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'I am delighted to be associated with the work of the Polish Heritage Society and very honoured to serve as its President. The Society's work highlights the enormous contribution which generations of Poles have made to their adopted country. Preserving and celebrating that heritage will only further strengthen the ties between Poland and the United Kingdom.

I worked closely with the Society on the project to build a memorial to the Polish Forces at the National Memorial Arboretum and saw at first hand the energy and dedication of those involved.

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General The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB LVO OBE

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.

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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)

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)

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)

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

Number of 3 Polish Awards of ROYAL NAVY Honours

1960s  = 1
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

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

 

PHS_logo_subheadMilitary 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) 
December / January = New Year Honours
June = Royal Birthday Honours
Includes only Post-WW2 British Military Honours (all DSC, DFC and DFM are WW2 awards)
Name Post War Honour Year Service Rank Military Reference London Gazzette
Abczynski,
Andrew Emil Gabriel		 AFC 1966 RAF Flight Lieutenant 205364 44004
Andrusikiewicz DFC
Roman Wojciech Jozef		 AFC 1966 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500664 43635
Andrzejewski,
Stanislaw Jan		 AFC 1951 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500160 39243
Antoniak,
Tadeusz Peter		 QCVS 1959 RAF Pilot Officer 706548 41727
Artymiuk DFC DFM
Kazimierz		 KCVS  1950 RAF Master Pilot 783224 38929
AFC 1954 40188
Badeni,
Jan		 QCVS 1962 RAF Squadron Leader 500303 42552
Bar,
Zygmunt		 BEM 1965 RAF Flight Sergeant 709007 43667
Bartosik DSC
Jozef Czeslaw		 CB 1968 NAVY Rear Admiral n/a 44600
Bazarnik MB,
Ch.B,
Konrad		 AFC 1953 RAF Wing Commander 501410 39863
Belza,
Mieczyslaw		 BEM 1960 RAF Sergeant 792358 41909
Binek,
Wieslaw Stanislaw		 BEM 1952 RAF Junior Technician 709017 39555
Brochwicz-Lewinski,
Janusz		 BEM 1969 ARMY Warrant Officer 21001419 44740
Bujko,
Henryk		 BEM 1963 ARMY Staff-Sergeant X 7961849 42870
Brzezicki,
Zbigniew Marceli		 MBE 1964 ARMY Major 204675 43343
Chmielowiec,
Andrzej Boguslaw		 MBE 1952 RAF Squadron Leader 500266 39555
Czarnecki,
Zbigniew		 QCVS 1955 RAF Master Pilot 780829 40366
QCVS 1958 Flying Officer 780829 41268
Drewienkiewicz,
Karol John		 CB 1998 ARMY Major General 481763 55155
CMG 1999 55710
Florczak,
Franciszek		 MBE 1972 RAF Squadron Leader 500045 45554
Gierzod,
Kazimierz		 MBE 1951 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500357 39243
Glonek,
Robert Waters		 AFM 1985 ARMY Staff-Sergeant 24012859 50361
Gorny,
Kazimierz		 AFM 1953 RAF Flight Sergeant 794418 39863
Gorski,
Brian Mark		 MBE 1993 ARMY Major 502785 53332
Grobelny,
Wladyslaw		 QCVS 1966 RAF Flight Lieutenant 780566 44004
Grzybowski,
Leszek Kazimierz		 KCVS  1952 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500414 39421
AFC 1953 39732
Guzowska,
Maria Alicia Josephina		 QVRM 2009 ARMY Colonel 513057 59090
Hemsley (Horoszko),
Tadeusz		 QCVS 1956 RAF Flight Lieutenant 501627 40787
