Monte Cassino Cross

[Fran]

Fran,

Some more info regarding your Grandfather.
The records show that he went to the hospital between April 10 and May 13 and stayed there until at least May 14. So he fulfilled requirements to receive the Monte Cassino Cross.

On the other hand, ppor. (2nd Lieutenant) Różankowski and plut. (Lance Sergeant) Woźniak with whom your Grandfather was in the hospital during this period are also not on the Recipients' list of Monte Cassino Cross.

Attachment 1379203


Regards
Konrad

It is definitely odd. What could be the reason?

[conrado]

Fran,

I found record that he left hosital on 24th of June and was injured before 27th of April so he simply did not fulfilled the criteria to be awarded the Monte Cassino Cross.



- Powrócili ze szpitala (Returned from the hospital): kpt. Zalewski, plut. Dąbrowski, st. strz. Wośko i KUBISIAK


Regards
Konrad

[Fran]

well Andrzej was right then, nice one

[Fran]

Cpl Gudaj must have felt it was unfair to him, which it definitely is. Such arbitrary criteria for soldiers who had fought the whole invasion of Italy during such a harsh winter...

[conrado]

well Andrzej was right then, nice one

As always.

[conrado]

Hello Fran,

Some more information regarding your Grandfather on the background of the Italian campaign.

On July 17, 1944 at 6.00 in the morning, the attack on the Ancona began. On that day Polish commandos took part in the attack of the 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade as a support unit of the 1st Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment. At the briefing ordered, the commandos were tasked with crossing the Musone River in front of the Monte Polesco hill and captured the town of Case Nuove. The company crossed the river and after a hard fight captured Case Nouve.



Soldiers of the 1st Independent Commando Company passing the Musone River.



Sketch of the attack paths on the town of Case Nuove of July 17, 1944 from the Chronicle of the 1st Independent Commando Company


During this fight your Grandfather was wounded. Below is a scrap from the Battle Log - your Grandfather is among the wounded soldiers:



Uwagi (comments):

"In the assault the whole of the company behaved first-rate; difficult fighting conditions, an enemy hidden in corn and firing from a direct distance after passing tanks, not only did not break the company but excited soldiers to an even more ruthless fight. 56 prisoners were taken, lots of equipment and weapons. Many killed Germans remained on the battlefield".


Regards
Konrad

[Fran]

Wow, so he was wounded 3 times in 1944, one seriously since he spent anywhere between a month and a half to two months in the hospital, and went back to action each time.

This unit was badass. Nice one for the picture as well!

[conrado]

Fran,

I think it will interest you:

When your Grandfather's Company was stationed in the town of Fairbourne (Wales), your Grandfather was promoted to the rank of st. strz. (starszy strzelec - Lance Corporal) by the order of the Minister of National Defense of December 21, 1942.

Here is a short entry showing this fact from the Chronicle of the 1st Independent Commando Company:





Fairbourne, January 8, 1943


Regards
Konrad

[conrado]

Fran,

One more post regarding your Grandfather. I thought that this information would interest you.



The first on the right (with a pipe in his mouth) is por. (Lieutenant later Captain) Andrzej Czyński - Commander of your Grandfather's 1st Platoon.
He was awarded the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari for outstanding bravery during the fighting on the Italian front, bringing strz. (Private) Franciszek Rogucki, who was seriously wounded, out of the foreground. They both were in 1st Platoon.
They both were also the first Polish bachelors of the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari on the Italian front, and strz. Franciszek Rogucki was the first Polish soldier who died in the Italian land during World War II.



Commander in Chief General Kazimierz Sosnkowski awarding the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari Nr 8532 to por. Andrzej Czyński.


In reference to my post number #140:



Plut. (Lance Sergeant) Edward Woźniak with whom your Grandfather was in the hospital, that's why they were not awarded the Monte Cassino Cross.


In reference to my post number #142:



Kpt. (Captain) Edward Zalewski (1st pic), st. strz. (Lance Corporal) Franciszek Wośko (2nd pic) and plut. (Lance Sergeant) Henryk Dąbrowski from the Command Platoon (pic at the very bottom) with whom your Grandfather returned from the hospital to the unit.



Płk (Colonel) Dudley S. Lister receives a parade of soldiers of the 1st Independent Commando Company, Great Britain 1942-1943. In front por. Stefan Zalewski, asp. Tadeusz Monsior, asp. Bolesław Świtalski, behind por. Zalewski marching plut. Henryk Dąbrowski, in the third three visible plut. Jerzy Cieniewicz from the Command Platoon.

I hope that this informations are a bit helpful for you.

Regards
Konrad

[Fran]

this is seriously amazing Konrad, thank you so much for finding the time to provide me with all this! My family would like to express their upmost gratitude to you,this is invaluable to us!