Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross

The Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross (Krzyż Pamiątkowy Monte Cassino) is a commemorative medal awarded to all soldiers of the Polish II Corps who fought in the battle of Monte Cassino and the battles for Piedimonte and Passo Corno. After the capture of Monte Cassino in May 1944, the Polish government-in-exile (in London) created a campaign cross to commemorate the role of the Polish II Corps (often known as Anders Army) in capturing this strategic point, which had long blocked the Allied advance up the Italian peninsula.

A consignment of 50,000 crosses was ordered from a manufacturer in Tel Aviv, then part of British-ruled Palestine, where the Polish forces had spent part of 1942 and almost all of 1943 in training. A total of 48,498 crosses (serial numbers 1 to 48,498) were awarded with accompanying award documents issued in the field to each soldier who took part in the battle. Although it is commonly believed that no master record exists to indicate which serial numbers were given to specific soldiers, records do indicate which blocks of serial numbers were given to units within the Polish II Corps. Furthermore, the actual lists of named cross recipients are held at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum.

The 1502 un-awarded crosses (serial numbers 48,499 to 50,000) were eventually sold off to dealers and collectors. At the moment of its institution in June 1944, the medal was 19th in the Polish order of precedence.

Recipients by Unit
The Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross was issued to the following units:

CROSS No. UNIT

1 Senior Commanders - General Władysław Anders, General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps 

2 Senior Commanders - General Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko, Deputy General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps

3 Senior Commanders - Bishop Józef Gawlina, Polish Army Field Bishop

4 Senior Commanders - General Bolesław Bronisław Duch, General Officer Commanding 3 Carpathian Rifle Division

5 Senior Commanders - General Nikodem Sulik, General Officer Commanding 5 Kresowa Infantry Division

6 Senior Commanders - General Bronisław Rakowski, General Officer Commanding 2 Armoured Brigade

7 Senior Commanders - General Roman Odzierzyński General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps Artillery

8 Senior Commanders - General Prof. Dr Bolesław Szarecki, General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps Medical Services 

9 Senior Commanders - Colonel Dr. Ludwik Ząbkowski, Commanding Officer 2 Artillery Group, 2 Polish Corps

10 Senior Commanders - Colonel Kazimierz Wiśniowski, 2 Polish Corps Chief of Staff

11 Senior Commanders - Colonel Stanisław Skowroński, 2 Polish Corps Quartermaster

12 Senior Commanders - Colonel Mieczysław Zaleski, Commanding Officer 2 Polish Corps Signals Units

13 Senior Commanders - Colonel Konstanty Skąpski, Commanding Officer 2 Polish Corps Engineering Units

14-749 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff

750 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff – Melchior Wańkowicz, War Correspondent 

751-1102 Killed in Action 3 Carpathian Rifle Division

1103-2043 Officers 3 Carpathian Rifle Division

2044-14702 Other Ranks listed Alphabetically 3 Carpathian Rifle Division 

14703-14750 Not Awarded

14751-15246 5 Kresowa Infantry Division Headquarters Staff

15247-15375 Headquarters Staff 5 Wilno Infantry Brigade 

15376-16136 13 Wilno Rifle Battalion

16137-16878 14 Wilno Rifle Battalion

16879-17615 15 Wilno Rifle Battalion

17616-17743 Headquarters Staff 6 Lwow Infantry Brigade

17744-18477 16 Lwow Rifle Battalion

18478-19206 17 Lwow Rifle Battalion

19207-19938 18 Lwow Rifle Battalion

19939-20656 4 Light Artillery Regiment

20657-21362 5 Light Artillery Regiment

21363-22027 6 Light Artillery Regiment

22028-22654 5 Anti-Tank Regiment 

22655-23554 5 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 

23555-24438 15 Poznan Lancer Regiment

24439-25130 5 Heavy Machine Gun Battalion

25131-26019 5 Engineers Battalion 5KDP

26020-26526 5 Signals Battalion

26527-26770 5 Sanitary (Medical) Company 

26771-27016 6 Sanitary (Medical) Company 

27017-27059 Command Supply and Transport Units

27060-27324 5 Supply Company 

27325-27583 6 Supply Company 

27584-27966 15 Supply Company 

27967-28307 16 Supply Company 

28308-28443 5 Workshop Company [5 EME Coy.] 

28444-28586 6 Workshop Company [6 EME Coy.] 

28587-28691 5 Provost (Military Police) Squadron [Coy.] 

28692-28733 6 Light Artillery Regiment 

28734-28739 15 Poznan Lancer Regiment

28751-28975 Headquarters 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade 

28976-28987 On secondment to 2nd Armoured Brigade 

28988 Headquarters 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade 

28989-29672 4 Skorpion Armoured Regiment

29673-30328 1 Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment 

30329-30992 6th Children of Lwów Armoured Regiment 

30993-31188 9 Signals Company 

31189-31385 9 Light Sanitary (Medical) Company 

31386-31909 9 Supply Company 

31910-32105 9 Workshop Company [9 EME Coy.] 

