Poland, Republic. A Monte Casino & Cross of Valour Group, 15th Workshop Co., 6th Armoured Regiment

This is a comprehensive collection of awards, badges, and insignia from Michal Magiera, who saw service throughout Italy with the prominent technical support unit the 15th Workshop Company, attached to the 6th Armoured Regiment as part of the legendary 2nd Polish Corps under the command of Lieutenant general Władysław Anders. As part of this small, highly decorated technical and mechanical unit, he would have played a vital role in maintaining the armored vehicles and weaponry that drove the 2nd Polish Corps forward through the brutal battles of the Italian Campaign. 

Contained within a British 1941 ration tin, Magiera kept all his insignia and items from the war. These include the following:

1. O.H.M.S. medal carton containing his awards; Monte Cassino Cross 1944, numbered 46774 having been worn individually; British Issue Defence Medal; British Issue War Medal; Italian Campaign Star; 1939-1945 Campaign Star; These awards have not been worn and remain in their shipping tissue; Importantly, Magiera is entitled to the Cross of Valour, with second award, second award bar included;

2. A selection of ribbon bars, various types including plastic covered, Cross of Valour 1920 with second award ribbon bar, 

3. British Issue ID Disc Set, A.P.1914 56/111. RZ.KAT. Magiera Michal, with silver ID bracelet;

4. 5th Kresowa Infantry Division Badge, with bronze charging buffalo on a yellow and black enamelled crest, mounted to a silvered bronze cross base, with "5" on the top arm and "K P D" on the other three arms, the British 8th Army insignia on the rim of the lower arm, 40 mm x 41 mm, maker marked "F.M. LORIOLI MILANO-ROMA" on the screwback, spotting on the enamels, light contact and silvering wear, near extremely fine.

5. Polish II Corps Badge, in silvered bronze, stamped 102516 on reverse,36.4 mm (h) x 19.8 mm (w);

6.  6th Armoured Regiment ("Children of Lwów" / 6 Pułk Pancerny "Dzieci Lwowskich") collar pennants, in bronze and enamels, 55 mm (w) x 14.46 mm (h), extremely rare;

7. Five Cap Badges, including bullion on felt, die stamped bronze, and silvered bakalite; 

8. Two Shoulder Straps with bakalite POLAND flashes, as well as single bakalite II Polish Corps insignia, with additional POLAND flash, and additional II Polish Corps insignia in cloth;

9. Two Poland Armed Forces in the West Beret Badges, both in bullion and mounted on cotton;

10. Four British 8th Army Crusader Shields, 3 in bakalite and one in cotton on baclk felt;

11. A matching set of Polish Corporal shoulder strap rank stripes;

12. Polish Armed Forces in the East Insignia;

13. Two Polish electric and mechanical engineer trade insignia;

14. A Lot of Polish buttons;

Overall, an excellent and complete grouping to a rare unit that has been noted for extreme valour including Corproal Magiera who won the Cross of Valour twice, very fine.