You were able to find so much more. Now We can start looking for a family of Władysław Kubiak in Poland

Thank a lot Andrzej.