AFC 1957 41089
Hrycak,
Roman		 QCVS 1960 RAF Captain Nigeria 42051
Ignatowski DFM
Kajetan		 AFC 1952 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500665 39421
Iwanek,
Vincent		 OBE 1991 ARMY Lieutenant Colonel 484887 52563
Jablonski,
Peter Anthony		 BEM 1991 ARMY Warrant Officer 24192440 52767
Jankiewicz,
Marian		 QCVS 1964 RAF Flight Lieutenant 704305 43200
Jankowski,
Stefan		 QCVS 1955 RAF Flight Sergeant 705558 40497
Kmiecik,
Jerzy		 AFM 1952 RAF Flight Sergeant 704441 39555
QCVS 1981 Flight Lieutenant 704441 48639
Kochanowski,
Roy Brian John		 BEM 1987 ARMY Sergeant 24063863 50948
Kozlowski,
Leon		 QCVS 1952 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500034 39555
Kudrewicz,
Brunon Jerzy		 QCVS 1954 RAF Flight Lieutenant 501903 40188
AFC 1957 41089
QCVS 1959 41727
Ladro DFC
Andrzej		 QCVS 1956 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500233 40787
Maciejewski,
Justin Wladyslaw		 MBE 2004 ARMY Lieutenant Colonel 523134 57509
Maisner,
Aleksander		 AFC 1956 RAF Squadron Leader 500062 40669
CBE 1969 RAF Group Captain 500062 44863
Majchrzak,
Zbigniew Andrzej		 BEM 1992 ARMY Warrant Officer 24430649 52952
Malenczuk,
Julian		 AFC 1952 RAF Master Pilot 793842 39421
Mialkowsky,
Bryan		 MBE 2008 ARMY Major (Canadian) R22604903 58929
Miedzybrodzki,
Leslaw Roman		 KCVS  1951 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500038 39104
AFC 1952 39421
Miklinski,
Anthony Stanley		 CBE 2006 NAVY Commodore n/a 58196
Mikolajewski,
Jerzy		 MBE 1994 RAF Warrant Officer G1946205 53893
Mondschein,
Jan Wincenty		 MBE 1955 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500259 40366
Mudry,
Wlodzimierz Wladyslaw		 QCVS 1955 RAF Flying Officer 780416 40366
Naworynsky,
Michael Peter		 OBE 2004 RAF Wing Commander 8024026H 57315
Niezrecki DFM
 Waclaw Tadeusz		 AFC 1952 RAF Master Pilot 782373 39555
QCVS 1967 RAF Flight Lieutenant 782373 44210
Nowosielski,
Frank		 MBE 2001 NAVY Lieutenant Commander n/a 56430
Orzel OBE
Marie-Noelle		 QVRM 2013 RAF Wing Commander 2638056H 60534
Pawlowski,
Christopher Patrick		 MBE 2009 ARMY Captain 556771 59090
Penczek,
Leopold		 AFC 1956 RAF Master Pilot 780123 40725
Pieniazek,
Adam		 QCVS 1954 RAF Master Pilot 780699 40188
Ploszek,
Henryk Rudolf		 AFC 1967 RAF Flight Lieutenant 4160525 44210
QCVS 1978 Squadron Leader 4160525 47549
Potocki DFC
Wladyslaw Jan		 QCVS 1953 RAF. Flight Lieutenant 500066 39863
QCVS 1955 Squadron Leader 500066 40366
Sokolow,
Peter John		 ARRC 1992 ARMY Captain 516272 53153
Szota,
Bronislaw		 QCVS 1952 RAF Sergeant 705758 39555
Skibinski,
Bronislaw Jerzy		 MBE 1953 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500021 39732
Staszewski,
Michal		 BEM 1962 RAF Chief Technician 784891 42552
Stepniewski,
Tadeusz		 BEM 1960 RAF Flight Sergeant 704963 41909
Szafran,
Boleslaw		 BEM 1985 ARMY Sergeant 23979832 50361
Tarwid,
Aleksander Stanislaw		 MBE 1976 RAF Squadron Leader 794978 46777
Wandzilak DFC
 Stanislaw		 AFC 1956 RAF Squadron Leader 500039 40669
OBE 1958 Squadron Leader 500039 41268
QCVS 1966 Group Captain 500039 44004
Wardzinski,
Erazm		 QCVS 1956 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500070 40787
Wieczorek,
Sylwester		 QCVS 1957 RAF Master Pilot 781163 40960
Wier (Wierzbowski),
Tadeusz		 AFC 1955 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500238 40366
Zajaczkowski,
Waclaw		 MBE 1962 RAF Flight Lieutenant 500392 42552

PHS_logo_subheadKey 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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