British 8th Army, Polish 2nd Corps, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division ****RECOMMENDED

[cwaver]

Thanks Greg, This album, A history of Monte Cassino, belonged to my father who passed away 25 years ago. As I am getting older, I feel his memory should be kept alive somewhere. I still have a lot of his military papers and medals.

Edited September 1, 2009 by cwaver

[Sinnorf]

Hello,

I have recently found out that my great uncle was part of the Polish 2nd Corps who I have knowledge of him having fought in Monte Cassino and Bolgna before and 2nd corps got sent to the UK after the 2nd Corps got demobolised.

He is in fact still alive, so Ill try to contact him in the near future to see what information he can remember and how his experiance was like and also to check what medals and photos he may have taken or achieved.

This forum looks great by the way.

Thanks.

[tomkelsall]

Over the past few months I have been trying to find out as much information as possible about my Polish grandfather. His name was Michal Bracio, and he was born in Sliwnica, Krasiczyn, Przemysl on 16^th February 1924. In 1942 he was taken from his family to work as forced labour for the Third Reich in Austria. When the war was over he made his way to Italy, where he enlisted in the 3 Rifle Battalion, 3 Carpathian Infantry Division, 2 Polish Corps, 8 British Army on 1^st June 1945. He eventually enlisted in the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) and served in the UK until he was discharged on 30^th March 1949.

My grandfather died in 1988, and as I know very little about his life before and during the war, I recently wrote to RAF Northolt to obtain his military record. This contained some information about his movements after the war, along with basic details about his family background. I know this is a really long shot, but could anyone on this site have served alongside him? If so I would be grateful to hear from you, as I have a number of photos from the period and would like to identify some of the people in them.

[cwaver]

I had more hope for this site. I quess with only 5 or 6 visitors, I was wrong

Edited September 25, 2009 by cwaver

[leigh kitchen]

Actually, this thread has had 1,596 views, I think it is.

People are interested, but we don't all have knowledge of the subject.

Greg, myself & others would all love the items that you need to home, but baulk at the idea of "grabbing" personal items that have both family & monetary value.

I have a few WWII Polish photo, document & medal groupings that I treasure, especially as I was able to find personal detail of some of the men, including some that would'nt normally be available - home towns & villages, their transportation to & release from Russian camps, the serial numbers & names of fellow soldiers who flew to Driel during the battle of Arnhem, details of marriages to girls from concentraton camps, wounding in Normandy, death at Bologna, awards of Monte Casino Crosses.

I returned one deceased Monte Cassino veterans awards & a couple of documents to his son in Poland, via a grandchild in New York.

I love these things, but people like Greg have the knowledge.

[Julian 1985]

Hi my name is Julian Monaco and my Grandfather was soldier in this division and I am trying get some information like his medals and awards, Leigh i saw the PDF for request information but I want to know where I must send it, his name was Joseph Edward Dykla.

My grand mother, his wife has a few medals and some records, but I want to know more so.. anyhelp will be great!

Thanks a lot!!

[cwaver]

can anyone help me identify this uniform. It was pre 1939

[Hela]

can anyone help me identify this uniform. It was pre 1939

Hi cwaver

I have a black and white photo of my Dad in the same uniform. He also had one photo professionally coloured like yours, but he always said that the photographer didn't get the colours correct and was dissapointed every time he looked at the photograph. This uniform was my father's army uniform from 1938 when he was doing his army service (national service) as a 19yrs old. At that time he was at NCO officers school in LWOW before war broke out, serving with the 6th Lwow Armoured Battalion. His uniform was a greenish colour from memory of the coloured photo and his collar flashes were dark brown/orange. Unfortunately I can't see what else was on his uniform (badges etc) because the photo has a fancy haze boarder surrounding him. What region of Poland did your Dad come from?

Regards

Hela

[cwaver]

My father came from Wasaw. He was in the cavalry before being captured trying to enter Lithuania. I believe he is 18 or 19 in this photo.

[Emil]

Emil Besta.

