Monte Cassino cross

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

A couple more Faces of Recipients of the Monte Cassino Cross :



Ppor. Mieczysław Mundziakiewicz

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Ppor. (2nd Lieutenant)

Surname : Mundziakiewicz

Christian Name : Mieczysław

Date of Birth : 6th July 1908

Fathers Name : Ludwik

Place of Birth : Borynia

Army Number : 1908-142-III

Unit : 4th Company 13BS (13th Rifle Battalion)

Monte Cassino Cross numbered : 15485

He survived the war in Europe being promoted to Porucznik (Lieutenant) and awarded the Cross of Valour (KW), he came to the UK with his Battalion and after being demobbed from the Polish Resttlement Corps he settled down to civilian life he had already met his wife Stefania whom he married in 1945 and two daughters were born in the next 5 years.

Mieczysław Mundziakiewicz with his family left the UK onboard the Queen Mary, they departed from Southampton on the 28th December 1950 and arrived in New York on the 2nd January 1951.



List of Passengers onboard the "Queen Mary"



Close up of the Passenger List including the Mundziakiewicz Family



Manifest of the "Queen Mary" arriving in New York.



Close up detail of the Manifest for the Mundziakiewicz Family.

Mieczysław Mundziakiewicz listed his occupation has a Farmer, but having settled down in Newark, New Jersey, he ran a Butchers shop for over 20 years before he retired.

Mieczysław Munziakiewicz died in a local Hospital on the 22nd November 1998.



Mieczysław & Stefania buried next to one another.



Sierz. Stanisław Strękowski

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Plut. (Lance Sergeant)

Surname : Strękowski

Christian Name : Stanisław

Date of Birth : 3rd September 1900

Place of Birth : Augustów

Army Number : 1900-77-III

Unit : 13BS (13th Rifle Battalion)

Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 15994

Stanisław Strękowski was wounded on the 12th May 1944 during the 1st attack on Monte Cassino.

By the end of the war in Europe he had been promoted to Sierz. (Sergeant) and awarded the Cross of Valour.

He was also awarded the following :

Polish

1) Wound Ribbon with 1 Star

2) Cross of Valour

3) Army Medal

4) 1918-1921 War Commemorative Medal

5) Monte Cassino Cross

British

6) 1939-1945 Star

7) Italy Star

8) 1939-1945 War Medal

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

The other day whilst surfing I came across the following 2 recipients of the Monte Cassino Cross, what is new about that, I hear you say the fact that they are Father and Son and no photographs but painted portraits :



Podpulkownik Lek. Dr. Adam Wincenty Sołtysik

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Podpulkownik Lek. Dr. (Lieutenant Colonel Doctor)

Surname : Sołtysik

Christian Name : Adam Wincenty

Date of Birth : 6th July 1895

Fathers Name : Antoni

Place of Birth : Lubatówka

Army Number : 1895-140-III

Unit : 1SW (1 Szpital Wojenny) (1st Military Hospital)

Monte Cassino Cross numbered : 42357

Pplk.Lek. Dr. Adam Wincenty Sołtysik was a veteran of the 1st World War and during his service in the Polish Army from 1918-1945 he received the following awards :

1) Wound Ribbon with 1 Star

2) Cross of Independence

3) Cross of Valour (1918-1921)

4) Gold Cross of Merit with Swords

5) Gold Cross of Merit

6) Army Medal

7) 1918-1921 War Commemorative Medal

8) 10th Anniversary of Independence Medal

9) 20 Years Long Service Medal

10) 10 Years Long Service Medal

11) Monte Cassino Cross

12) 25th Anniversary Medal for the Battle for Monte Cassino

British

13) Order of the British Empire, Member (Civil Division)

14) 1939-1945 Star

15) Italy Star

16) 1939-1945 War Medal



1944-1945 Photograph of Pplk. Lek. Dr. Adam Wincenty Sołtysik with Nurses and a patient, Pplk. Sołtysik was an Orthopedic Surgeon, after the end of the war in Europe he came with his unit to the UK and after being demobbed, he emigrated to continue his work in Grenada and it was for that work that he received the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honours List for 1960.



Excerpt from the London Gazette Dated 29th December 1959, Supplement Number : 41909, Page 26.

Adam Wincenty Sołtysik died on the 8th March 1971 in Grenada.



Podporucznik Jan Kanty Marek Sołtysik (Post War Portrait)

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Podporucznik (2nd Lieutenant)

Surname : Sołtysik

Christian Name : Jan Kanty Marek

Date of Birth : 12th July 1925

Fathers Name : Adam Wincenty

Army Number : 1925-92-III

Unit : 5PAPpanc. (5th Anti Tank Artillery Regiment)

Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 22073

By the end of the war in Europe he had also been awarded the Virtuti Militari Legitymacja Numbered : 10554, along with the Wound Ribbon with 3 Stars, Army Medal and Monte Cassino Cross he also received the following British Awards : 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, 1939-1945 Defence Medal.



