British Awards for Polish Soldiers

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

Another Recommendation for the King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom :



Polish Military Mission of Liquidation, France, Captain V. 065013 Leon Gołogórski.

"On the fall of France in 1940, Captain Gołogórski, having made an unsuccessful attempt to embark for UK. Entered the Polish-French Resistance Movement in France Section F (Reseau F. 2) which was subordinated to British Command, through Polish General Staff London where he rose to be second in command.

He was arrested on 26th December 1942, by the gestapo who were under the impression that he was in command of the organisation and for a period of a year he was subjected to gestapo interrogation and torture in several French prison's, including the notorious Fresnes Prison near PARIS, but refusing to give any information what so ever, saved the lives of his command and several members of his group who were able to continue their work until liberation.

He was then deported to Mauthausen Concentration Camp, germany, being sentenced to death by the gestapo in 1943. But was liberated in 1944 before sentence was carried out. Throughout his conduct and devotion to duty were of the highest order. He acted with complete disregard for his personal safety and deserves recognition".

Recommended by Lieutenant Colonel G. G. Peters

Originally recommended for an M.B.E. after the King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom had been instituted in August 1945 his recommendation was downgraded.


Also Listed are the following Members of the Polish Army also awarded the King's Medal

Private Julian Ejmont

Lieutenant Wiktor Henoch

Lieutenant Stanisław Lasocki

Major Stefan Szymański

Lieutenant Czesław Błaszczyk

All the above had the award approved by King George VI.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[RMD]

All of these awards are truly amazing!

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

I thought that I would post the following of an old friend of mine :




The Distinguished Flying Cross Recommendation for Flight Lieutenant Jan Kowalski (317 Squadron)

“During the Battle of Britain on the 26.9.40. enemy bombers escorted by fighters raided Southampton. F/L. Kowalski attacked the fighter cover and shot down one M.E.109.
On the 27.9.40. F/L. Kowalski attacked a strong formation of enemy bombers in the vicinity of Gatwick. He kept attacking the formation until he exhausted his ammunition. As a result of this attack he damaged a H.E. 111., putting one of its engines out of action.
From 14.3.-15.6.43. F/L. Kowalski flew with the Polish Fighter Team during the campaigning in North Africa. He carried out 38 Operational Sorties on Bomber Escorts and Ground Strafing.
On the 17.9.44. F/L. Kowalski led a flight on an Armed Recce. In the vicinity of BERNAY. The flight was attacked by 8 F.W. 190’s. During the ensuing dog fights 5 F.W. 190’s were damaged without any losses being sustained by the flight.
On the 26.9.44. F/L. Kowalski led a Section of Four Aircraft on an armed Recce, in the vicinity of BREDA, a group of enemy transport was observed. In spite of intense flak which was encountered after the first attack, F/L. Kowalski continued to attack the column, diving at it several times. Four enemy MET. Were left burning and Two damaged.
On the 1st January 1945, 317 Squadron returned from an operational sortie, Enemy Aircraft were attacking B.60 the Wings home base. In spite of the fact that his cannons had jammed F/L. Kowalski attacked several F.W. 190’s trying to chase them off.
F/L. Kowalski has taken part in 211 sorties of all descriptions.
Awarded the D.F.C.

Some time ago I found the following photograph of Jan, taken in North Africa when he was flying with "Skalski's Circus"



Best wishes

Andrzej

[Wisnia]

Hello Everyone

Some statistics:

Polish Air Force:
Order of the Bath KCB:2
Order of British Empire OBE:8
Distinguished Service Order and Bar DSO:1
Distinguished Service Order:8
Order of the British Empire OBE:14
George Medal GM:1
Military Cross MC:2
Distinguished Flying Cross and second bar DFC:1
Distinguished Flying Cross and first bar DFC:4
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC:186
Air Force Cross AFC:18
Conspicious Gallantry Medal CGM:1
Distinguished Conduet MedalCM:1
Military Medal:2
Distinguished Flying Medal and first bar DFM:1
Distinguished Flying Medal DFM:68
Air Force Medal AFM:8
British Empire Medal BEM:6
Together British awards:332

Carpathian Lancers Regiment:Pułk Ułanów Karpackich:

Orde British Empire OBE:1
Distinguished Service Order:2
Military Cross:3
Military Medal:2
Together British awards:8

Best wishes

Artur

[andrzejku98]

Hello Artur,

With reference to your post Number 124, you listed the PAF awards of the Military Cross as 2, when in fact there where 3

1) E. Ebenrytter M.C.

