A POLISH SECOND WORLD WR GROUP OF FOUR ATTRIBUTED TO MAJOR K...

Hammer

£650

A POLISH SECOND WORLD WR GROUP OF FOUR ATTRIBUTED TO MAJOR KLACZYNSKI OF THE 9TH MALOPOLSKI LANCERS. A mounted group of four and badges attributed to Lt later Major Kazimierz Klaczynski 1907-1995 9th Malopolski Lancers'. Comprising a September Campaign Cross, 1939, a Polish Republic Order for Military Virtue, unnamed to the reverse, breast badge in silver and enamel. a bronze cross of valour, dated 1920, and numbered 19666 to the reverse, and an army Active Service Medal. Mounted with a cap badge, 'Poland' cloth shoulder title and convex enamel 9th Malopolski Lancers Regiment enamel badge with screw back marked for A. Pamasiuk, Grawer, Warszawa, I. Swietoianska 4/6'. Mounted in a glazed frame with title 'Lt/Major Kazimierz Klaczynski 1907-1995 9th Malopolski Lancers'. 32.5 x 32.5cm square, 5cm deep. According to documents included Kazimierz Klaczynski took part in the Defence of Warsaw with the 9 Malopolski Lancers from the 1st September 1939 until the 29th September 1939. He was held prisoner by the Germans from September 1939 until April 1945 when liberated by the allies. On release he reported for duty with the 1 Polish Armoured Division, 1 Polish Corps in Germany, he was assigned guard duties in the British occupied zone. November 1946 he was transferred to the 2nd Polish corps in Italy. Apparently he was unable to join Polish Forces under British command as military authorities refused to accept him for active service. On evacuation as a civilian to the UK he was attached to the Civilian Families' camp at Stockbridge, Salisbury. The 9th Malopolski Lancers were formed in 1809 and later reformed in November 1918 when Poland won back her independence. After the brief defence of September 1939 the 9th Lancers were re-established briefly in France and then evacuated to England before finding a permanent base in Scotland. It has been suggested that they comprised approximately 40 officers and 800 men. The regiment disbanded at the end of 1947. Apparently Major Klaczynski played an active part in the defence of Poland, being amongst the men who attacked the German tanks on horseback with sabers raised and lying along the side of the horse for protection. He is remembered as an extremely capable horseman, in later years becoming a three-day event coach and teaching riding at the most proficient levels. Following the initial desperate defences he apparently fought with an artillery regiment who only had two guns but did their utmost to make the attackers believe there were more by constantly moving them and varying the point of fire. Alas his resistance was not to last beyond September 1939 and he spent the rest of the war a prisoner. After arriving in the UK he spent much of his life living in what has been described as a hut in the woods near Alresford in Hampshire with his dog who he taught to perform no end of tricks. The September Campaign medal for 'Participation in the Defensive War' was introduced by the Polish People's Republic in 1939 for those who played a part in the Defence of Poland between 1st September and 6th October 1939. The dates on the cross 1.IX and 17 IX refer to the dates of German and Russian aggression against the Polish *Condition: Attractively mounted, and all much as issued.