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A Debt of Dishonour is a unique documentary film dedicated Major General Sosabowski and all ranks who served in the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade Group and to their Comrades-in-Arms of the 1st British Airborne Division that fought in the ill-fated “Operation Market Garden” at Arnhem and Driel during September 1944.
Sto Lat-Albert Hall
The Polish Heritage Society
Military Honours published in the London Gazette,
January 1946–June 2019
Identified 68 Polish surnames who have gained 83 official Military Honours
2 Polish Individuals received 3 Military Honours each
(1) Jerzy Kudrewicz, Flight Lieutenant RAF (1954 QCVS, 1957 AFC and 1959 QCVS again)
(2) Stanislaw Wandzilak, Group Captain RAF (1956 AFC, 1958 OBE and 1966 QCVS)
(2) Stanislaw Wandzilak, Group Captain RAF (1956 AFC, 1958 OBE and 1966 QCVS)
11 Polish Individuals received 2 Military Honours each
( 1 ) Kazimierz Artymiuk, RAF (1950 KCVS and 1954 AFC)
( 2 ) Tadeusz Czarniecki, RAF (1955 QCVS and 1958 QCVS again)
( 3 ) Karol Drewienkiewicz, ARMY (1998 CB and 1999 CMG)
( 4 ) Leszek Grzybowski, RAF (1952 KCVS and 1953 AFC)
( 5 ) Tadeusz Helmsley (Horoszko) RAF (1956 QCVS and 1957 AFC)
( 6 ) Jerzy Kmiecik, RAF (1952 AFM and 1981 QCVS)
( 7 ) Aleksander Maisner, RAF (1956 AFC and 1969 CBE)
( 8 ) Leslaw Miedzybrodzki, RAF (1951 KCVS and 1952 AFC)
( 9 ) Waclaw Niezrecki, RAF (1952 AFC and 1967 QCVS)
( 10 ) Henryk Ploszek, RAF (1967 AFC and 1978 QCVS)
( 11 ) Wladyslaw Potocki, RAF (1953 QCVS and 1955 QCVS again)
( 2 ) Tadeusz Czarniecki, RAF (1955 QCVS and 1958 QCVS again)
( 3 ) Karol Drewienkiewicz, ARMY (1998 CB and 1999 CMG)
( 4 ) Leszek Grzybowski, RAF (1952 KCVS and 1953 AFC)
( 5 ) Tadeusz Helmsley (Horoszko) RAF (1956 QCVS and 1957 AFC)
( 6 ) Jerzy Kmiecik, RAF (1952 AFM and 1981 QCVS)
( 7 ) Aleksander Maisner, RAF (1956 AFC and 1969 CBE)
( 8 ) Leslaw Miedzybrodzki, RAF (1951 KCVS and 1952 AFC)
( 9 ) Waclaw Niezrecki, RAF (1952 AFC and 1967 QCVS)
( 10 ) Henryk Ploszek, RAF (1967 AFC and 1978 QCVS)
( 11 ) Wladyslaw Potocki, RAF (1953 QCVS and 1955 QCVS again)
Summary of 68 Polish Recipients of 83 Military Honour Awards
RAF = 49 Recipients (63 Honours)
ARMY = 16 Recipients (17 Honours)
ROYAL NAVY = 3 Recipients ( 3 Honours)
ARMY = 16 Recipients (17 Honours)
ROYAL NAVY = 3 Recipients ( 3 Honours)
Number of 63 Polish Awards of RAF Honours
1950 – 1959 = 41
1960 – 1969 = 15
1970 – 1979 = 3
1980 – 1989 = 1
1990 – 1999 = 1
2000 – 2018 = 2
Number of 17 Polish Awards of ARMY Honours
1950 – 1959 = NIL
1960 – 1969 = 3
1970 – 1979 = NIL
1980 – 1989 = 3
1990 – 1999 = 7
2000 – 2018 = 4
1960 – 1969 = 3
1970 – 1979 = NIL
1980 – 1989 = 3
1990 – 1999 = 7
2000 – 2018 = 4
Number of 3 Polish Awards of ROYAL NAVY Honours
1960s = 1
2000s = 2
2000s = 2
Highest Polish Military Seniority
RAF: Air Vice-Marshal Aleksander Maisner CBE AFC
ARMY: Major General Karol Drewienkiewicz CB CMG
ROYAL NAVY: Rear Admiral Jozef Bartosik CB DSC
ARMY: Major General Karol Drewienkiewicz CB CMG
ROYAL NAVY: Rear Admiral Jozef Bartosik CB DSC
Leading 83 Polish Military Honour Awards (by Seniority)
| CMG = | 1 |
| CB = | 2 |
| CBE = | 2 |
| OBE = | 3 |
| MBE = | 14 |
| BEM = | 11 |
| AFC = | 17 |
| AFM = | 3 |
| KCVS = | 3 |
| QCVS = | 24 |
| QVRM = | 2 |
| ARRC = | 1 |
Military Honours data
| British Military Honours List for Polish Servicemen (January 1946 to June 2019) (Please note that all Ranks are as at Honour award dates) |
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| December / January = New Year Honours June = Royal Birthday Honours Includes only Post-WW2 British Military Honours (all DSC, DFC and DFM are WW2 awards) |
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| Name | Post War Honour | Year | Service | Rank | Military Reference | London Gazzette |
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| Abczynski, Andrew Emil Gabriel |
AFC | 1966 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 205364 | 44004 |
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| Andrusikiewicz DFC Roman Wojciech Jozef |
AFC | 1966 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500664 | 43635 |
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| Andrzejewski, Stanislaw Jan |
AFC | 1951 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500160 | 39243 |
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| Antoniak, Tadeusz Peter |
QCVS | 1959 | RAF | Pilot Officer | 706548 | 41727 |
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| Artymiuk DFC DFM Kazimierz |
KCVS | 1950 | RAF | Master Pilot | 783224 | 38929 |
| AFC | 1954 | 40188 | ||||
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| Badeni, Jan |
QCVS | 1962 | RAF | Squadron Leader | 500303 | 42552 |
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| Bar, Zygmunt |
BEM | 1965 | RAF | Flight Sergeant | 709007 | 43667 |
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| Bartosik DSC Jozef Czeslaw |
