THE DISTRIBUTION PROCESS FOR THE ORIGINAL POLISH ORDER OF THE VIRTUTI MILITARI, 5TH CLASS FROM 1920 to 1941

ZDZISLAW P. WESOLOWSKI

Military scholars interested in Polish orders, especially the Virtuti Militari, the highest honor awarded during a time of war for personal bravery, have always wondered why there are irregularities in the disposition of the Order, especially in the 5th class.The objective of this article is to help to unravel these inconsistencies.

The Polish Ministry of Military Affairs ordered 10,000 gilt, 5th class crosses of the Order of Virtuti Militari between the years 1920 and 1923 from Polish jewelers. They were to be awarded for the Polish War for Independence against the Germans and Soviets between the years 1914 and 1923. The Polish Government in Exile awarded some of these original numbered-crosses during the years 1939 and 1941. In addition, the awarded crosses Figure 1: This first government-issue 5th class silver cross has do not follow a numerical sequence corresponding to the a barrel-type tub for the suspension ring. The tub required period of the award. For example, the Polish Government another production process because it had to be attached to the in Exile awarded crosses serial numbered 8209-8331 cross. It is suspended on an original Swiss made ribbon with a during World War II, while crosses numbered 9704 to safety pin. 43mm by 43mm. This cross, number 292, was awarded 9924 were awarded between 1922 and 1923. to 2nd Lieutenant Antoni Bartkowiak on June 8, 1921. He was assigned at the time of the award to the 15th Air Force Escadrille The first presentation of awarded crosses was made flying missions against the Soviet forces. Many machine stamped on January 22, 1920 to the highest-ranking officers of crosses have irregular numbers and are not aligned perfectly. the Temporary Order Chapter (Kapitula Orderu) with insignia and documents. However, the Order in the form of the 5th class silver cross was not distributed to the soldiers in the field, only the ribbon. The reason being that the crosses were not available at that time. In July of 1920, during the first ceremonies, soldiers decorated with the Order were given a short piece of the Virtuti Militari ribbon to wear on their uniform with an accompanying award document. The insignia in form of a cross was to be issued at a later date.

The Polish Ministry of Military Affairs first awarded the production of the cross to the jewelry firms of Krupski and Matulewicz, by a low-bid process in September 1920. The first crosses were distributed in the field during the summer of 1921 (Figure 1). Crosses in sterling silver Figure 2: This second type 5th class cross is 43mm by 43mm with were made especially for foreigners and high-ranking a redesigned suspension. This type was developed to save time and officers. The Ministry expressed dissatisfaction with money. It was struck in one single piece and did not require the other crosses because of their low quality. Most of the additional process of attaching the tube for the suspension rings as crosses were made from brass materials with silver or in the first type cross. The numbering style was also changed. It is gold plate. The harsh economic times and a very limited suspended on a replacement ribbon. This cross, number 6688, was defense budget, forced the Ministry to accept the lowest awarded to Mieczyslaw Poniatowski on May 10, 1922. He bidders as the manufacturers of the country’s highest was assigned to the 68th Infantry Regiment as the commander of military decoration. the regiment and was decorated for his decisive action in a battle against the Soviet Army.

18 JOMSA Figure 3: Another example of a second type cross (number Figure 5: Government-issued crosses were awarded to most 8730) awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Gracjan A. Chmielewski recipients, however many other crosses were used in place of for his participation in the 1863 uprising against the Czar’s the official government issue that was considered inferior to occupation of . This 43mm by 43mm cross is one jeweler’s sterling silver versions that on many occasions where of those that were in a group taken out of sequence. It is awarded especially to foreigners and very important persons. suspended by the second type ribbon with a Polish eye and hook. Marshal Jozef Pilsudski’s 5th class was a sterling silver jeweler’s cross. This cross, 40mm by 40mm, is an example of a jeweler’s three piece sterling silver cross with gold center disks and was awarded to Brigadier General Albert M. Mourruau of on January 1, 1922 who was as an advisor to the Polish General Staff during the Polish Soviet War. The center disks are of superb quality. The cross number (20) was hand engraved because of the sterling silver content of the cross. There are examples which have the machine stamped numbers as well as hallmarks.

Figure 4: One of the last 5th class crosses produced prior to World War II that were mainly awarded to Air Force personnel. This cross (number 9466) is 43mm by 43mm and was awarded to Air Force Lieutenant Florian E. Adrian of the 300th Mazowiecki Bomber Squadron stationed at Bramcote airbase.

