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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 525

(x) The rare immediate 1944 M.M. group of seven awarded to Sierzant S. Mitek, 10th Polish Motor Battalion (Dragoons), Polish Army

Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour; Poland, Republic, Army Active Service Medal; Military Medal (S. Mitek. Polish Army.), rank neatly erased; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for wear, good very fine (7)

Provenance:
Glendining's, March 1989, Lot 540.

M.M. Recommended by Regimental Commanding Officer Rtm. Waclaw Kownas on 17 September 1944. The award was thence approved by G.O.C. 1st Polish Armoured Division Major General Stanislaw Maczek, was countersigned by A/GOC-in-C First Canadian Army Lieutenant-General Guy Granville Simonds and by Field Marshal Montgomery C-in-C 21st Army Group on 30 September 1944:

'On the 13 September 44 in the village of Kemseke, Pte MITEK being a member of Bren-gun carrier crew which was sent out to make a recce of the village, showed great courage and self-sacrifice by leaving the carrier after it was fired at by enemy fire, in the result of which the driver was killed and he himself wounded, in spite of his wounds he attacked the enemy position and using hand grenades liquidated it. He also brought the Bren-gun carrier back to his unit.'

Stanislaw Mitek served with the 10th Polish Motor Battalion (Dragoons), a member of the famous 'Black Devils', one of Maczek’s bravest soldiers. Having been evacuated after the Fall of France, the 1st Polish Brigade was established in Scotland, the 1st Armoured Brigade being formed in February 1942. The unit went back into action in the Battle for Normandy, numbering some 16,000 Officers and men and being fitted with 381 tanks and nearly 500 guns. They were under the 2nd Canadian Corps and went into Falaise, taking huge casualties in the actions in August 1944, with the gallant Poles being deployed as the 'cork in the bottle' against the German 5th & 7th Armoured Army who was trying to escape the encirclement at Chambois and the complex of the Mont Ormel hills. They held firm in this baptism of fire, no doubt many of the gallant Poles being inspired to effect revenge after what the enemy had done to their people in the previous years.

As they pushed forth across France and into the Low Countries, the fighting did not slacken, as displayed by the action required on 14 September by Mitek, which saw him wounded and evacuated home. All the way, the liberated were thankful for the work done to free them from the Nazi tyranny. Banners and shop windows in Breda upon their arrival read:

'THANK YOU POLES.'

The Division paused on the Meuse in November, before helping the peoples of Holland during the shocking 'Hongerwinter' after the retreating German Army stripped the nation of most of its food supplies. The 'Black Devils' crossed into Germany on 8 April 1945, pushing to the Kriegsmarine base in Wilhelmshaven. They liberated Westerbork and Stalag VI C Oberlangen Camps. The liberation, on 12 April, of Oberlangen, was a very emotional experience as among the prisoners there were some 1,728 female participants of the Warsaw Uprising, Home Army soldiers.

After the final actions to take the Naval Base, on 5 May the 34,000 enemy who held it laid down their arms. The Poles took 3 cruisers, 18 submarines and 94 fortress cannons. Mitek was promoted Sierzant by War's end. Obviously proud of his promotion, he had his former rank removed from the rim of his richly-deserved Military Medal, which was presented at Chelsea Barracks on 1 January 1945 by Lieutenant-General H. Franklyn, Commander-in-Chief Home Forces; sold together with an image of Mitek being presented with the M.M., besides copied research from the Polish Institute & Sikorski Museum.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£3,000

Starting price
£1900