[2xvetran]

Hello all, I have been reading this thread with great interest. My son was recently given a small grouping of items that belonged to a veteran of the Polish 2nd corps, 3rd Carpathian Rifles. In this grouping are the 2nd Corps badge as pictured above with serial # 27526, a 3rd Carpathian Rifles badge like the one pictured above with the words "WARA WYTRWATOSC ZWYCIESTWO" on the reverse, a green cloth beret patch and 2 blue versions of the same patch, a beautiful bullion 8th Army SSI and a bullion Poland tab, along with two red/green metal collar tabs and one red/whit/blue metal collar tab. They belonged to a local veteran here in Michigan named Major Marian Marks (I am sure that I am off on the spelling). He passed them on to a fellow Ford employee who in turn gave them to my son. I was wondering if anyone knew any info on him or his service record. Any help at all would really brighten the day of a 14 year old boy . Thank you, Scott.

[Alex K]

Hello all, I have been reading this thread with great interest. My son was recently given a small grouping of items that belonged to a veteran of the Polish 2nd corps, 3rd Carpathian Rifles. In this grouping are the 2nd Corps badge as pictured above with serial # 27526, a 3rd Carpathian Rifles badge like the one pictured above with the words "WARA WYTRWATOSC ZWYCIESTWO" on the reverse, a green cloth beret patch and 2 blue versions of the same patch, a beautiful bullion 8th Army SSI and a bullion Poland tab, along with two red/green metal collar tabs and one red/whit/blue metal collar tab. They belonged to a local veteran here in Michigan named Major Marian Marks (I am sure that I am off on the spelling). He passed them on to a fellow Ford employee who in turn gave them to my son. I was wondering if anyone knew any info on him or his service record. Any help at all would really brighten the day of a 14 year old boy .   Thank you, Scott.

Hi all, It's interesting to see other people with connections with the 3rd Carpathian rifles and Monte Cassino. I too have an interest in that I have a VM awarded to a Major Ludomir Tarkowski killed there, would any one with surviving relatives/connections have any info on him, thread is here

Thanks

Alex K

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16929&st=0&p=173448&hl=virtuti%20militari&fromsearch=1&#entry173448

[2xvetran]

Hello all, I have been reading this thread with great interest. My son was recently given a small grouping of items that belonged to a veteran of the Polish 2nd corps, 3rd Carpathian Rifles. In this grouping are the 2nd Corps badge as pictured above with serial # 27526, a 3rd Carpathian Rifles badge like the one pictured above with the words "WARA WYTRWATOSC ZWYCIESTWO" on the reverse, a green cloth beret patch and 2 blue versions of the same patch, a beautiful bullion 8th Army SSI and a bullion Poland tab, along with two red/green metal collar tabs and one red/whit/blue metal collar tab. They belonged to a local veteran here in Michigan named Major Marian Marks (I am sure that I am off on the spelling). He passed them on to a fellow Ford employee who in turn gave them to my son. I was wondering if anyone knew any info on him or his service record. Any help at all would really brighten the day of a 14 year old boy . Thank you, Scott.

Here is the grouping.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-4139-127973703188.jpg.jpg]

[Conduit]

Hi my name is Julian Monaco and my Grandfather was soldier in this division and I am trying get some information like his medals and awards, Leigh i saw the PDF for request information but I want to know where I must send it, his name was Joseph Edward Dykla.

My grand mother, his wife has a few medals and some records, but I want to know more so.. anyhelp will be great!

Thanks a lot!!

Julian,

I'm just finishing up this process and I can describe to you everything I went through, however, I'm visiting Poland right now and can only do that once I return home. Can you wait 3 weeks?

[Adele Hopkinson]

Hi all my Granddad was in the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division too. I just found out few hours ago and after googling his division found this site as well as a few others, this one struck me through the dedication of the members to the memory of the solders, living as well as past, and keeping that memory alive. All I ever knew about my granddad was his name and date of birth (Emil Sosna 16th Dec 1919) know I know where I can start looking thanks to this page.