CB | 1968 | NAVY | Rear Admiral | n/a | 44600 |
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| Bazarnik MB, Ch.B, Konrad |
AFC | 1953 | RAF | Wing Commander | 501410 | 39863 |
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| Belza, Mieczyslaw |
BEM | 1960 | RAF | Sergeant | 792358 | 41909 |
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| Binek, Wieslaw Stanislaw |
BEM | 1952 | RAF | Junior Technician | 709017 | 39555 |
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| Brochwicz-Lewinski, Janusz |
BEM | 1969 | ARMY | Warrant Officer | 21001419 | 44740 |
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| Bujko, Henryk |
BEM | 1963 | ARMY | Staff-Sergeant | X 7961849 | 42870 |
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| Brzezicki, Zbigniew Marceli |
MBE | 1964 | ARMY | Major | 204675 | 43343 |
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| Chmielowiec, Andrzej Boguslaw |
MBE | 1952 | RAF | Squadron Leader | 500266 | 39555 |
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| Czarnecki, Zbigniew |
QCVS | 1955 | RAF | Master Pilot | 780829 | 40366 |
| QCVS | 1958 | Flying Officer | 780829 | 41268 | ||
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| Drewienkiewicz, Karol John |
CB | 1998 | ARMY | Major General | 481763 | 55155 |
| CMG | 1999 | 55710 | ||||
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| Florczak, Franciszek |
MBE | 1972 | RAF | Squadron Leader | 500045 | 45554 |
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| Gierzod, Kazimierz |
MBE | 1951 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500357 | 39243 |
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| Glonek, Robert Waters |
AFM | 1985 | ARMY | Staff-Sergeant | 24012859 | 50361 |
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| Gorny, Kazimierz |
AFM | 1953 | RAF | Flight Sergeant | 794418 | 39863 |
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| Gorski, Brian Mark |
MBE | 1993 | ARMY | Major | 502785 | 53332 |
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| Grobelny, Wladyslaw |
QCVS | 1966 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 780566 | 44004 |
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| Grzybowski, Leszek Kazimierz |
KCVS | 1952 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500414 | 39421 |
| AFC | 1953 | 39732 | ||||
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| Guzowska, Maria Alicia Josephina |
QVRM | 2009 | ARMY | Colonel | 513057 | 59090 |
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| Hemsley (Horoszko), Tadeusz |
QCVS | 1956 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 501627 | 40787 |
| AFC | 1957 | 41089 | ||||
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| Hrycak, Roman |
QCVS | 1960 | RAF | Captain | Nigeria | 42051 |
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| Ignatowski DFM Kajetan |
AFC | 1952 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500665 | 39421 |
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| Iwanek, Vincent |
OBE | 1991 | ARMY | Lieutenant Colonel | 484887 | 52563 |
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| Jablonski, Peter Anthony |
BEM | 1991 | ARMY | Warrant Officer | 24192440 | 52767 |
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| Jankiewicz, Marian |
QCVS | 1964 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 704305 | 43200 |
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| Jankowski, Stefan |
QCVS | 1955 | RAF | Flight Sergeant | 705558 | 40497 |
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| Kmiecik, Jerzy |
AFM | 1952 | RAF | Flight Sergeant | 704441 | 39555 |
| QCVS | 1981 | Flight Lieutenant | 704441 | 48639 | ||
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| Kochanowski, Roy Brian John |
BEM | 1987 | ARMY | Sergeant | 24063863 | 50948 |
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| Kozlowski, Leon |
QCVS | 1952 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500034 | 39555 |
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| Kudrewicz, Brunon Jerzy |
QCVS | 1954 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 501903 | 40188 |
| AFC | 1957 | 41089 | ||||
| QCVS | 1959 | 41727 | ||||
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| Ladro DFC Andrzej |
QCVS | 1956 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500233 | 40787 |
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| Maciejewski, Justin Wladyslaw |
MBE | 2004 | ARMY | Lieutenant Colonel | 523134 | 57509 |
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| Maisner, Aleksander |
AFC | 1956 | RAF | Squadron Leader | 500062 | 40669 |
| CBE | 1969 | RAF | Group Captain | 500062 | 44863 | |
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| Majchrzak, Zbigniew Andrzej |
BEM | 1992 | ARMY | Warrant Officer | 24430649 | 52952 |
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| Malenczuk, Julian |
AFC | 1952 | RAF | Master Pilot | 793842 | 39421 |
