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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 141

(x) A Polish Cross of Merit group of five awarded to Squadron Leader J. W. Brown, Royal Air Force, for his work with the Polish Airmen at RAF Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, which was the home of No. 300 (Polish) Bomber Squadron

British War and Victory Medals (M-334672 Pte. J. W. Brown. A.S.C.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Poland, Republic, Cross of Merit, 'Gold' issue, silver-gilt and enamel, by Spink & Son, London, maker's details to reverse, good very fine (5)

Polish Cross of Merit in Gold London Gazette 12 June 1945.

James William Brown was born at Burton Salmon, Yorkshire in May 1890 and during the Great War served with the Army Service Corps. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in November 1921 into the 64th London Brigade, Royal Artillery Territorial Force and was transferred into the Royal Air Force Educational Branch in December 1924.

Retired in December 1927, with the outbreak of the Second World War he was commissioned into the Admin & Special Duties Branch in February 1940. Posted to RAF Hucknall, he was clearly held in high regard by his Polish comrades whilst at that station, for he was presented with his engraved Plaque (included in the Lot) that summer. The base was home to No. 18 OTU but also No. 300 (Polish) Bomber Squadron and it must be assumed Brown served on the joint British & Polish Educational Staff.

With his Cross of Merit in Gold coming in the summer of 1945, Brown was invited to the Polish Embassy in London to take the Insignia from the hand of the President of Poland; sold together with engraved brass plaque, this stating 'To S. Ldr. Brown from the Polish Commanding Officer and Polish Education Officers, Hucknall, 3.5.43', letter signed by Air Commodore Kwicinski and photographs, besides copied research.

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

Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320