Pułk 4 Pancerny Group but Monte Cassino Cross Numbers don't Match

[jamest8]

Good day folks.


These came my way today. A very complete set that belonged to a Kapr. Bolesław Szajna who served with Pułk 4 Pancerny "Scorpions".

The only inconsistency is the Monte Casino Cross. The medal is numbered 29642 but on the document the number is 29542. Could this be a mistake on the document or is it the wrong cross?

The British medals are in their issue box and the ribbons don't appear to have been taken out of their packet. Interestingly he served in Africa. The story is that he escaped from a farm in Germany with a friend, got to the UK via France and Spain.

Reagrds

James

[andrzejku98]

Hello James,

Many thanks for your Post, the Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 29642 when awarded the recipients details were as follows :

Rank : Kapral

Surname : Ząbek

Christian Name : Czesław

Date of Birth : 20th July 1915

Army Number (also found on His ID Tags) : 1915-42-III

Unit : P4Panc (1st Squadron also awarded the Virtuti Militari Nr : 11016, KW, BKZzM ) Died 2nd January 1969.

Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 29542 when awarded the Recipients details were as follows :

Rank : Starszy Pancerny (Lance Corporal/Armoured Forces)

Surname : SZAJNA

Christian Name : Bolesław

Date of Birth : 1913

Army Number : 1913-126-III

Unit : P4Panc. (1st Squadron, ended the war as a Kapral with KW BKZzM) after the end of the war he came to the UK and settled in Yorkshire, in 1954 he married Maud Armitage in Upper Agbrigg, Yorkshire and Died in Huddersfield in 1994.

That is all that I can provide you with at this moment James

Best wishes

Andrzej

p.s. my bill is in the post

[jamest8]

Thank you so much Andrzej.

The owner was Bolesław Szajna and the personal details you provided are absolutely correct. He met his wife at the Polish Ex Serviceman's club in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. I go the group from the family.

As cross no 29642 was also awarded to a member of 1st Sqn P4Panc it would appear likely that they just got mixed up at some stage.

Many thanks again for your generous help.

James

[Frozzer]

Hi. I am a new owner of this marvelous set. I was trying to do some research and I found a familly of Ząbek Czesław. Two sons of Czesław Ząbek still has got an awards, documents, photos and also original uniform of their father! They also have a Monte Cassino cross. Today evening I will be talking with them again and then they will check what number on cross they have. If I have in my set cross of Ząbek Czesław am thinking that they have got cross wich belongs to Bolseław Szajna in their items. Maybe after the war crosses could be matched correct.

[Frozzer]

Hello guys

I spoken to sons of Czesław Ząbek - they have got document of Monte Cassino cross with number 29642 but they have got cross with number 29641.
Unfortunetly I have document of Bolesław Szajna where in document is number 29542 but on my cross is number 29642.

Bolesław Szajna has got cross belongs to Czesław Ząbek
but
Czesław Ząbek has got cross with number 29641 - unfortunetly not with nr 29542 wich I am looking for.

Can You tell me who was awarded cross number 29641 ? I want to search more and try to find another family of Monte Cassino solider. Maybe he has got mine cros with nr 29542.

In few weeks I want to go to Czesław Ząbek family and give them their father cross. They will be correctly matched now. Unfortunetly I will have still mismatched set.
Also they told me that will give me a lot of photos and scans of documents. They also have got uniform of theirs father.
I will post photos here.

Regards
Michal

[Frozzer]

Hello guys

I spoken to sons of Czesław Ząbek - they have got document of Monte Cassino cross with number 29642 but they have got cross with number 29641.
Unfortunetly I have document of Bolesław Szajna where in document is number 29542 but on my cross is number 29642.

Bolesław Szajna has got cross belongs to Czesław Ząbek
but
Czesław Ząbek has got cross with number 29641 - unfortunetly not with nr 29542 wich I am looking for.

Can You tell me who was awarded cross number 29641 ? I want to search more and try to find another family of Monte Cassino solider. Maybe he has got mine cros with nr 29542.

In few weeks I want to go to Czesław Ząbek family and give them their father cross. They will be correctly matched now. Unfortunetly I will have still mismatched set.
Also they told me that will give me a lot of photos and scans of documents. They also have got uniform of theirs father.
I will post photos here.

Regards
Michal

History was finished. More info here...
4 Pułk Pancerny "Skorpion" - my first set of Polish awards.