2) B. Semmerling M.C.

3) J. Tyszko M.C.

Also the British Awards awarded to the Carpathian Lancers Regiment

1) The Order of the British Empire (Officer) O.B.E. 1 Recipient W. Bobinski

2) The Distinguished Service Order, 1 (1) S. Zakrzewski, (W. Bobinski received his D.S.O. whilst Deputy Commander of the 2nd Armoured Brigade)

3 Military Cross, M.C. 4, (1) M.L. Gradowski, (2) E.S. Mentel, (3) L. Popiel, (4) A. Smodlibowski.

4 Military Medal, 2, M.M. (1) P. Kuligowski, (2) B. Kuta.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Again Artur,

With regards to your post Numbered 124, with regards to the Distinguished Conduct Medal, there were 2 awarded to members of the P.A.F.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

Whilst surfing this afternoon, I came across an item that was sold at auction on the 16th March 2019, so what I hear you say ?

The item was a George medal shown below :



The starting price was 150PLN (£30.17p), the Hammer went down at 30,000.00 PLN (£6,034.24p) or ($ 7,842.47) or (CAD 10,520.35)

The medal was within a Jewellers presentation case, what happened to the original presentation case for the medal, your guess is as good as mine.



This medal was awarded to Porucznik pilot P0341 (Flying Officer) Kazimierz Zygmunt Wieliczko 305 Squadron who was killed on the 2nd June 1942 when the Wellington he was 2nd pilot in crashed killing all on board. The Pilot was Wing Commander (Pplk) Robert Juliusz Hirszbandt VM, KW x 3, O.B.E., D.F.C.



Por.pil P0341 Kazimierz Zygmunt Wieliczko, and the rest of the Crew except for Pplk. pil Hirszbandt were buried at the Polish War Cemetery at Newark-upon-Trent, in Nottinghamshire. Whilst Pplk. Hirszbandt was buried in Manchester.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[jamest8]

That is very interesting. The George Medal is usually considered to be a civilian award instituted by George VI in 1940 to recognise the bravery of ambulance drivers, firemen etc during the Blitz.

[Grexx]

Kazimierz Wieliczko received his George Medal in recognition of his bravery and sacrifice while trying to recover the Polish crew from burning Wellington from 18 (Polish) OTU which crashed on 29 Sept. 1941 in Bitteswell. Unfortunately entire crew but the rear gunner perished.

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

Many thanks to Grexx, for his contribution, Wellington R3216 from 18 (Polish) OTU was on a Training Navigation Flight, when it crashed at RAF Bitteswell. The only survivor was the Rear Gunner Kapral Marian Ziętkiewicz, the George Medal was awarded to Kazimierz Wieliczko and a Motor Transport Driver Leading Aircraftman Sydney Walter John Green.

LAC Sydney Walter John Green, London Gazette entry gives you an idea of what they went through that Night.

960595 Leading Aircraftman Sydney Walter John Green, Royal Air Force.
One night in September, 1941, at 2150 hours, an aircraft crashed on an aerodrome and immediately burst into flames. Ignoring the intense heat, exploding ammunition and 'oxygen bottles, Leading Aircraftman Green arriving on the scene, assisted in freeing the trapped gunner, a feat which was accomplished by smashing the rear turret with bare hands and breaking the guns from their brackets. With complete disregard for his
own safety Leading Aircraftman Green, whose hands were burned in the process, worked heroically until the airman was saved. He set a very fine example.

Best wishes

Andrzej