The Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross is a commemorative medal awarded to all soldiers of the Polish II Corps who fought in the battle of Monte Cassino and the battles for Piedimonte and Passo Corno. After the capture of Monte Cassino in May 1944, the Polish government-in-exile (in London) created a campaign cross to commemorate the role of the Polish II Corps (often known as Anders Army) in capturing this strategic point, which had long blocked the Allied advance up the Italian peninsula. A consignment of 50,000 crosses was ordered from a manufacturer in Tel Aviv, then part of British-ruled Palestine, where the Polish forces had spent part of 1942 and almost all of 1943 in training. A total of 48,498 crosses (serial numbers 1 to 48,498) were awarded with accompanying award documents issued in the field to each soldier who took part in the battle. Although it is commonly believed that no master record exists to indicate which serial numbers were given to specific soldiers, records do indicate which blocks of serial numbers were given to units within the Polish II Corps. Furthermore, the actual lists of named cross recipients are held at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum. The 1502 un-awarded crosses (serial numbers 48,499 to 50,000) were eventually sold off to dealers and collectors. At the moment of its institution in June 1944, the medal was 19th in the Polish order of precedence.

Recipients by Unit

The Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross was issued to the following units: CROSS No. UNIT 1 **Senior Commanders - General Władysław Anders, General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps ** 2 Senior Commanders - General Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko, Deputy General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps 3 Senior Commanders - Bishop Józef Gawlina, Polish Army Field Bishop 4 Senior Commanders - General Bolesław Bronisław Duch, General Officer Commanding 3 Carpathian Rifle Division 5 Senior Commanders - General Nikodem Sulik, General Officer Commanding 5 Kresowa Infantry Division 6 Senior Commanders - General Bronisław Rakowski, General Officer Commanding 2 Armoured Brigade 7 Senior Commanders - General Roman Odzierzyński General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps Artillery 8 **Senior Commanders - General Prof. Dr Bolesław Szarecki, General Officer Commanding 2 Polish Corps Medical Services ** 9 Senior Commanders - Colonel Dr. Ludwik Ząbkowski, Commanding Officer 2 Artillery Group, 2 Polish Corps 10 Senior Commanders - Colonel Kazimierz Wiśniowski, 2 Polish Corps Chief of Staff 11 Senior Commanders - Colonel Stanisław Skowroński, 2 Polish Corps Quartermaster 12 Senior Commanders - Colonel Mieczysław Zaleski, Commanding Officer 2 Polish Corps Signals Units 13 Senior Commanders - Colonel Konstanty Skąpski, Commanding Officer 2 Polish Corps Engineering Units 14-749 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff 750 **Headquarters 2 Corps Staff – Melchior Wańkowicz, War Correspondent ** 751-1102 Killed in Action 3 Carpathian Rifle Division 1103-2043 Officers 3 Carpathian Rifle Division 2044-14702 **Other Ranks listed Alphabetically 3 Carpathian Rifle Division ** 14703-14750 Not Awarded 14751-15246 5 Kresowa Infantry Division Headquarters Staff 15247-15375 **Headquarters Staff 5 Wilno Infantry Brigade ** 15376-16136 13 Wilno Rifle Battalion 16137-16878 14 Wilno Rifle Battalion 16879-17615 15 Wilno Rifle Battalion 17616-17743 Headquarters Staff 6 Lwow Infantry Brigade 17744-18477 16 Lwow Rifle Battalion 18478-19206 17 Lwow Rifle Battalion 19207-19938 18 Lwow Rifle Battalion 19939-20656 4 Light Artillery Regiment 20657-21362 5 Light Artillery Regiment 21363-22027 6 Light Artillery Regiment 22028-22654 **5 Anti-Tank Regiment ** 22655-23554 **5 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment ** 23555-24438 15 Poznan Lancer Regiment 24439-25130 5 Heavy Machine Gun Battalion 25131-26019 5 Engineers Battalion 5KDP 26020-26526 5 Signals Battalion 26527-26770 **5 Sanitary (Medical) Company ** 26771-27016 **6 Sanitary (Medical) Company ** 27017-27059 Command Supply and Transport Units 27060-27324 **5 Supply Company ** 27325-27583 **6 Supply Company ** 27584-27966 **15 Supply Company ** 27967-28307 **16 Supply Company ** 28308-28443 **5 Workshop Company [5 EME Coy.] ** 28444-28586 **6 Workshop Company [6 EME Coy.] ** 28587-28691 **5 Provost (Military Police) Squadron [Coy.] ** 28692-28733 **6 Light Artillery Regiment ** 28734-28739 15 Poznan Lancer Regiment 28751-28975 **Headquarters 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade ** 28976-28987 **On secondment to 2nd Armoured Brigade ** 28988 **Headquarters 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade ** 28989-29672 4 Skorpion Armoured Regiment 29673-30328 **1 Krechowiecki Lancer Regiment ** 30329-30992 **6th Children of Lwów Armoured Regiment ** 30993-31188 **9 Signals Company ** 31189-31385 **9 Light Sanitary (Medical) Company ** 31386-31909 **9 Supply Company ** 31910-32105 **9 Workshop Company [9 EME Coy.] ** 32106-32246 **9 Forward Tank Replacement Squadron [Coy.] ** 32247-32269 **6 Field Court, 2nd Armoured Brigade ** 32270-32300 Not Awarded 32301-32332 **Command, 2nd Artillery Group ** 32333-32361 **Staff, Counter-Battery Section ** 32362-33050 **7 Horse Artillery Regiment ** 33051-33055 **7 Horse Artillery Regiment - Wounded ** 33056-33057 7 Horse Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action 33058-33759 **9 Medium Artillery Regiment ** 33760-33767 **9 Medium Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action/Died of Wounds ** 33768-34364 **10 Medium Artillery Regiment ** 33765-34367 **10 Medium Artillery Regiment - Wounded ** 33768-34374 **10 Medium Artillery Regiment – Killed in Action ** 34375-34936 **11 Medium Artillery Regiment ** 34937-34940 11 Medium Artillery Regiment - Wounded 27/4 to 11/5/45 34941-34945 11 Medium Artillery Regiment - Killed in Action/Died of Wounds 34946-34949 **11 Medium Artillery Regiment ** 34950-34951 Command, 2nd Artillery Group 34952-34960 Not Awarded 34961-34978 **Command, 2 Corps Artillery ** 34979-35631 **7 Anti-Tank Regiment ** 35632-35657 **7 Anti-Tank Regiment - Killed ** 35658-36543 **7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment ** 36544-37518 **8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ** 37519-38083 **1 Artillery Survey Regiment ** 38084-38655 Carpathian Lancer Regiment 38656 Colonel Henryk Ignacy Szymanski (USA) US Army Liaison 38657-38760 Carpathian Lancer Regiment 38761-38776 **Command, 2 Corps Engineers ** 38777-39697 10 Battalion, Corps Engineers [10 Polish Corps Troops Engineers] 39698-40043 10 Bridging Company 40044-40297 301 Engineering Company 40298-40370 304 Mechanical Equipment Platoon 40371-40398 10 Bomb Disposal Platoon 40399-40420 306 Engineering Park 40421-40438 Command, Army Signals 2 Corps 40439-41052 11 Signals Battalion 41053-41061 2 Corps Signals Traffic Control Team 41062-41111 Corps Artillery Fire Control Signals Platoon 41112-41167 **Command, Corps Artillery Group Signals Platoon ** 41168-41234 11 Special Radiotelegraphic Platoon 41235-41245 12 Special information Platoon 41246-41280 386 Signals Platoon 41281-41320 **389 Medium Radio Platoon ** 41321-41338 **2 Corps Signals Park ** 41339-41371 **Seconded from 7 Inf.Div for Telephone Network Security ** 41372-41440 **Air Support Signals Section ** 41441-41446 **Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section ** 41447-41449 **Heads of 2 Corps Medical Services ** 41450-41615 3 Casualty Clearing Station [stationed at Venafro] 41616-41783 5 Casualty Clearing Station [stationed at Pozzilli] 41784-42159 **161 Military Hospital [later 2 Military Hospital - stationed at Campobasso] ** 42160-42171 **Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section ** 42172-42328 162 Military Hospital [also known as 6 Field Hospital - stationed at Venafro] 42329-42736 1 Military Hospital [later 5 Military Hospital - stationed at Casamassima] 42737-43169 **3 Military Hospital [stationed at Palagiano] ** 43170-43415 **31 Sanitary (Medical) Company ** 43416-43443 **32 Field Hygiene Platoon ** 43444-43451 **34 Anti-Malaria Section ** 43452-43460 **45 Surgical Team ** 43461-43470 46 Surgical Team 43471-43480 **47 Surgical Team ** 43481-43489 **48 Surgical Team ** 43490-43493 **49 Transfusion Team ** 43494-43497 **50 Transfusion Team ** 43498-43514 **341 Field Medical Dump ** 43515-43520 **Field Bacteriological-Chemical Unit ** 43521-43541 **Heads, Supply and Transport Services ** 43542-43589 Command, 2 Corps Supply & Transport Units 43590-43863 21 Transport Company 43864 **Brigadier Sir E H C Frith (UK) C.O. 26 British Liaison Unit ** 43865-43970 21 Transport Company 43971-44403 **22 Transport Company ** 44404-44768 23 Transport Company 44769-45159 24 Transport Company 45160-45369 **29 Ambulance Company ** 45370-45419 30 Independent Workshop Platoon 45420-45459 326 Supply Dump 45460-45501 327 Supply Dump 45502-45539 **328 Supply Dump ** 45540-45617 **61 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Supply Unit ** 45618-45715 62 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Supply Unit 45716-45777 331 Mobile Field Bakery 45778-45843 **332 Mobile Field Bakery ** 45844–45884 334 Propellant Fuel Dump 45885-45912 336 Office Materials Dump 45913-45923 Delegation of Head of Field Canteens 45924-45973 **318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company ** 45974-45986 **Command, 26 Field [Forward] Supply Centre ** 45987-45999 **Command, 27 Field [Forward] Supply Centre ** 46000-46012 **Command, 28 Field [Forward] Supply Centre ** 