Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Polish group of eight named to Sergeant B. Schleifer, Polish Army

Poland, Cross of Valour, unmarked; Cross of Merit, 3rd Class with swords, reverse privately inscribed, ‘Sgt. B. Schleifer’; Army Active Service Medal, edge privately inscribed, ‘Sgt. B. Schleifer’; France, Volunteers Combat Cross, reverse privately inscribed, ‘Sgt. B. Schleifer’; War Commemorative Medal 1939-45, no clasp, edge privately inscribed, ‘Sgt. B. Schleifer’; G.B., 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal, these three privately inscribed, ‘Sgt. B. Schleifer’, good very fine (9) £200-300

Bruno Szleifer/Schleifer (variously spelt) was born in Swiecie, Pomorze, Poland on 13 April 1908. A Motor Car Driver by occupation, he served in the Polish Army in Poland from 25 August 1939 to 21 September 1939. He rejoined the Polish Army in France on 2 May 1940 and came under British Command in the United Kingdom on 1 July 1940. Szleifer served in the U.K. until 29 July 1944, and then in N.W. Europe until 30 May 1947 when he returned to the U.K. once more. In N.W. Europe he served with the 1st Armoured Division, serving in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Having returned to the U.K. he was relegated to Class ‘W’ Reserve and served with the Polish Resettlement Corps until finally discharged on 10 July 1949. For his wartime services he was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour for service with the Polish 10th Cavalry Brigade in the French Campaign of 1940, and the Bronze Cross of Merit with swords, awarded in 1945 for service with the 1st Armoured Division in N.W. Europe. Bruno Szleifer, of 17 Nealden Street, London, S.W.9 died on 13 July 1978.

Medals together with a Polish badge mounted on a board for display. With named award certificate for the French War Commemorative Medal; award card for the French Volunteers Combat Cross and slip re the award of the 1939-45 Star and Defence Medal; also with British WW2 medal forwarding slip (unnamed) for three medals. With copied service and death details.