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| Mialkowsky, Bryan |
MBE | 2008 | ARMY | Major (Canadian) | R22604903 | 58929 |
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| Miedzybrodzki, Leslaw Roman |
KCVS | 1951 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500038 | 39104 |
| AFC | 1952 | 39421 | ||||
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| Miklinski, Anthony Stanley |
CBE | 2006 | NAVY | Commodore | n/a | 58196 |
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| Mikolajewski, Jerzy |
MBE | 1994 | RAF | Warrant Officer | G1946205 | 53893 |
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| Mondschein, Jan Wincenty |
MBE | 1955 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500259 | 40366 |
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| Mudry, Wlodzimierz Wladyslaw |
QCVS | 1955 | RAF | Flying Officer | 780416 | 40366 |
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| Naworynsky, Michael Peter |
OBE | 2004 | RAF | Wing Commander | 8024026H | 57315 |
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| Niezrecki DFM Waclaw Tadeusz |
AFC | 1952 | RAF | Master Pilot | 782373 | 39555 |
| QCVS | 1967 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 782373 | 44210 | |
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| Nowosielski, Frank |
MBE | 2001 | NAVY | Lieutenant Commander | n/a | 56430 |
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| Orzel OBE Marie-Noelle |
QVRM | 2013 | RAF | Wing Commander | 2638056H | 60534 |
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| Pawlowski, Christopher Patrick |
MBE | 2009 | ARMY | Captain | 556771 | 59090 |
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| Penczek, Leopold |
AFC | 1956 | RAF | Master Pilot | 780123 | 40725 |
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| Pieniazek, Adam |
QCVS | 1954 | RAF | Master Pilot | 780699 | 40188 |
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| Ploszek, Henryk Rudolf |
AFC | 1967 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 4160525 | 44210 |
| QCVS | 1978 | Squadron Leader | 4160525 | 47549 | ||
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| Potocki DFC Wladyslaw Jan |
QCVS | 1953 | RAF. | Flight Lieutenant | 500066 | 39863 |
| QCVS | 1955 | Squadron Leader | 500066 | 40366 | ||
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| Sokolow, Peter John |
ARRC | 1992 | ARMY | Captain | 516272 | 53153 |
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| Szota, Bronislaw |
QCVS | 1952 | RAF | Sergeant | 705758 | 39555 |
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| Skibinski, Bronislaw Jerzy |
MBE | 1953 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500021 | 39732 |
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| Staszewski, Michal |
BEM | 1962 | RAF | Chief Technician | 784891 | 42552 |
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| Stepniewski, Tadeusz |
BEM | 1960 | RAF | Flight Sergeant | 704963 | 41909 |
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| Szafran, Boleslaw |
BEM | 1985 | ARMY | Sergeant | 23979832 | 50361 |
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| Tarwid, Aleksander Stanislaw |
MBE | 1976 | RAF | Squadron Leader | 794978 | 46777 |
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| Wandzilak DFC Stanislaw |
AFC | 1956 | RAF | Squadron Leader | 500039 | 40669 |
| OBE | 1958 | Squadron Leader | 500039 | 41268 | ||
| QCVS | 1966 | Group Captain | 500039 | 44004 | ||
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| Wardzinski, Erazm |
QCVS | 1956 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500070 | 40787 |
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| Wieczorek, Sylwester |
QCVS | 1957 | RAF | Master Pilot | 781163 | 40960 |
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| Wier (Wierzbowski), Tadeusz |
AFC | 1955 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500238 | 40366 |
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| Zajaczkowski, Waclaw |
MBE | 1962 | RAF | Flight Lieutenant | 500392 | 42552 |
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Key to Awards, Orders and Decorations
| DSC = | Distinguished Service Cross |
| DFC = | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| DFM = | Distinguished Flying Medal |
| AFC = | Air Force Cross |
| AFM = | Air Force Medal |
| CMG = | Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George |
| CB = | Companion of the Order of the Bath |
| CBE = | Ordinary Commander of the British Empire |
| OBE = | Ordinary Officer of the British Empire |
| MBE = | Ordinary Member of the British Empire |
| BEM = | British Empire Medal |
| KCVS = | King's Commendation for Valuable Service |
| QCVS = | Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service |
| QVRM = | Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal |
| ARRC = | Ordinary Associate Royal Red Cross |
Dataset compiled by Christopher Marek Rencki FRAI
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