46013-46026 **Heads, Corps Material Services ** 46027-46045 **Heads of Non-divisional Material Service Units ** 46046-46207 **Command, Corps Material Park ** 46208-46251 Material Parks Delivery Platoon 46252-46257 **Field Officers shop ** 46258-46269 Field Ammunitions Laboratory 46270-46377 **350 Material Company Supply Station ** 46378-46480 375 Field Laundry 46481-46496 **377 Field Bath ** 46497-46515 **378 Field Bath ** 46516-46527 **Heads of Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service ** 46528-46693 **13 Workshop Company [13 EME Coy.] ** 46694-46872 **15 Workshop Company [15 EME Coy.] ** 46873-47123 **35 Workshop Company [35 EME Coy.] ** 47124-47127 **Corps Ordinance Workshop ** 47128-47294 36 Rescue Company 47295-47303 **Heads of Geographical Services ** 47304-47455 **12 Geographical Company ** 47456-47475 312 Field Map Store 47476-47484 **Command 2 Corps Provost (Military Police) ** 47485-47648 **11 Provost (Military Police) Squadron [Coy.] ** 47649-47659 **1 Provost (Military Police) Platoon ** 47660-47676 **2 Provost (Military Police) Platoon ** 47677-47756 Command, Army Service Corps Units 47757-47958 Guard Battalion 47959-47966 Heads, Justice Service 47967-47994 12 Field Court 47995-48006 Office of War Graves Registration 48007-48046 370 Evacuated Equipment Park 48047-48089 371 Evacuated Equipment Park 48090-48135 372 Evacuated Equipment Park 48136-48149 2 Corps Inspectorate for Control of Technical Equipment 48150-48151 Heads, Field Postal Service 48152-48171 2 Corps Field Postal Department 48172-48178 2 Corps Military Censors Office 48179-48216 2 Corps Meteorological Section 48217-48230 Command, 2 Corps Financial Service [Paycorps] 48231-48257 2 Corps Press and Culture Office 48258-48263 Press and Culture Office, non-divisional units 48264-48272 Command Station No.1 48273-48290 Smoke Screen Unit 48291-48293 Soldiers’ Welfare Section 48294-48355 Concert and Entertainment Section 48356-48385 Reserve Liaison and Translator Officers 48386-48399 111 Bridge Security Company 48400-48407 **Health Service Inspectorate, Women's Auxiliary Service (Poland) ** 48408-48498 Independent Commando Company 48499-48505 **Headquarters 2 Corps Staff ** 48506-48514 Cipher Office and Radio Station 48515-48517 **7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment ** 48518 **7 Anti-Tank Regiment ** 48519 301 Engineering Company 48520 **389 Medium Radio Platoon ** 48521-48523 **2 Provost (Military Police) Platoon ** 48524 **Heads, Supply and Transport Services ** 48525-48526 48527-48529 24 Transport Company 48530-48531 **29 Ambulance Company ** 48532-48535 318 Field Canteen and Mobile Library Company 48536 **35 Workshop Company [35 EME Coy.] ** 48537 **13 Workshop Company [13 EME Coy.] ** 48538-48540 5 Military Hospital (Previously 1 Military Hospital) 48541-48542 162 Military Hospital 48543 161 Military Hospital 48544-48547 111 Bridge Security Company 48548-48553 **Headquarters 2 Corps Staff ** 48554-48580 **Aerial Photographic Interpretation Section ** 48581 **8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ** 48582-48583 Smoke Screen Unit 48584-48585 3 Casualty Clearing Station 48586 **31 Sanitary (Medical) Company ** 48587-48597 Guard Battalion 48598-48600 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff 48601-48687 **5 Kresowa Infantry Division (Various) Added after 22.2.1945 ** 48688-48691 Headquarters 2 Corps Staff 48692 2 Corps Signals Traffic Control Team 48693 **Carpathian Lancer Regiment ** 48694-48696 **Heads of 2 Corps Medical Services ** 48697-48710 **Heads, Supply and Transport Services ** 48711-48715 **Heads of Corps Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service ** 48716-48720 Command, Army Service Corps Units 48721-48749 48750-48759 **Headquarters 2 Corps Staff ** 48760 **7 Anti-Tank Regiment ** 48761 **1 Artillery Survey Regiment ** 48762-48796 Convalescent Home (2 Battalion) 48797 **Heads, Supply and Transport Services ** 48798 Heads, Corps Material Service 48799-48821 Guard Battalion 48822-48823 2 Corps Press and Culture Office 48824-48830 48831 663 Artillery Observation Air Squadron 48832 48833 **7 Anti-Tank Regiment ** 48834-48845 48846 Convalescent Home (2 Battalion) 48847 **8 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment ** The units listed above are not the official British War Office designations, but rather a close translated version taken from the Polish. This information was brought to you courtesy of Andrzej Sankowski, and The Polish Institute and General Sikorski Museum. It was compiled by Dr. Mark Ostrowski. Recent research has established that the initial figures cited above were miscalculated and in fact the last known cross given to a named recipient was 48847. The complete list of named recipients is at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in File AXII/85/214, Folders 1-19.