Thx Kevin.
Another Face of the Recipient of the Monte Cassino Cross. This time a priest from the 3 DSK:
Ks. kap. kpt. Stanisław Piotr Targosz, Army Number: 1911-117-III, Unit: Headquarters of the 1st Brigade of the 3 DSK, Priest Chaplain of the 3rd Battalion, MCC Nr: ?, also awarded Virtuti Militari Silver Cross Numbered 10102 and Cross of Valour (KW), KIA on 30th June 1944
He was born on April 13, 1911 in Kraków. Son of Franciszek and Karolina Wróblewska.
He received his maturation diploma from the High-School No. 3, named for King Jan III Sobieski in Kraków and entered the Seminary in Kraków. At the same time studied in the Theological Department of Jagiellonian University. On April 3, 1936 was ordained by Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapiecha, the Kraków Metropolitan Bishop. He started his pastoral work as assistant pastor in Zebrzydowice. In 1938 he became assistant-pastor at St. Jozef's parish in Kraków-Podgórze. He taught religion at the supplementary school attached to Grammar School no. 1 in Kraków. He was involved in societies for youth working in the trades.
In August 1939 he attended the International Congress of Pax Romana Students in Washington. After the outbreak of hostilities in WWII he remained in the United states and worked as an assistant-pastor at the parish of St. Hyacinth in Detroit.
Ks. kpt. Stanisław Piotr Targosz in Detroit, USA, 1943
In 1943 he became chaplain at the training camp in Owen Sound, Canada. In October of that year he arrived in Palestine and entered the Polish Army. He was the chaplain for the 3rd Battalion of the 3 DSK.
Ks. por. Stanisław Piotr Targosz, September 1943
Ks. kpt. Stanisław Piotr Targosz, February 1944
As the Chaplain of this Division he took part in the Italian Campaign. During the Battle at Monte Cassino, in battle conditions, he said the Mass in the so-called "Large Bowl", in which the soldiers participated but remained in their shelters.
Ks. kap. kpt. Stanisław Targosz celebrates the Mass on ammunition boxes for soldiers in the so-called "Large Bowl" (Monte Cassino, April 30, 1944). He offered this Mass for recovery ks. kap. Jan Lisowski (Army Number: 1914-148-III, Unit: 6 Baon 3 DSK, awarded KW) from the 6th Battalion, to whom the previous night a fragment of a missile broke the lower jaw, a piece of tongue and strained the other.
Ks. kap. kpt. Stanisław Targosz listens to the confession of a soldier, Abruzzo, Italy, 1944
Ks. kap. kpt. Stanisław Targosz celebrates the Mass for soldiers of the 3 DSK, Abruzzo, Italy, 1944
He was killed on June 30, 1944 on the Chienti River. After the battle near Elvienti he was bringing in the dead from the field. His automobile struck a mine and he was killed instantaneously.
He was buried at the cemetery at Monte San Giusto. After the war his remains were taken to the Polish Cemetery in Loreto.
Ks. kap. kpt. Stanisław Targosz grave at Polish Cemetery in Loreto (grave nr 16-A-9)
Commemorative plaque, the Mariacki [Marian] Church in Kraków
Commemorative plaque dedicated to military chaplains who were killed in the years 1939-1945, Field Cathedral of the Polish Army in Warsaw
In the Battle of Monte Cassino: During the entire time the battalion was in action, often under heavy fire by the enemy, he personally was bandaging the wounded and carrying them from the field of battle. Several times, due to shortage of medics, he goes to the firing positions to aid the wounded. He remains with the soldiers at the position despite very heavy enemy fire. He remains at the position taken by the battalion commander for 3 days and despite complete exhaustion does not want to leave, working tirelessly as a messenger.
For these deeds he was decorated with the Virtuti Militari Order V Class Nr 10102, bestowed posthumously by the Virtuti Militari Order Commission in London on July 20, 1944.
He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major.
Regards
Konrad
PS There is also information that he was awarded the British Military Medal (MM) but I have found no Recommendation for him.
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