Similar to another post – I’ve had my grandads medals but never 100% sure what they were received for? I know he fought in Monte Casino and we’ve also got a bunch of photos post WW2 of him having drinks with General Anders in London a bunch of times. Numer 7 pok ulaniow (or however it’s spelt). Can anyone give any further context to these medals?
by MaximusBit21
6 comments
FWIW, the “1920” in all the medals is about [the Polish-Soviet war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Soviet_War).
Number 7 is Pułk ułanów – Uhlan Regiment.
Thank God it doesn’t look like your grandpa was a communist, unlike the post for the other grandpa’s medals
Looks like the one in the bottom left corner is the “Krzyż pamiątkowy Monte Cassino “https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cassino_Commemorative_Cross and the two medals on right of it are “Krzyż zasługi” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Merit_(Poland) No idea about the other medals though. Here’s a list, but it’s in Polish. https://pl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polskie_odznaczenia_(lista)
I’ve listed some in other comments but going through all of them with links:
Top row from left:
Monte Cassino 25th Anniversay Commemorative medal
British: [1939-1945 Star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939%E2%80%931945_Star), [Italy Star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy_Star), [Defence Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Medal_(United_Kingdom)) and [War Medal 1939-1945](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Medal_1939%E2%80%931945),
Polish: [Cross of Valour](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzy%C5%BC_Walecznych), [September Campaign Cross](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzy%C5%BC_Kampanii_Wrze%C5%9Bniowej), Cross of Valour
Bottom row from left:
[Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cassino_Commemorative_Cross), [Cross of Merit](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzy%C5%BC_Zas%C5%82ugi) in Gold and in Silver,
Polish Veterans Association service medal (Medal w służbie SPK), [National Treasury Medal](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odznaka_Skarbu_Narodowego_Rzeczypospolitej_Polskiej),
Exuli Bene De Ecclesia Merito (awarded for work on behalf of the Polish Church and emigre community),
Polish Veterans Association 25th anniversary medal (Medal 25-lecia Stowarzyszenia Polskich Kombatantów)
Edit: from these medals, your grandfather fought in the defence of Poland in 1939, then evacuated to the UK perhaps through Hungary, then fought in the Italian campaign, then remained in the UK after the war and was active in the emigre and veterans community.
So, unlike that other Guy’s grandpa, your Grandfather was an Actual Soldier, from world war 2 and he visited Italy, since i see a Monte Cassino cross (bottom left) and british Italy Star (the one on the right with Green, White and Red Ribbon). Im not sure why I see two Crosses of Valour here tho. I see the Britush Defense medal, as well as War Medal. Two Crosses of Merit, with “RP” on them, instead of “PRL” judging by the condition these were given to him after the Communisim in Poland fell, (After 1990). Im not familiar with the rest yet.
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