The firms of Knedler and Gontarczyk were selected as Figure 6: This cross, 42mm by 42mm, is in gold prime contractors for the 5th class crosses while the firm machine stamped of superb quality. The suspension of Krupski and Matulewicz won the contract to produce ring is much thicker then the regular issue. It is stamped the three higher classes of the Order, subcontracting the with the number 5497 that was awarded to Corporal 5th class to Gontarczyk (Figure 2 and 4). For a time the Karol Karasinski of the 2nd Legion Ulan Regiment firms of Reising and Wabinski produced several hundred on May 17, 1922 for services in the Polish-Soviet War. crosses delivering them to the Ministry on October In addition to the five official manufacturers of the regular 4, 1921. One hundred especially-made sterling-silver government-issued crosses with machine-impressed crosses with gold center-disks were made by Gontarczyk serial numbers, there were over ten other so-called jeweler and delivered on November 23, 1922 which were to be versions made in Poland before 1939 (Figures 5 through distributed to foreigners with an additional lot of the same 7). These crosses were sold to recipients as replacements type made by Krupski with serial numbers 9700 to 9799. and as duplicates for wear. Since regulations required all

Vol. 61, No. 5 (September-October 2010) 19 initials, hallmark and assay marks. The serial number was hand-engraved at the request of the recipients. The government-awarded crosses were issued to the recipient free of charge, but duplicates had to be purchased directly from the jeweler. Today these crosses are considered to be pre-World War II copies.

The original government-issued machine-stamped Virtuti Militari 4th class gold crosses and 5th class silver crosses are extremely rare. The majority of the original government-issued crosses had an uneven number stamped on the lower reverse arm. The reason for the uneven stamping was the fact that some were hand- stamped. The other reason was that the technology of the stamping machine employed at the time was not very Figure 7: Another gold 5th class, second type cross with superb efficient. Current copies of Virtuti Militari crosses are enamels and quality numbered 8398 is 42mm by 42mm. It found with perfectly straight-lined, uniform machine- was awarded to Air Force Corporal Leszek Zaborowski of the stamped numbers and some are even hand engraved. 305th Wielkopolski Bomber Squadron stationed at Bramcote. Most of these current copies were made by Panasiuk in and can be found for sale at gun shows and on the Internet for very low prices to unknowing collectors. Some entrepreneurs are now stamping numbers on pre-World War II copies and selling them as original government issues. When the Polish Government departed from Warsaw for London in 1939, it took with it the remaining 1501 unawarded crosses as well as the remaining 2nd and 3rd classes. The 5th class crosses were awarded in the West with the first award made to Air Force Lieutenant W. Peski, serial number 8200. By

Figure 8: A superbly made cross in sterling silver by the Polish jewelry firm, Polish Tech, that also made other decorations for the Polish Government in Exile. The cross was closely modeled after the pre-World War II crosses. Polish Tech was the first private firm to supply the new Virtuti Militari when the supply of pre-war crosses ran out. These crosses and all others made after 1940 were never officially numbered, but many recipients had a number hand engraved. This type is very rare because a small number were made. Most of these crosses were enameled on the reverse and are 43mm by 43mm and are very rare because of the small number that were produced. Figure 9: The firm of Spink and Son was the main supplier personnel to wear the Order at all times, some were lost, of decorations to the Polish Government in Exile.The firm misplaced and duplicates were necessary. These jeweler’s made the Grand Cross, 1st , 4th and 5th classes of the Order crosses were in many cases identical to the government (the Polish Exile Government had a supply of 2nd and 3rd issue except that they were unnumbered (Figure 8). class crosses that had been brought from Poland. Spink produced three types of crosses. The first version is 43mm by 43mm and is enameled on both sides without feathering on Many recipients ordered duplicate crosses in sterling the eagle. It has a three-part construction with attached gold and gold. Some of these crosses bore the jeweler’s center-disks. The cross is heavier than the other two versions.

20 JOMSA Figure 12: This cross produced by Picciani and Barlacci is a Figure 10: The second type of Spink produced cross is 43mm larger and heavier cross than those made by other jewelers, is by 43mm and is also a three part construction with enamels on 44mm by 44mm in size and made in three pieces. The central both sides of the cross. The eagle feathering is more extensive disks are attached to a hollow center and the reverse of the cross is with the eagle more recessed into the center disk. It is much enameled. The eagle has some feathering. Picciani and Barlacci thinner then the Figure 9 version and is 43mm by 43mm. made all five classes of theVirtuti Militari all of which are rare.

