Poland, Republic. A Monte Cassino Veteran's Group, To Lance Corporal Kalikst Zdanowicz, Ii Polish Corps

Group of Seven: Poland, Republic: Commemorative Cross of Monte Cassino (in blackened bronze, number impressed "41" over "957" on the reverse, measuring 40.8 mm (w) x 40.8 mm (h), accompanied by its 70 mm (w) x 102 mm (h) Award Document, numbered "41957" and matching the Cross, named to Kalikst Zdanowicz and dated 1945); and Army Medal (in bronze, measuring 34.5 mm in diameter); United Kingdom: two 1939-1945 Stars (in bronze, measuring 38 mm (w) x 44 mm (h) each); two Italy Stars (in bronze, measuring 38 mm (w) x 44 mm (h) each); and Defence Medal (in cupro-nickel, measuring 36.2 mm in diameter); un-mounted, with original ribbons, very fine. The group is accompanied by his Polish Military Book (in Polish, named to Kalikst Zdanowicz, stating that he was born in 1896 and joined the Polish Army in 1923, with four stamps and thumbprint, measuring 97 mm (w) x 140 mm (h), soiled); his Polish Armed Forces Completion of Service Certificate (in Polish, numbered 79640, named to Kalikst Zdanowicz, stamped and dated September 15, 1948, measuring 216 mm (w) x 185 mm (h), fold mark); his British Solder's Service and Pay Book (black and white photo of Zdanowicz, also containing his Discharge Certificate (noting that he was discharged on September 15, 1948), British Red Cross Identity Certificate, Ministry of National Insurance, War Hospital Card (in Polish), measuring 98 mm (w) x 128 mm (h), extensive exterior wear and separation on the cover); his British Travel Document (numbered 2326, named to Kalikst Zdanowicz, dated August 15, 1958, stating that he was a resident of Doddington Park Hostel and that his occupation was farmer, with stamps indicating his departure from Liverpool on April 7, 1960, arriving in Quebec City on the 14th, and his admission to the United States at Detroit on April 16th, hardcovered, measuring 105 mm (w) x 152 mm (h), with Cunard Line International Certificate of Vaccination Against Smallpox, dated April 14, 1960)

His Polish Corps Attestation Paper for his Enlistment with the Polish Re-Settlement Corps (in Polish, dated January 1947, measuring 210 mm (w) x 333 (h)); a Document to be Given to a Soldier before Leaving the Unit following his Transfer to the Reserve in Connection with Undertaking Work in the United Kingdom (in English and Polish, dated April 8, 1948, measuring 200 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)); an Instructions on Discharge from the Polish Re-Settlement Corps Form Letter (in English and Polish, dated September 15, 1948, measuring 202 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)); a Ministry of Social Insurance under the Unemployment Insurance Act, Special Provisions for Members of the Polish Corps transferred to the Reserve in Connection with the Acceptance of Employment Form Letter (in Polish, undated, measuring 177 mm (w) x 222 mm (h)); a Document from the British War Office Records Centre in Hayes, Middlesex (dated September 10, 1957, stating Zdanowicz's history and military service, measuring 202 mm (w) x 230 mm (h)); his Instructions to Discharged of Relegated Personnel Form (in English and Polish, named to 30034319 K. Zdamowicz, dated April 8, 1948, stating that he left Sudbrooke Park near Lincoln, four pages, measuring 168 mm (w) x 208 mm (h); a British National Health and Pensions Insurance, How To Receive Social Security Help Sheet (most of the text in Polish, measuring 123 mm (w) x 187 mm (h)); a Letter from the Medical Officer at the Polish Hostel in Doddington Park, Cheshire (in English, dated July 31, 1953, stating that Zdanocwicz had been an employee of the Ministry of Health since April 9, 1948, and had been working under the control of Dr. M. Pozniak from December 21, 1949 to July 31, 1953, that "he proved a most conscientious and honest worker" and that "his approach in dealing with the patients was very tactful and his sense of duty was most remarkable", measuring 164 mm (w) x 201 mm (h)); his United States Department of Justice Immigration Card (named to Kalikst Zdanowicz, stating that he was admitted to the U.S. on April 16, 1960, measuring 87 mm (w) x 55 mm (h)); and his Cresco State Bank, Cresco, Iowa Savings Department Passbook (named to Kalikst Zdanowicz and/or Francis Zdamowicz, containing multiple entries dated from May 19, 1966 to October 1, 1971, hardcover with a embossed cover, the bank's name on the front cover, the FDIC insignia on the back cover, measuring 75 mm (w) x 120 mm (h)). Also included are two Russian booklets named to two different recipients: a Passport (numbered 901, dated 1912 and issued at Grodno, Belarus, measuring 106 mm (w) x 158 mm (h)); and an On Leave Pass Booklet (numbered 927, dated 1910, measuring 120 mm (w) x 180 mm (h). (Any relationship of these two documents to the Polish recipient, if any at all, is unknown). 

Footnote: Kalikst Zdanowicz was born on January 1, 1896 in Zawieski-Bor, county Bialystok, Poland, the son of Jan Zdanowicz and Aleksandra Zdanowicz (nee Pruszynska). His religion was Roman Catholic and he was a Farmer by trade. Zdanowicz joined the Polish Army as a Private (30034319) in 1923, at the age of 27. During the Second World War, in 1940, he was deported from Poland to the Soviet Union and it was there that he joined the Polish Army on March 3, 1942, proceeding with them to the British Command in Persia on April 1st. In the rank of Lance Corporal with II Polish Corps, he served with the Polish Forces under British Command in the Middle East from April 1, 1942 to March 1944. At this point, he was transferred to Italy, where he participated in operations in the Italian theater from March 10, 1944 to May 2, 1945. He entered the United Kingdom in December 1946, where he joined the Polish Re-Settlement Corps on January 16, 1947. After almost fifteen months with the Polish Re-Settlement Corps, he was relegated to Class "W" Reserve on April 9, 1948, which was followed five months later by his honourable discharge on September 15, 1948. For his Second World War service, Lance Corporal Kalikst Zdanowicz, II Polish Corps is confirmed as being entitled to the Polish Army Medal and the Commemorative Cross of Monte Cassino, as well as a British trio: the 1939-1945 Star, the Italy Star and the Defence Medal. While living in England, Zdanocwicz was resident of Doddington Park Hostel and had been an employee of the Ministry of Health at Doddington since April 9, 1948, working under the control of Dr. M. Pozniak from December 21, 1949 to July 31, 1953, the doctor noting that Zdanowicz "proved a most conscientious and honest worker" and that "his approach in dealing with the patients was very tactful and his sense of duty was most remarkable". On April 7, 1960, he departed Liverpool, England and immigrated to the United States. He arrived in Quebec City, Quebec on April 14th and entered the United States at Detroit, Michigan on April 16th. Kalikst Zdanowicz later married Francis Zdamowicz and the couple settled in Cresco, Iowa, farm country, which was suited to his trade as a Farmer, just south on the Iowa-Minnesota border.