Newspaper article on the young holder of equivalent to the Victoria Cross.

A matter of interest the Nurse in the photograph on the left went onto to marry Jan Kanty Marek Sołtysik

Jan Kanty Marek Sołtysik died on the 5th March 1979.

Hope that you enjoyed the post.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[Lukasz78]

Hello. Can You check cross nr 48266.
Regards Lukasz

[andrzejku98]

Hello Lukasz,

Many thanks for your post and in answer to your question who was awarded the Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 48266

When awarded the recipients details were as follows :

Rank : Podporucznik (2nd Lieutenant)

Surname : Szlichciński

Christian Name : Bohdan

Date of Birth : 10th January 1904

Fathers Name : Julian

Place of Birth : Wygiełzów

Army Number : 1904-272-III

Unit : Komenda Placu Nr 1 (Command Station Number 1)

Monte Cassino Cross Numbered : 48266

Bohdan Szlichciński survived the war in Europe and came to the UK with his unit, in 1948 he married Elizabeth J Huntly in Kensington, Bohdan Szlichciński died in Ipswich in 1996 aged 92.

That is all the information that I was able to glean for you Lukasz.

Hope it is of some use and help to you

Best wishes

Andrzej

[Lukasz78]

Thank You Andrzej. Your info helps me a lot. In the past You shown MC nr 48267. It's interesting, that this unit had only 8 man.
All Best Lukasz.

[conrado]

Hello Everyone,

With reference to post numbered #4984:





Monte Cassino Cross Numbered 48266

Regards
Konrad

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

Previously in my Post numbered : 4971, I showed the following Group of medals and Legitymacja etc :



The Auction has ended with it fetching the following :

£2,580.00p (British Pounds)

$3,068 (US Dollars)

$3,995 (Canadian Dollars)

14,732 (Polish Zloty)

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Lukasz,

Many thanks for your reply, to correct you there where 9 in the Company

48264-Major, 48265-Por., 48266-Ppor., 48267-Por., 48268-St.Sierz., 48269-Strz., 48270-Strz., 48271-St.Sierz., 48272-Sierz.

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

A couple of recipients of the Monte Cassino Cross who survived the war in Europe only to die in the UK in 1947 :



25th May 1944 Kpr.Pchor. Jan Wasiak with a captured german Panzerschreck, he had killed the soldier who was about to fire it at his tank.



Kpr.pchor. Jan Wasiak showing his captured Panzerschreck to colleagues.

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Kapral Pchor. (Corporal/Officer Cadet)

Surname : Wasiak

Christian Name : Jan

Date of Birth : 4th April 1921

Fathers Name : Walenty

Place of Birth : Studzianki

Army Number : 1921-68-III

Unit : P6Panc. (6th Armoured Regiment)

Monte Cassino Cross numbered : 30942

By the end of the war in Europe he had been promoted to Podporucznik (2nd Lieutenant) and came to the UK with his Regiment, he died on the 26th March 1947 aged 25.



Podporucznik Jan Wasiak grave in St.Neots Cemetery.

Another grave in the same Cemetery :



St.Szer. Jan Lelek grave

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Strz. (Rifleman)

Surname : Lelek

Christian Name : Jan

Date of Birth : 1st November 1904

Army Number : 1904-9-III

Unit : 1KZaop. (1st Supply Company, 3DSK)

Monte Cassino Cross numbered : 7903

He survived the war in Europe he had been promoted to St.Szer. (Lance Corporal) and came to the UK with his unit, he died on the 1st December 1946 aged 42 and was buried in the Cemetery at St.Neots, Cambridgeshire.



Jan Lelek death entry.



Jan Lelek probate Record entry

Jan Lelek left £108 7Shillings and 3d (which today would amount to £6,442.00p

Best wishes

Andrzej

[andrzejku98]

Hello Everyone,

A couple more Faces of Recipients of the Monte Cassino Cross :



Stanisław Bielski

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : St.Szer. (Lance Corporal)

Surname : Bielski

Christian Name : Stanisław

Date of Birth : 8th or 9th August 1902

Fathers Name : Franciszek

Place of Birth : Sosnowiec

Army Number : 1902-139-III

Unit : D.O.Z.T.2.K. (Command Supply and Transport 2nd Corps)

Monte Cassino Cross numbered : 43553

Stanisław Bielski died 6th September 2000 aged 98.



Jerzy Romanowski wearing the Cross of Valour and Monte Cassino Cross



Jerzy Romanowski in Italy after the end of the war in Europe.

When awarded the Monte Cassino Cross his details were as follows :

Rank : Strz. (Rifleman)

Surname : Romanowski

Christian Name : Jerzy

Date of Birth : 28th February 1924

Army Number : 1924-43-III

Unit : 16BS, 5KDP (Notice also his wound ribbon with one star)

Monte Cassino Cross numbered : 18274



Jerzy Romanowski post war in Canada

Por. Jerzy Romanowski died in Winnipeg on the 22nd January 2020.

Best wishes

Andrzej