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Auction: 1008 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 138

An Extremely Well Documented 1944 ´Phantom Ridge, Monte Cassino´ Polish Cross of Valour Group of Seven to Gunner J. Krawczyk, 5th Wilenski Field Artillery, Polish Army Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour, 1940; Poland, Republic, Active Service Medal; Poland, Republic, Monte Cassino Cross, reverse officially numbered ´20919´; 1939-1945 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, nearly extremely fine, with the following original related items and documents: - 5th Kresowa Infantry Division Commemorative Badge; 2nd Polish Corps Badge and Polish Wound Ribbon - Map Holder with neck ties, containing Polish Army Maps of the Monte Cassino area - Named Award Certificate for Shooting Badge - Named Award Certificate for Monte Cassino Cross - Named Certificate for the Award and Permission to Wear of the Cross of Valour - Named Certificate for the Award of the 1939-1945 Star and the Italy Star - Named Certificate for the Award and Permission to Wear the Polish Wound Ribbon - named Certificate for the Award of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division Commemorative Badge - Named Pass and Driving Licence; named Pass to Visit Pordenone, Italy, near the Yugoslav Border - Soldier´s Service and Pay Book, complete with photograph of recipient; Identity Card - Two Portrait photographs of recipient in uniform, newspaper cuttings, and other ephemera (lot) Estimate £ 250-350 Jozef Krawczyk born Obra, Poznan, Poland, 1920; worked on his father´s farm prior to enlisting the Polish Army, March 1938; served in a Construction Battalion in Vilno prior to the invasion of Poland by the Germans from the West and the Russians from the East, September 1939; taken prisoner by the Russians at Lida, 26.9.1939; transported to a prisoner of war camp in Ostashkow, Russia before being transferred to Griasowietz Labour Camp; after the German invasion of Russia the Polish and the Russians made a military agreement to the effect that Polish POW´s would be released to form a Polish Army in Russia; as a consequence of this Krawczyk was released to join the 5th Division at Tatistchev, where he was kitted out with a British uniform and equipment by the Polish Republic from supplies obtained under Lend Lease; Krawczyk was transferred into the IInd Polish Corps, 9.3.1943; the IInd Polish Corps were moved to Italy under General Anders, February 1944, and his troops came under fire for the first time on that front, 3.3.1944; before the fourth battle of Cassino, General Anders was informed that his IInd Polish Corps were to be tasked with the capture of the Monte Cassino Heights and then Piedimonte; Krawczyk´s 5th Kresowa Division was to take the mountain ridge Colle Sant Angelo, make it immediately defencible and provide a good position for covering fire over the Lira valley and thus cover the operations of the 3rd Division against the Monastery; on the 12th May 1944 the two Polish Divisions attacked, with the 5th Kresowa climbing Phantom Ridge and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting; the Poles were under attack from all directions with enemy reserves emerging from concealed caves and the Polish artillery being able to provide little support - Krawczyk was seriously wounded in the left thigh by shrapnel from a mortar bomb whilst acting as a radio operator to a forward artillery observation officer; the Poles were forced to retreat having sustained heavy casualties, ´the leading Brigade, 5th Vilno (Wilenksi), advancing on Colle San Angello, had captured Phantom Ridge and exploited forward to point 517, but then disaster struck. Heavy fire from the Second Battalion of the 3rd [German] Parachute Regiment, supplemented by the accurate artillery concentrations, tore holes in the closely packed Poles as they sought shelter. Polish guns in support were unable to silence the opposition as, one by one, the forward observation officers, moving with the assaulting infantry, were killed or wounded´ (The Battle of Monte Cassino, E.D. Smith, refers); due to his wounds Krawczyk spent the next six months in hospital and convalescence before returning to his unit; he was presented with the Cross of Valour by General Sosnkowski for his gallantry at Phantom Ridge; Krawczyk rejoined his unit in November 1944 and was involved in the heavy fighting around Faenza before taking part in the spring offensive of 1945; with the defeat of Germany Krawczyk arrived in the UK in October 1946 and joined the Polish Resettlement Corps based at Ullingworth Camp, Cheltenham; he was discharged at Witley Camp, 1.12.1947 and settled in Longsight, Manchester. Krawczyk was entitled to, but did not claim, the September 1939 Commemorative Cross.

Sold for
£800