London Gazette 8 December 1942
London Gazette 8 December 1942
And for Polish readers..
My poor attempt at translating this:
On Tuesday, June 8 (1943) at 11 am in the royal Buckingham Palace, there was a celebration of the decoration of British airmen and sailors with combat medals for the brave who died or will not return. The decoration was made personally by King George VI. Among the awarded on the list, there was a squadron leader Philip R Barr, a Pole by origin, decorated with the DFC, who did not return to base after a combat mission. This high distinction was awarded by the hand of the King to the wife of the missing aviator, Mrs Maria Barr, a Polish daughter of a colonel of the Polish Army who took part in the Norwegian campaign.
We got these few little details from the official source, but we didn't stop there. We had been trying to get in touch with Mrs. Barr for two days until we finally heard her nice voice on the phone in the morning. I asked for an interview, by phone. The kind Mrs. Barr gladly shared the details of the audience with the King:
Together with 300 other people, mostly families of the closest to the missing, I found myself in the royal palace. We all stood in pairs alphabetically and by the hierarchy of decorations. I came to the royal palace in the uniform of the Polish Red Cross with my mother-in-law. I was the 63rd in line. The audience made a huge impression on me, looking at the many families whose husbands, brothers and fathers did not return to their homes.
After a while the chancellor mentioned my husband's name, rank and order, and then I approached the King. King George VI personally presented me with the decoration, and then he declared: I am very pleased to be able to present you with a battle decoration.
Then I made a courtly bow, then left the palace.
My uniform attracted a lot of attention from press representatives who asked me various questions, and I was even of interest to photojournalists. I had to explain to journalists one by one how I became the wife of a British citizen, where I was born and where I serve. I will tell you these details again:
I was born in Grodno. I spent my childhood in the borderlands, and attended school in Vilnius. The war interrupted my studies and it was only here in Scotland that I graduated from high school in 1941, just before my wedding. I met my husband on a Polish ship. "Sobieski" after the fall of France during the evacuation from St. Jean de Luz. He was an aviator. During the air combat he was shot down over France. He was badly injured.
Together with 4 other English pilots, he found himself on a Polish ship, under the care of Polish pilots as well as Polish families. It is from this journey that I got to know my husband. Later, after arriving in England, I wrote and in 1941 we were married in the Catholic church in Glasgow in front of the painting of Our Lady of Czestochowa donated by Polish soldiers staying in the neighborhood. I must add that my husband was 25 years old and he was already a major and I am 20 years old. Our happiness did not last long. In November 1942 I got a message that my husband did not return from his mission. I did not want to believe it, and even today I do not believe it. I still hope that he will come back, that he is alive.
My husband is of Polish origin and his great-grandfather was called Barcinski, but later the family changed the name to Barr for easier pronunciation. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out where his ancestors came from. Probably from the land of Krakow. Currently, I work for the Polish Red Cross in Edinburgh, transfusing blood. This work makes me forget about the loss of my husband, but I still believe that my husband will return, that he will come to know Poland from where he comes - the interview with Mrs. Maria Barr ends.
Last edited by TMZ; 03-16-2021 at 06:56 AM.
Hello Everyone,
Another Recommendation that I came across yesterday, which I thought I would share with you all, this time for a female who was initially recommended for the George Cross, which was crossed out and in it's place O.B.E. and later G.M. (George Medal)
The Recommendation was for :
Miss Mary Christine Granville (better known as Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek) I.S.S.U.6
"Miss Mary Christine Granville is a Polish patriot of high integrity she has been employed by this organisation for four years, much of the time on work of the most dangerous nature inside occupied Europe.
During this time her work has not been short of remarkable and of the greatest value to the Allied cause, she is now in the process of becoming a British subject and of, in fact being commissioned into the W.A.A.F..
On the night of the 6th/7th of July she was infiltrated into Southern France, by parachute to act as liaison officer to the Chief of the area, a British Field Officer working with the Maquis, she was also commissioned in view of her exceptional language qualification and experience in such matters, to work on the possibilities of the subversion of satellite enemy troops.
