Lot Essay
Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including Certificates of Award for all the above wartime Medals and Badges, in addition to the Bronze Cross of Merit, with swords; a letter from the Home Office granting British Nationality and much besides.
Rifleman Jozef Czernik was born in Downary, Poland in January 1919, the son of a farmer. Joining the Polish Army which was raised in Russia to fight the Germans - many of the recruits had already endured much hardship in Russian P.O.W. and Labour Camps - he was eventually transported to the Middle East to fight alongside the British Army. The Polish 2nd Corps formed part of the 8th Army and saw extensive action in Italy, not least at Monte Cassino during the fierce fighting of May 1944, and suffered heavy casualties. After the War Czernik elected to remain in the U.K. and was granted British Citzenship in 1975. He died in 1990.
Rifleman Jozef Czernik was born in Downary, Poland in January 1919, the son of a farmer. Joining the Polish Army which was raised in Russia to fight the Germans - many of the recruits had already endured much hardship in Russian P.O.W. and Labour Camps - he was eventually transported to the Middle East to fight alongside the British Army. The Polish 2nd Corps formed part of the 8th Army and saw extensive action in Italy, not least at Monte Cassino during the fierce fighting of May 1944, and suffered heavy casualties. After the War Czernik elected to remain in the U.K. and was granted British Citzenship in 1975. He died in 1990.