Thank you :D

[Mervyn Mitton]

Adele - we wish you every success in your search. I am sure that our members who have an interest in the Polish

Forces will be very pleased to help you. Please let us know how you make progress. Mervyn

[Asjemenou]

An old but interesting topic.Years ago I got some badges, medals and a belt from an acquaintance of mine. The small legacy had belonged to a Polish WWII veteran. This Polish veteran was married with an aunt of my acquaintance. This Polish veteran passed away for many years. His Dutch wife passed away nearly ten years ago. After her decease they cleared out the house and these badges, medals and belt were found. These items where given to me. The family of my acquaintance asked me or I could find out his past because they are interested in it. The Polish veteran seldom spoke about his past, so for them a little is known about him. According to the badges and medals I gather the following story; After the German invasion of Poland in 1939 the Polish veteran fled to France like so many other Poles. The army belt from his inheritance could be from his own Polish pre war uniform. In France he joined the new-formed Polish Armed Forces. He was incorporated with the Polish 2nd Rifles Division (Dywizja Strzelcow Pieszych). This Division was sent to support the French forces on the Maginot line near to the German Swiss border. During the German invasion of France in 1940 the Polish 2nd Rifles Division fought together with the French 45 Corps at Clos du Doubs. After heavy fighting’s and being cut off by the advancing Germans, the French 45 Corps and the Polish 2nd Rifles Division were backed up to the Swiss border. The French commander decided to withdraw to Switzerland, where they were interned. For taking part in these fighting’s he should be decorated after the war with the French medals. His in-laws are confirming his stay in Switzerland because they know that he had a relationship in that time with a Swiss woman. The Huguenin brothers at Le Locle, Switzerland manufactured the 2 Polish eagles from his inheritance in 1941. How long he stayed in Switzerland is unknown. Probably he escaped from Switzerland or the Polish government in exile bought him out because according to his in-laws he was also in Italy during the war. The small Italian commemorative badge of the Polish 2nd Corps can confirm his stay in Italy. Or he had taken part in the battle for Monte Cassino is not known. How the Polish veteran came to Holland is not very clear. Right after the war the Dutch government had the rule that for every killed Polish soldier in Holland, one Polish veteran may live in Holland. Probably he was one of these Poles that may live in Holland. It should be a very clear explanation how he met his Dutch wife. According to the family of my acquaintance, more medals should have been conferred to the Polish veteran. They do not know were the other decorations gone to. Maybe they were already given away to somebody else or they just lost in time. In fact I do not have any further personal information about this Polish veteran.

I put up this story on various forums and I also asked the General Maczek Museum in Holland for help. Unfortunately without any results.

Only the Sikorski institute in London could help me but they do not give any information to anyone who is not a close family member of the veteran. Even his in-laws have no change because they do not have the same (Polish) family name as him. The items still fascinates me but in all probability the story of the Polish veteran will be unknown forever.

Polish pre war belt for soldiers. Good condition, many stamps and dated 1936.

From left to right: Médaille des prisonniers civils, déportés et otages 1914-1918; conferred to civil prisoners, deported people and hostages. Croix du combattant volontaire 1914-1918; conferred to foreign volunteers who had served in the French Armed Forces. Médaille commémorative 1939-1945 with France bar; conferred to soldiers who served in the French Armed Forces during the period of September 3rd, 1939 and June 25th, 1940.

The Médaille des prisonniers civils, déportés et otages 1914-1918 and the Croix du combattant volontaire 1914-1918 should also be conferred after WWII because of a short of the new type medals. Both medals should be coming from pre war stock.

From left to right: Italian commemorative badge for veterans of the Polish 2nd Corps (Polski 2 Korpus); the badge was manufactured by F.M. Lorioli, Milano-Roma and given to the Polish veterans in 1946 (Order No.106 (24.IX.1946) poz.619, L.dz. 1078/AG/46). Two Polish eagle badges of the Polish 2nd Rifles Division (Dywizja Strzelcow Pieszych); the badges were designed by Bohdan Garliński and manufactured by the Hugunin brothers at Le Locle, Switzerland in 1941.