This last field had not previously been exploited by this organization in France.
She started work immediately and within a week reported that she done the preparatory work on the subversion of polish troops in the German Army, and that the possibilities were considerable. On the 17th July, her Area Commander reported that her work with these troops was already proving so widespread that it was essential to send another officer to help her.
When the invasion started she remained in the Vercors during the whole of the battle for the plateau and finally escaped through the lines with the French General commanding F.F.I. South Eastern France, on the day that it fell. During the whole of this time she continued with her work on satellite troops and on her various liaison duties, and in fact was so effective that she was able to report that the Polish troops at Briancon would be prepared to surrender to the Maquis if certain conditions were fulfilled.
From the Vercors, she was sent to Colonel de Larche on the Italian frontier where she personally managed to effect an important liaison, which had not previously been successful with Colonel Marzzalani of the Italian Maquis. Later she penetrated into Northern Italy where she remained on another important liaison mission, often under fire, for the next two weeks.
On the 15th August 44, the senior British officer of the Area together with his 2nd in Command and a French Major of his team were captured by the Gestapo and commited to the Gestapo prison at Digne. This was a serious blow to the clandestine operations in that area particularly as it was only two days before the Allied landing in the South of France, immediately this happened, Miss Granville took over the work of the whole mission, in addition to her own, until the newly appointed successor to the senior British officer arrived, when she both put him fully in the picture, and in touch with the necessary contacts.
At the same time single handed she set about getting the three officers away from the Gestapo, she spent the first three days finding out the size of the guards with a view to organizing a raid on the prison, but when this was found to be impracticable she, alone, and fully appreciating the risk she ran, and that on paper her task would appear impossible, went to the Prison to see the head of the Gestapo himself, and in the Gestapo office subsequently was interviewed by all the Gestapo officers except one, a total of eight, each of whom entered the room armed and by that time aware that she was an enemy agent, and fully intending to arrest her.
Inspite of all these things however, by a series of amazing stories ad threats she persuaded one of their number to release all three of the officers even though each of them had already been condemned to death as enemy agents and were due to be shot 12 hours afterwards.
The nerve, coolness, and devotion to duty and high courage of this lady which inspired and brought to a successful conclusion this astonishing coup de main must certainly be considered as one of the most remarkable personal exploits of the war, and in the particular circumstances I have the honour to recommend that her courage be recognised by the immediate award of the George Cross".
Recommendation Signed by Major General W.A.M. Stawell C.B.E., M.C. Dated 10th December 1944
Counter signed by H. R. Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre (he also penned the following) I recommend the award of an O.B.E. (this was then pencilled out) Awarded G.M.
Should this award be approved it is requested that no detail be made public or communicated to the press.
George Medal obverse
George Medal on ladies bow
Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek in F.A.N.Y. Uniform during the war
Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek after the end of the war in Europe
PISM Display of Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek's awards and portrait.
Best wishes
Andrzej
To add to the information on the story of S/L Philip Barr and his wife Maria.
It is confirmed that Maria was the daughter of Col. Benedykt Chłusewicz.
Also a picture of S/L Barr/Barciński DFC.
Hello Everyone,
Another Recommendation this time a shared Recommendation that resulted in the Award of both the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distiguished Flying Medal to two Polish Pilots from 305 Squadron.
