Order of War Virtuti Militari 5th Class, official version awarded, to Lieutenant Stanislaw Kica of the 2nd Rifle Battalion, for his participation in the Battle of Monte Cassino during which he died at the capture of the famous Hill 593. Order of War Virtuti Militari 5th Class type 17b. according to the catalog "Polish Medals 1918-1945 a Collectors Companion " Tony Leszczuk and Krzysztof Barbarski.
This is a type of crosses officially numbered - engraved . Cross made in silver 38mm * 38mm. The official history of the production of these crosses is not known, however, it is presumed that this is a batch produced still in Poland before the war and transported by France to the UK in 1940. The number of these Crosses operates between 130 and 180 and this is the last series of numbered orders. Condition as seen in the photos.
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Stanislaw Kica was born on 21.12.1915 in Jodlowka, Bochnia district, Cracow province. He died on 12.05.1944 and was buried in the Polish War Cemetery on Monte Cassino. At the time of his death he was serving in the 2nd Rifle Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant. He was the Commander of the 3rd Company and fell in the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Described by Melchior Wańkowicz in Volume I of The Battle of Monte Cassino (pp. 255, 266, 280)
" At 1.30 a.m. moved towards 593 Baon 2, inaugurating the Battle of Monte Cassino ... Moved the hose of three companies along a narrow path under the thunder of its own artillery as if under a safe roof. Leading walked the 1st company ... , behind it walked the 3rd, the company of the late Lt. Kicy , a veteran of Tobruk , a teacher of a public school ....
Melchior Wańkowicz described the moment of death of Lieutenant Kicy
"...But the rest of the 593 conquerors are exterminated fiercely See what right ? says to Lieutenant Kica Major Rojek. Kica - the last of the company commanders - rises up and they kill him in an instant three times: a spandrel, a grenade and a mortar."
https://www.polskicmentarzbolonia.pl/pl/pochowani-na-monte-cassino/cart/336/stanislaw-kica.html
https://www.polskicmentarzbolonia.pl/media/k2/items/cache/8da476f72f06a276b1f930cdb28c21f1_XL.jpg
https://www.polskicmentarzbolonia.pl/media/com_gwcmentarze/77736500_14203182295.jpg
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/221484/
