Monte Cassino cross

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

Whilst waiting in for a delivery, I was doing a little bit of surfing and found the following Faces of Recipients of the Monte Cassino Cross :



Szer. Henryk Kapelewski 3KBŁącz, MCC Nr : 6847 (Died 10th September 1945)



Bomb. Aleksander Gawrychowski, 7PAPpanc, MCC Nr : 35165, later Plut.



Strz. Bolesław Mielnicki, 2KWarst, MCC Nr : 8923, By the end of the War he was St.Strz. KW.



Szer. Konstanty Mielnicki, 3KBŁącz, MCC Nr : 8749, By the end of the war he was St.Szer. KW.



Sierz.pdchr. Ireniusz Domurat, P6Panc, MCC Nr : 30494, By the end of the war he was Podporucznik.



Kpr. Stanisław Pianko, 15PUP, MCC Nr : 24112, by the end of the war he was Plut.



Sap.Bronisław Dobronski, 3KBSap, MCC Nr : 3907, by the end of the war he was St.Sap.



Plut. Henryk Zawadzki, 4BSK, MCC Nr : 14577, By the end of the war he was a Sierz. KW, you can view another different photo in Post Nr : 410.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[ChrisSark]

Hello!

I have been trying to put together a collection of the medals that my grandfather would have had. Sadly, we don't have his Monte Cassino Cross (no. 10816) or his Cross of Valour. Recently I did manage to find a Monte Cassino Cross (no. 38377) as pictured below and am hoping to find out more about the person it was actually awarded to and whether or not I made a mistake and it's actually a copy. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

[andrzejku98]

Hello Chris,

Many thanks for your post, I hope that you do not mind me taking the liberty of rotating your photographs, shown below :



Monte Cassino Cross reverse Nr : 38377 reverse



Monte Cassino Cross reverse Nr : 38377 obverse


The cross is fine and original, the details of the original owner are as follows:

Rank : Kapral

Surname : KICZOROWSKI

Christian Name : Józef

Date of Birth : 1915

Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1915-24-III

Unit : Pułk Ułanów Karpackich (Carpathian Lancers Regiment)

Józef Kiczorowski was also awarded the BKZzM (Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords), information from the Regimental History.

He would have also received the Medal Mojska (Army Medal) and the British 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal. Badges awarded : Independent Carpathian Brigade Badge (Samodzielna Brygada Strzelców Karpackich / SBSK), 2nd Corps Badge Carpathian Lancers Badge, 2nd Armoured Division Badge.

Nice acquisition Chris.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[ChrisSark]

Thanks Andrzej! Greatly appreciated!!

[prauster]

Hello Andrzej

I have one more request. I need information about Wiktor Sosnowski. Can you check the number of his cross and other records about him?

Best Regards
Prauster

[andrzejku98]

Hello Prauster,

Many thanks for your post, unfortunately there are 2 Wiktor Sosnowski's listed in the Register, you did not give a date of birth, so here are both of them for you :

1) St.Strz. Wiktor Sosnowski, Born in 1910, Army Number : 1910-125-III, Unit : KG2BP (Headquarters 2nd Armoured Brigade), Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 28925, Fathers Name : Konstanty, pre 39 either Regular or Reservist, captured by the soviets on the 18th September 1939 in Tarnopol. He joined the Anders Army at Tatiszczewo on the 18th September 1941.

I did find a record of a Wiktor Sosnowski born in 1910 who died in Scarborough, Yorkshire in 1993.

2) Plut. Wiktor Sosnowski, Born in 1913, Army Number : 1913-148-III, Unit : 31 Kompania Sanitarna (31st Medical Company), Fathers Name : Adolf, this Wiktor was arrested in 1940.

That is all that I have been able to find for you Prauster, I hope that one of them is the correct Wiktor Sosnowski you are looking for.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

I was surfing earlier and came across these photographs of a recipient of the Monte Cassino Cross, the first before the Italian Campaign and the 2nd after the end of the war.



Ppor Franciszek Józef Zwoliński wearing the ribbons of the Wound Ribbon with 3 Stars, Cross of Independence, 1918-1921 War Medal and the 10th Anniversary of Independence Medal.



Por Franciszek Józef Zwoliński, wearing the ribbons : wound ribbon with 3 Stars, Cross of Independence, Army Medal, Monte Cassino Cross, 1918-1921 War Medal, 10th Anniversary of Independence Medal, 10 Year Long Service Medal, British : 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal.

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows: Ppor. Franciszek Józef Zwoliński, Born in 1908, Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1908-92-III, Unit : Headquarters Staff 5KDP, Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 14829.

He died aged 52 in 1960.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[Esco]

Andrzejku, are you able to identify owner of MC 17179?
Many thanks!

[andrzejku98]

Hello Esco,

Many thanks for your post, the recipient of the Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 17179 was at the time of the award

Rank : Starszy Sierzant

Surname : KOSTRZEWA

Christian Name : Stanisław

Fathers Name : Jan

Date of Birth : 1900

Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1900-233-III

Unit : 15 Baon Strzelec, 5KDP

He was either a pre war regular or reservist who fought in the September 1939 Campaign, with his fellow soldiers crossed the border into Lithuania on the 19th September 1939 rather than surrender to soviet troops. He joined the Anders Army at Tatiszczewo on the 5th September 1941.

That is all that I have been able to find for you Esco on this particular soldier.

Best wishes

Andrzej

p.s. it would be nice to view some photographs of both the obverse and reverse of the cross.

[Esco]

Thank you so much Andrzej. Unfortunately the cross is not in my posession.