"On the night of 28th August, 1942, Fl/Lt. Czołowski and Sgt. Seredyn were 1st and 2nd pilot respectively of a Wellington aircraft detailed to attack a target at Saarbrucken. When nearing the objective, flying at 18,000 feet, the Wellington was subjected to separate attacks by 2 fighters. The first attack was driven off leaving a trail of black smoke. During the second attack the rear gunner in the bomber was mortally wounded whilst the aircraft sustained severe damage and the fuselage filled with smoke from ignited incendiary bombs. Height had been lost to 5,000 feet and the undercarriage, bomb doors and flaps were hanging down and there were no lights. Fl/Lt. Czołowski jettisoned his bombs and ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. Sgt. Seredyn volunteered to remain and after assisting others of the crew to abandon the aircraft succeeded in extinguishing the fires. Displaying superb airmanship Flight Lieutenant Czołowski continued the return journey and despite further difficulties which were encountered, returned to base where a crash landing was made successfully. Fl/Lt. Czołowski and Sgt. Seredyn displayed courage and fortitude worthy of high praise".
FLt. Tadeusz Czołowski about to receive the DFC waiting next to him Sgt Seredyn.
Wing Commander Tadeusz Czołowski
Flight Lieutenant Tadeusz Mieczysław Czołowski, Born 27th December 1904, Service Number : P1079, ended the war as a Wing Commander (Pplk.) Pilot, also awarded the Virtuti Militari Numbered : 9507, Cross of Valour with 2 Bars, the Air Medal with 3 Bars. He emigrated to the US in 1952 and died there on the 23rd February 1996 aged 95.
Sgt. Pilot 783156 Mieczysław Seredyn,
Mieczysław Seredyn, was born on the 10th April 1920, his PAF Service Number was : 783156, he was also awarded the Virtuti Militari Numbered : 9600, Cross of Valour, Air Medal, on the night of the 3rd February Seredyn was the Pilot of Wellington IV (Z1392) which was shot down by a german night fighter in Holland, all the crew except Seredyn perished and he was taken Prisoner. After the end of the war he returned to Poland where he died on the 17th June 1981.
On the night of the 28th August 1942 they managed to crash land their Wellington IV at RAF Manston at 23.59 hrs.
Best wishes
Andrzej
Hello Everyone,
A couple of photographs of Polish Pilots receiving their British Awards :
W/Cdr. Witold Jacek Piotrowski receiving the D.F.C. from A-O-C No 1 Group AVM R D Oxland at RAF Hemswell on the 2nd January 1942
Next in line S/Ldr. Suliński
S/Ldr. Romuald Suliński receiving the D.F.C. from AVM Oxland (Suliński went on to be awarded the D.S.O.)
RAF Faldingworth, 20th February 1945 W/Cdr. Teofil Pożyczka after receiving the D.S.O. (previously awarded the D.F.C.)
S/Ldr. Teofil Pożyczka after receiving the D.F.C.
W/Cdr. Teofil Pożyczka in 1945 wearing the D.S.O. and D.F.C. ribbons on his tunic.
W/Cdr. Teofil Pożyczka awards.
Best wishes
Andrzej
Hello Everyone,
Another Recommendation, this time for a pilot of 303 Squadron Sgt. Eugeniusz Szaposznikow :
"Sergeant Szaposznikow has taken part in numerous engagements and proved himself to be a pilot of exceptional skill and great daring, he has destroyed 6 enemy aircraft amd probably another in the past month.
Flying as No 3 in the leading section he had not only fearlessly attacked greater superior numbers, by his coolness and quickness of decision has frequently saved his leaders and companions.
It may be truly said that his score is but part of his merit in recognition of his gallantry,
Aircraft destroyed 3 Me 109's, 2 Me 110's, 1 Dor 215 plus 1 Me 109 probable".
Recommendation by Squadron Leader Ronald Kellet, dated 2nd October 1940
Air Vice Marshal Keith Park added the following :
"This Polish Sergeant has shown great gallantry, his coolness and quick judgement have on several occasions when he has been flying as No 3 saved his Leader and fellow pilots. He has shot down 6 enemy aircraft even in this he is outstanding in courage and dash,
I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the DFM".
This was also signed by
ACM Hugh Dowding.
The announcement of the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal was made on the 31st December 1940 and he was decorated with the D.F.M. by AVM Trafford Leigh-Mallory on the 25th January 1941 at RAF Leconfield.