Edited September 4, 2013 by Asjemenou

[peter monahan]

Asjemenou, welcome to the GMIC! A very interesting story. I was particularly interested by your explanation as to how he may have ended up in Holland after the war. The permission to live there, based on those who died defending Holland, seems very Dutch, if I may say so.

I hope you'll stay with us and have more posts in the future!

Peter Monahan

[Asjemenou]

Thanks for reading my message. The "permission" for Polish veterans to live in Holland after the war may sound strange to you but it really happened. Beside this "permission" many soldiers of the Polish 1st Armoured Division married a Dutch woman and founded a family in Holland. Specially in the town of Breda. For that reason a lot of people in that town have a Polish family name. Breda was liberated by the Poles in October 1944. The General Maczek museum is also located in this town.

This forum has interesting topics. A good reason to stay around and to post.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Asjemenou

[peter monahan]

Yes, please do stay around and post!

I believed you about the permission, as My impression of the Dutch is that after the war they were very welcoming and accepting of all, possibly because of the very harsh treatment they suffered during the war. So the permission seems in character for them/you.

Edited September 7, 2013 by peter monahan

[Asjemenou]

The Polish soldiers were not the only foreigners who came to Holland during the (end of the) war. During their occupation of Holland the Germans brought a lot of foreign forced labourers to Holland. Also a lot of Dutch men were forced to work in Germany. In this way a lot of Dutchmen have met their foreign wife. Also a lot of Dutch women married a Canadian soldier right after the war. Usually they emigrated to Canada.

Do I understand from earlier posts that the Italian commemorative badge of the Polish 2nd Corps can be verified because of the number at the backside?

Edited September 11, 2013 by Asjemenou

[Michael Johnson]

Many of them settled in Oakville, where I live. Wonderful people.

Michael

[AlanwRichardson]

I am carrying out some research into Polish 2nd Corps for the Aldershot Military Museum. We have some medals for a Cpl V Drewett of the Devon 6th Landing Brigade. Included were some medals with Polish connection. We believe we have identified some of these medals but would like any help with all of them.

Many thanks

Regards

Alan

[jansos]

Hello,

I have recently found out that my great uncle was part of the Polish 2nd Corps who I have knowledge of him having fought in Monte Cassino and Bolgna before and 2nd corps got sent to the UK after the 2nd Corps got demobolised.

He is in fact still alive, so Ill try to contact him in the near future to see what information he can remember and how his experiance was like and also to check what medals and photos he may have taken or achieved.

This forum looks great by the way.

Thanks.

Dear Sinnorf,

I would be interested to know if your great uncle knew a Dr. in the Polish 2nd Corp by the name of Sosna. My father was at Monte Casino, Tobruk and El-Alemein and the 2nd Corp wasn't that big. Perhaps they knew each other?

Best wishes, Jansos

[jansos]

Hi cwaver

I have a black and white photo of my Dad in the same uniform. He also had one photo professionally coloured like yours, but he always said that the photographer didn't get the colours correct and was dissapointed every time he looked at the photograph. This uniform was my father's army uniform from 1938 when he was doing his army service (national service) as a 19yrs old. At that time he was at NCO officers school in LWOW before war broke out, serving with the 6th Lwow Armoured Battalion. His uniform was a greenish colour from memory of the coloured photo and his collar flashes were dark brown/orange. Unfortunately I can't see what else was on his uniform (badges etc) because the photo has a fancy haze boarder surrounding him. What region of Poland did your Dad come from?

Regards

Hela

Hi Hela and Cwaver,

I have uploaded a similar photo of a Polish Army NCO officers uniform.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/gallery/image/9605-military-school-poland/

Unfortunately, my father's photo has been cut but you can see the design of the uniform. He was also stationed in or around Lwow. I believe he was in the cavalry but then got transferred before they were ordered to attack German tanks! He went on to North Africa (Tobruk, El-Alamein) and Italy (Monte Casino) with the Polish 2nd Battalion in the British 8th Army.

Best wishes, Jansos