32106-32246 9 Forward Tank Replacement Squadron [Coy.] 

32247-32269 6 Field Court, 2nd Armoured Brigade 

32270-32300 Not Awarded

32301-32332 Command, 2nd Artillery Group 

32333-32361 Staff, Counter-Battery Section 

32362-33050 7 Horse Artillery Regiment 

33051-33055 7 Horse Artillery Regiment - Wounded 

33056-33057 7 Horse Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action

33058-33759 9 Medium Artillery Regiment 

33760-33767 9 Medium Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action/Died of Wounds 

33768-34364 10 Medium Artillery Regiment 

33765-34367 10 Medium Artillery Regiment - Wounded 

33768-34374 10 Medium Artillery Regiment – Killed in Action 

34375-34936 11 Medium Artillery Regiment 

34937-34940 11 Medium Artillery Regiment - Wounded 27/4 to 11/5/45

34941-34945 11 Medium Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action/Died of Wounds

34946-34949 11 Medium Artillery Regiment 

34950-34951 Command, 2nd Artillery Group

34952-34960 Not Awarded

34961-34978 Command, 2 Corps Artillery 

34979-35631 7 Anti-Tank Regiment 

35632-35657 7 Anti-Tank Regiment - Killed 

35658-36543 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 

36544-37518 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment 

37519-38083 1 Artillery Survey Regiment 

38084-38655 Carpathian Lancer Regiment

38656 Colonel Henryk Ignacy Szymanski (USA) US Army Liaison

38657-38760 Carpathian Lancer Regiment

38761-38776 Command, 2 Corps Engineers 

38777-39697 10 Battalion, Corps Engineers [10 Polish Corps Troops Engineers]

39698-40043 10 Bridging Company

40044-40297 301 Engineering Company

40298-40370 304 Mechanical Equipment Platoon

40371-40398 10 Bomb Disposal Platoon

40399-40420 306 Engineering Park

40421-40438 Command, Army Signals 2 Corps

40439-41052 11 Signals Battalion

41053-41061 2 Corps Signals Traffic Control Team

41062-41111 Corps Artillery Fire Control Signals Platoon

41112-41167 Command, Corps Artillery Group Signals Platoon 

41168-41234 11 Special Radiotelegraphic Platoon

41235-41245 12 Special information Platoon

41246-41280 386 Signals Platoon

41281-41320 389 Medium Radio Platoon 

41321-41338 2 Corps Signals Park 

41339-41371 Seconded from 7 Inf.Div for Telephone Network Security 

41372-41440 Air Support Signals Section 

41441-41446 Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section 

41447-41449 Heads of 2 Corps Medical Services 

41450-41615 3 Casualty Clearing Station [stationed at Venafro]

41616-41783 5 Casualty Clearing Station [stationed at Pozzilli]

41784-42159 161 Military Hospital [later 2 Military Hospital - stationed at Campobasso] 

42160-42171 Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section 

42172-42328 162 Military Hospital [also known as 6 Field Hospital - stationed at Venafro]

42329-42736 1 Military Hospital [later 5 Military Hospital - stationed at Casamassima]

42737-43169 3 Military Hospital [stationed at Palagiano] 

43170-43415 31 Sanitary (Medical) Company 

43416-43443 32 Field Hygiene Platoon 

43444-43451 34 Anti-Malaria Section 

43452-43460 45 Surgical Team 

43461-43470 46 Surgical Team

43471-43480 47 Surgical Team 

43481-43489 48 Surgical Team 

43490-43493 49 Transfusion Team 

43494-43497 50 Transfusion Team 

43498-43514 341 Field Medical Dump 

43515-43520 Field Bacteriological-Chemical Unit 

43521-43541 Heads, Supply and Transport Services 

43542-43589 Command, 2 Corps Supply & Transport Units

43590-43863 21 Transport Company

43864 Brigadier Sir E H C Frith (UK) C.O. 26 British Liaison Unit 

43865-43970 21 Transport Company

43971-44403 22 Transport Company 

44404-44768 23 Transport Company

44769-45159 24 Transport Company

45160-45369 29 Ambulance Company 

45370-45419 30 Independent Workshop Platoon

45420-45459 326 Supply Dump

45460-45501 327 Supply Dump

45502-45539 328 Supply Dump 

45540-45617 61 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Supply Unit 

45618-45715 62 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Supply Unit

45716-45777 331 Mobile Field Bakery

45778-45843 332 Mobile Field Bakery 

45844–45884 334 Propellant Fuel Dump

45885-45912 336 Office Materials Dump

45913-45923 Delegation of Head of Field Canteens

45924-45973 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company 

45974-45986 Command, 26 Field [Forward] Supply Centre 

45987-45999 Command, 27 Field [Forward] Supply Centre 

46000-46012 Command, 28 Field [Forward] Supply Centre 

46013-46026 Heads, Corps Material Services 

46027-46045 Heads of Non-divisional Material Service Units 

46046-46207 Command, Corps Material Park 

46208-46251 Material Parks Delivery Platoon

46252-46257 Field Officers shop 

46258-46269 Field Ammunitions Laboratory

46270-46377 350 Material Company Supply Station 

46378-46480 375 Field Laundry

46481-46496 377 Field Bath 

46497-46515 378 Field Bath 

46516-46527 Heads of Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service 

46528-46693 13 Workshop Company [13 EME Coy.] 

