Dutch awards to Polish nationals for World War II

Divisional Colours of the 1^st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

Known awards: VM.5,MWO.4

Ridder 4^e klasse der Militaire Willems-Orde
Knight 4^th class of the Military Order of William
K.B. no. 06.000941 of 16 March, 2006 ; presented by H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in The Hague on 31 May, 2006

Overwegende, dat de 1^e Zelfstandige Poolse Parachtistenbrigade tijdens de gevechten bij Arnhem/Operatie Market van 17 tot 26 September 1944 bijzonder heeft uitgemunt door de haar opgedragen taken met beleid, gepaard gaande aan grote moed, zelfopoffering en trouw te volbrengen;
Overwegende dat vele van de tot de brigade behorende militairen zich, al dan niet met verlies van eigen leven, hebben onderscheiden door daden van grote moed, beleid en trouw;

Adamik, G.

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Lance Corporal, with the First Canadian Army

Source: BL/BK p. 219

Bienkowski, Zygmunt W.

Known awards: VM.5,VK

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 29 of 28 July 1947
Squadron Leader, R.A.F.V.R., with the R.A.F. no. 302 (Polish) Squadron

Source: VK p. 165,229 ; Wesolowski p. 536

Chelmecki, Marian Stefan

Geboren in 1916. Overleden in 1988.
Bekende onderscheidingen: VM.5,PR.5, Cross of Gallantry, ?, Medal for Victory and Freedom, Medal for Participants in the War of Defense, S3945.b,ACES.f,DM,WM2,VK,French Combattants Cross,Medal of Liberated France,Free French Forces Medal

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 24 of 31 October 1946
Squadron Leader, R.A.F.V.R.

Source: VK p. 165,230 ; Wesolowski p. 541 ; onderscheidingen in collectie Museum van de Kanselarij der Nederlandse Orden

Complak, Karol

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Lieutenant Colonel, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 221

Duryasz, Marjan

Known awards: VM.5,DFC,VK

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 24 of 31 October 1946
Wing Commander (76750), R.A.F.V.R.

Source: VK p. 165,232 ; Wesolowski p. 549 ; Carter p. 1923

Ejsymont, Otton

Known awards: VM.5,BL

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Major, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 223 ; Wesolowski p. 550

Grudzinski, Antoni

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Colonel, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 224

Izycki, Mateusz

Known awards: ON.2x

Grootofficier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau met de zwaarden
Grand Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords
   Royal Decree no. ? of 17 January, 1947
   Presented by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard on 29 January, 1947
   Air Vice-Marshal, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Source: De Vliegende Hollander, February 1947 ; Dutch Awards to the Allies, p. 150

Jarkowski, Boleslaw

Known awards: DFC,VK

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 24 of 31 October 1946
Squadron Leader (76745), R.A.F.V.R.

Source: VK p. 165,235 ; Carter p. 1925

Kaczmarek, Boleslaw J.

Known awards: DFC,VK

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 29 of 28 July 1947
Squadron Leader (P0536), R.A.F.V.R., with the R.A.F. no. 302 (Polish) Squadron

Source: VK p. 165,235 ; Carter p. 1926

Konski, J.

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Lieutenant, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 227

Kowalewski, K.

Bronzen Kruis
Bronze Cross
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Corporal, Polish Army

Maczek, Stanislaw Wladyslaw

Born in Szczerzec on 31 March 1892. Died in Edinburgh (Scotland) on 11 December 1994.
Known awards: Order of the White Eagle (1994), Order Virtuti Militari 3rd, 4th & 5th class, Order Polonia Restituta 1st & 3rd class, War Cross, Cross of Merit in gold with swords, LEF.3,FCG.p,CB,DSO,ON.2x,KB.2+p,BOK.p

Grootofficier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau met de zwaarden
Grand Offcier in the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords
Royal Decree no. ? of 3 April, 1946
Major General, General Officer Commanding the 1st Polish Armoured Division (NW Europe)

Source: Wesolowski p. 290,526,528 ; Dutch Awards to the Allies, p. 150

Majewski, Tadeusz

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Colonel, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 229

Maszkowski, Bernard

Known awards: KV

Source: with special thanks to Mr. H.J. Huisman

Neklaws, Wiktor

Known awards: VM.5,BL

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Major, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 230 ; Wesolowski p. 592

Noel, Bronislaw

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Colonel, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 230

Nowaczynski, Aleksander

Known awards: VM.5,BL

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Lieutenant Colonel, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 230 ; Wesolowski p. 593

Pniak, Karol

Known awards: VM.5,DFC,VK

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 24 of 31 October 1946
Squadron Leader (P76707), R.A.F.V.R.

Source: VK p. 165,238 ; Wesolowski p. 600 ; Carter p. 1930

Pyszynski, W. (Puszynski?)

Known awards: BK

Bronzen Kruis
Bronze Cross
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April, 1946
Corporal, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 274

Rakowski, W. (Bronislaw?)

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Major, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 231

Sawicz, Tadeuz W.

Known awards: VM.5,PKW,DFC,VK

Vliegerkruis
Flying Cross
Royal Decree no. 24 of 31 October 1946
Wing Commander, R.A.F.V.R.

Source: VK p. 165,239 (gives name as T. Sawiez) ; Wesolowski p. 610 ; Carter p. 1931

Skibinski, Franciszek Maria

Born on 15 August, 1899.
Known awards: VM.4,BL

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Colonel, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 233 ; Wesolowski p. 528

Sosabowski, Stanislaw Franciszek (also: Stanislaw Janusz)

Born in Stanislalów on 8 May, 1892. Died in London on 25 September, 1967.
Known awards: VM.5,PKW,CBE,BL

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
K.B. no. 06.000941 of 16 March, 2006 ; posthumously presented to his grandsons by H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in The Hague on 31 May, 2006
Major General, commanding officer of the First Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

Heeft zich met het bedrijven van bijzonder moedige en beleidvolle daden in de strijd tegenover de vijand onderscheiden door als Commandant van de 1^e Zelfstandige Poolse Parachutistenbrigade gedurende de periode van 17 tot 26 september rond Arnhem, uit te munten waardoor hij een ieder, die onder hem diende, inspireerde. Door zijn onverschrokkenheid en vastberaden houding in de strijd tegenover de vijand was zijn doortastend optreden op kritieke momenten van groot belang voor de vasthoudendheid waarmee zijn eenheid heeft volhard in de uitvoering van de haar opgedragen taken.

Ereburger der gemeente Heteren
Freedom of the Municipality of Heteren
1 September, 1954
Major-General (retired), Polish Airborne Division

Source: De Polen van Driel, p. 6-15 ; Zwevend naar de dood, p. 209 ; Wesolowski p. 616

Srama, K.

Bronzen Kruis
Bronze Cross
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April 1946
Sergeant, Polish Army

Szul, Ludwik

Known awards: ON.3x

Commandeur in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau met de zwaarden
Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords
   Royal Decree no.? of 31 October, 1946
   Presented by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard on 29 January, 1947
   Group Captain, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Source: De Vliegende Hollander, February 1947 (gives first name letter as 'S.') ; Dutch Awards to the Allies, p. 150

Wereszcynski, M.

Bronzen Leeuw
Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April, 1946
Sergeant, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 236

Wesolowski, J.

Known awards: BK

Bronzen Kruis
Bronze Cross
Royal Decree no. 63 of 3 April, 1946
Lance-Corporal, Polish Army

Source: BL/BK p. 289