Polish Monte Casino Cross: Real or Fake????

[andrzejku98]

Hello Gerry,

You are most welcome, when I first started collecting in the 1970's, there was not any online help or reference books to use or records to search, but since the rise of the internet and the freedom of Poland interest has grown at home and abroad.

It is a pleasure to help a fellow collector and if I can help in the future just ask.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[conrado]

Hello Gentlemen,

I have found MCC numbered 25242. Question to you: genuine or fake?

Regards,
Konrad

[andrzejku98]

Hello Konrad,

Well cleaned but genuine awarded to Saper Józef Błaszczyński, Born in 1919, Army Number : 1919-200-III, Unit : DS5KDP (Divisional Engineers 5KDP)

Best wishes

Andrzej

[TGAZ]

Hello. This cross belonged to my great grandfather. I'm very curious if the name matches the number!

Thanks in advance.

[andrzejku98]

Hello TGAZ,

Many thanks for your post the Monte Cassino Cross Register lists the Recipient as being

Rank : Plutonowy (Lance Sergeant)

Surname : Bieleń

Christian Name : Stanisław

Date of Birth : 1901

Army Number : (also found on His ID tags) : 1901-42-III

Unit : 13KZiT

By the end of the war he had been promoted to Sierzant and was serving in the 18KZaop.

Stanisław Bieleń died on the 17th December 1989 in Stamford, Conneticut.

Is this your Great Grandfather TGAZ.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[TGAZ]

Andrzej,

Dzienkuje bardzo! That is in fact him, and you've provided a couple of new bits of information I didn't have.

How can I find out more about the two units you listed: 13KZiT and 18KZaop?

Thanks!!!!

[Wisnia]

Hello TGAZ

MCC number 2777 I have saved that it was awarded to:

plutonowy-L.sgt.BIELEŃ Stanisław,born 1901,fathers name Franciszek.Army number 1901-42-III.Unit:supply company.-(13 kompania zaopatrywania i transportu).

Best wishes

Artur

[andrzejku98]

Hello TGAZ,

Many thanks for your reply, I was happy to provide you with the information on your Great Grandfather Stanisław Bieleń, with regards to the units that he served in and finding information about them

1) 13 Kompania Zaopatrywania I Transportowa and 2) 18 Kompania Transportowa both 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division.

If there are any records for example a Unit Chronicle then that would be held at the PISM (Polish Institute and General Sikorski Museum) in London, unfortunately I have been house bound for nearly a decade now. So unfortunately I can not help you, but do not give up hope, if you wish the PISM charges £25.00p for a 2 hour search of their records with no guarantee of finding anything, everything is explained on the PISM website click on the link below.

Postal Enquiries

family research

Something else you can do if you wish TGAZ is to obtain the Service Record of your Great Grandfather from the British Ministry of Defence, if you decide to go down this avenue of research then please make sure to ask for copies of all records that they hold otherwise you will just receive either a 1 or 2 page letter outlining his details Name of parents, Date of Birth, Occupation, when he joined the 2nd Corps etc.

The link to the M-o-D is below, once again they do charge.

Request records of deceased service personnel - GOV.UK

Best wishes

Andrzej

[Pieter1942]

Hello Gentlemen;

Came across this small medal combo. Never seen this combination together and have some questions about it. The medal beside the mcc is a Greek medal.
Is this combo possible and is the cross Original?

Anyway, love to hear your comments to this one !

Thank you very much in advance and kind regards,
Pieter.

[andrzejku98]

Hello Pieter.

Many thanks for your post, unfortunately the Monte Cassino Cross although genuine, was never issued and was one of those sold off by the Polish Government in Exile in the 1970's and 1980's.

The Greek award is the War Cross, more information can be found on the link below :

War Cross (Greece) - Wikipedia

Best wishes

Andrzej