46694-46872 15 Workshop Company [15 EME Coy.] 

46873-47123 35 Workshop Company [35 EME Coy.] 

47124-47127 Corps Ordinance Workshop 

47128-47294 36 Rescue Company

47295-47303 Heads of Geographical Services 

47304-47455 12 Geographical Company 

47456-47475 312 Field Map Store

47476-47484 Command 2 Corps Provost (Military Police) 

47485-47648 11 Provost (Military Police) Squadron [Coy.] 

47649-47659 1 Provost (Military Police) Platoon 

47660-47676 2 Provost (Military Police) Platoon 

47677-47756 Command, Army Service Corps Units

47757-47958 Guard Battalion

47959-47966 Heads, Justice Service

47967-47994 12 Field Court

47995-48006 Office of War Graves Registration

48007-48046 370 Evacuated Equipment Park

48047-48089 371 Evacuated Equipment Park

48090-48135 372 Evacuated Equipment Park

48136-48149 2 Corps Inspectorate for Control of Technical Equipment

48150-48151 Heads, Field Postal Service

48152-48171 2 Corps Field Postal Department

48172-48178 2 Corps Military Censors Office

48179-48216 2 Corps Meteorological Section

48217-48230 Command, 2 Corps Financial Service [Paycorps]

48231-48257 2 Corps Press and Culture Office

48258-48263 Press and Culture Office, non-divisional units

48264-48272 Command Station No.1

48273-48290 Smoke Screen Unit

48291-48293 Soldiers’ Welfare Section

48294-48355 Concert and Entertainment Section

48356-48385 Reserve Liaison and Translator Officers

48386-48399 111 Bridge Security Company

48400-48407 Health Service Inspectorate, Women's Auxiliary Service (Poland) 

48408-48498 Independent Commando Company

48499-48505 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff 

48506-48514 Cipher Office and Radio Station

48515-48517 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 

48518 7 Anti-Tank Regiment 

48519 301 Engineering Company

48520 389 Medium Radio Platoon 

48521-48523 2 Provost (Military Police) Platoon 

48524 Heads, Supply and Transport Services 

48525-48526

48527-48529 24 Transport Company

48530-48531 29 Ambulance Company 

48532-48535 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company

48536 35 Workshop Company [35 EME Coy.] 

48537 13 Workshop Company [13 EME Coy.] 

48538-48540 5 Military Hospital (Previously 1 Military Hospital)

48541-48542 162 Military Hospital

48543 161 Military Hospital

48544-48547 111 Bridge Security Company

48548-48553 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff 

48554-48580 Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section 

48581 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment 

48582-48583 Smoke Screen Unit

48584-48585 3 Casualty Clearing Station

48586 31 Sanitary (Medical) Company 

48587-48597 Guard Battalion

48598-48600 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff

48601-48687 5 Kresowa Infantry Division (Various) Added after 22.2.1945 

48688-48691 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff

48692 2 Corps Signals Traffic Control Team

48693 Carpathian Lancer Regiment 

48694-48696 Heads of 2 Corps Medical Services 

48697-48710 Heads, Supply and Transport Services 

48711-48715 Heads of Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service 

48716-48720 Command, Army Service Corps Units

48721-48749

48750-48759 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff 

48760 7 Anti-Tank Regiment 

48761 1 Artillery Survey Regiment 

48762-48796 Convalescent Home (2 Battalion)

48797 Heads, Supply and Transport Services 

48798 Heads, Corps Material Service

48799-48821 Guard Battalion

48822-48823 2 Corps Press and Culture Office

48824-48830

48831 663 Artillery Observation Air Squadron

48832

48833 7 Anti-Tank Regiment 

48834-48845

48846 Convalescent Home (2 Battalion)

48847 8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment 

The units listed above are not the official British War Office designations, but rather a close translated version taken from the Polish.

This information was brought to you courtesy of Andrzej Sankowski, and The Polish Institute and General Sikorski Museum. It was compiled by Dr. Mark Ostrowski. Recent research has established that the initial figures cited above were miscalculated and in fact the last known cross given to a named recipient was 48847. The complete list of named recipients is at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in File AXII/85/214, Folders 1-19.