Distinguished Flying Medal obverse and reverse
Moment of the award of the D.F.M. to Sgt. Eugeniusz Szaposznikow by AVM Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Sergeants Szaposznikow, Karubin and Wünsche all thre went onto be awarded the D.F.M.
Sergeant Eugeniusz Szaposznikow
Best wishes
Andrzej
Hello Everyone,
Another number of Recommendation's this time for Five Officer's from 303 Squadron,
Mirosław Stanisław Ferić :
"This pilot has displayed great coolness in operations, setting a fine example to the rest of his section, he has personally accounted for 6 enemy aircraft and probably another one."
Recommended by Squadron Leader Ronald Kellett, dated : 23rd September 1940.
D.F.C. in case of issue.
Jan Eugeniusz Ludwik Zumbach :
"This officer has taken part in many operational flights and has proved himself a courageous and capable pilot, he has destroyed 7 enemy aircraft and probably another 2".
Recommended by Squadron Leader Ronald Kellet, Dated 23rd September 1940.
D.F.C. obverse
Zdzisław Karol Henneberg :
"This Officer has taken part in active operations since the formation of this Squadron as a Section Leader and as acting Flight Commander, he has shown initiative and tenacity in pressing home attacks.
He has accounted for the following enemy aircraft : 4 Me 109's, 1 Dor, 1He 111, probably a further 2".
Recommended by Squadron Leader Ronald Kellet, Dated 23rd September 1940
This was also added by Group Captain Vincent, Station Commander RAF Northolt :
"Strongly recommended , he has proved himself an Officer of great gallantry and determination and modesty".
D.F.C. obverse
Witold Aleksander Urbanowicz :
"F/O. Witold Urbanowicz, this officer has shown himself an able courageous leader in command of a flight in the Squadron.
Previously he had destroyed 2 enemy aircraft and since joining this Squadron he has accounted for at least a further 4 and probably 2 others".
The last Recommendation was for : Ludwik Witold Paszkiewicz :
"F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz, has commanded a flight since the formation of the Squadron and has contributed very largely to the success of its operations, by his intelligent and daring leadership , he has personally accounted for 6 enemy aircraft."
Recommended by Squadron Leader Ronald Kellett, dated 23rd September 1940.
It was only 4 days after this recommendation was written that Ludwik Paszkiewicz was killed in action.
D.F.C. case of issue
D.F.C. in case of issue reverse dated 1940.
The 4 Pilots after receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross from ACM Sholto Douglas at RAF Leconfield on the 15th December 1940
Another photograph of the 4 pilots.
Best wishes
Andrzej
Hello Everyone,
Another Recommendation this time for a Sergeant Pilot from 303 Squadron Stanisław Karubin :
"This pilot has shown conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy and up to 6th September 1940, when he was wounded had shot down 3 Me109's and 1 He111.
Sergeant Karubin refused sick leave when he was discharged from hospital and rejoined his Squadron. On the 30th September when his flight pursued a force of Do17's escorted by Me109's across the Channel he shot down an Me109, again on 5th October he shot down another Me109 when his Squadron was engaging a large enemy formation thus making a total of 6 enemy aircraft shot down.
In every operation in which he had been engaged both before and after being wounded, Sergeant Karubin had shown great courage and initiative and his keenness has been an insperation to the others of his Squadron".
Recommended by Squadron Leader Ronald Kellet
Countersigned by both AVM Leigh Mallory Commanding No 12 Group and ACM Hugh Dowding
Dated 14th November 1940.
Sergeant Karubin was killed the following August in a flying accident.
Distinguished Flying Medal obverse and reverse.
Sergeant Stanisław Karubin
Sergeant Stanisław Karubin D.F.M. grave.
Best wishes
Andrzej
How can I find information on the recipient of the attached Military Medal?
I found such link and I think that this is the same person, but he doesn't have Military Medal among his awards.
Antoni Tyszarski – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
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