Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Polish Cross of Merit group of three awarded to Sergeant Zygmunt Borecki, 16th Lwow Rifle Battalion, 5th Kresowa Infantry Division

Poland, Republic, Cross of Merit, 3rd Class with swords, bronze; Army Active Service Medal; 5th Kresowa Infantry Division Badge, screw-backed, all unnamed, good very fine (3) £50-70

Zygmunt Borecki was born in Mtyny, Poland on 10 April 1913, the son of Ludwig and Stanistawa Borecki. Served in the Polish Army from April 1942 to July 1947, arriving in the United Kingdom in September 1946. With the 16th Lwow Rifle Battalion he served at Monte Cassino. Awarded the Cross of Merit 3rd Class with swords. He was discharged from the Polish Resettlement Corps on 2 April 1949. He gained British citizenship in 1964; at the time of his naturalisation, he was living at 57 Wingfield Road, Sherborne, Dorset, employed as a Motor Mechanic.

With a quantity of original paperwork, including: Cross of Merit award document; 6th Infantry Brigade Badge document no. 196, to Corporal Borecki; another military document bearing his photograph; Discharge Certificate; Polish Driving Licence, with photograph; ‘16th Polish Lwow Rifle Battalion’ Certificate of Birth and Certificate of Good Conduct; Monte Cassino Cross award document (Cross not with lot); certificate of authorisation to wear the Army Medal; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, with photograph; Certificate of Registration, with photograph; Alien Identity Certificate 1947; Certificate of Naturalisation, dated 6 July 1964, with associated letter; photographs of the recipient and others (7) - including two studio photos of the recipient in uniform.