Figure 13: This type of cross was made in Tel Aviv, Palestine Figure 11: The third version of cross produced by Spink is during World War II for the Polish Forces in the Middle East 43mm by 43mm and is similar to the second type except that and many Monte Cassino and Italy campaign participents were the center disks on both sides of the cross are more convex. awarded this type of cross because it was difficult to get crosses from London. The quality was not as good as those made by early 1941 the supply of the original 5th class crosses other jewelers due to the economic conditions at that time. One made between 1921 and 1923 was exhausted. The Polish unique element of the Rubin cross is that the Polish eagle in Government in Exile commissioned several firms to make the center disk is imbedded. The cross is 43mm by 43mm and new dies for the crosses. was produced in one piece. Rubin made only the 4th and 5th class crosses and both classes are very rare. After the war M. The firm of Spink and Son in London made three different Bialkiewicz, a Polish military jeweler and a recipient of the Order versions (Figures 9 through 11). The firm of Polish Tech of Virtuti Militari made superb replicas of the crosses made by Rubin. These were of superb quality and are also very rare. made one version of the 5th class in sterling silver. The Italian firm of Picciani and Barlachi located in Florence The crosses produced by Spink and Son were made in made one version (Figure 12)) and F.M. Lorioli located in sterling silver and are of the highest quality followed Rome made another version. The Middle Eastern firm of by Picciani and Barlachi and Lorioli. The Middle East M. Rubin in Tel-Aviv also made one version (Figure 13). Palestinian-version of M. Rubin was made from silver These crosses resemble the pre-World War II models. metal in gold or silver plate and of very low quality and

Vol. 61, No. 5 (September-October 2010) 21 design. 4,800 unnumbered silver 5th class crosses were and deduction, the mystery of the sequential awarding produced and awarded between 1941-1990 by the Polish irregularity was discovered. Because of a clerical error in Government in Exile. The numerical sequence of awards 1923, a group of 41 crosses were pulled out of the storage was maintained for control and recipient identification bins ahead of the numerical sequence that should have purposes. The last original pre-World War II Warsaw- followed cross number 8200. These crosses were awarded made silver crosses awarded in the West was number to the veterans of the November 1863 Insurrection. 9,999. After that, unnumbered crosses made in the West were used for decorating Polish soldiers until 1990. The It was also decided by someone in the Ministry in 1922 distribution of the 5th class of the Order up to number to use the crosses with serial numbers 9704 to 9924 as 8199 during the years 1920 to 1923 were without major awards to foreigners. The remaining 1501 crosses were problems, except that 65 duplicate crosses were made kept in reserve in case there was a need to award more and awarded. This may have resulted from errors made Orders to Poles and foreigners for the 1914 to 1921 War. during the stamping of serial numbers or when the dies The two governments also awarded five duplicate crosses. were transferred from one jeweler to another. The new When the awarding of the Virtuti Militari was abruptly jeweler did not know the last serial number the former halted in 1923, the Ministry was left with a surplus of jeweler used or a clerical error was made in recording. The numbered crosses. They remained in the Ministry until list of cavaliers for the 2nd Republic has 316 unknown the outbreak of World War II and in September, 1939 recipients of the Order whose names have not been found. taken to London. The following is a statistical analysis of the disposition of the 5th class insignia of the Order The sequence of awarding the crosses was complicated. of Virtuti Militaru produced between 1920 and 1923 Cross number 8200 was the first awarded by the Polish and distributed by the Republic of Poland between those Government in Exile. However, crosses with serial same years and the Polish Government in Exile located numbers 8701 to 8741­ and 9704 to 9924 were found to in London between the years 1939 and 1941. have been already awarded before World War II. It was theorized that the 41 unknown recipients were a group of Based upon an analysis of the number of these 10,000 secret agents, or foreigners, whom the government was numbered crosses that exist today, it is the opinion of not at liberty to disclose or their names were lost during many people close to this subject that at least 75 percent the last 70 years. Similar assumptions were considered of them were destroyed or lost during World War II. This for the other 220 crosses. After some serious research fact alone makes the Polish Order of Virtuti Militari a rare decoration.

22 JOMSA Vol. 61, No. 5 (September-October 2010) 23 THE U.S.S. JARVIS: THE NAVAL THAT VANISHED FOR SEVEN YEARS AND TWO PURPLE HEARTS

LAWRENCE WATSON

lives passed with the sinking of the Jarvis.

Figure 1: U.S.S. Jarvis on December 17, 1937 at the Puget Sound Naval Yard in Washington. Photo courtesy of Tin Can Sailors, Inc. Introduction

During the bloody Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 many heroic events occurred that have been recorded in the annals of naval history during World War II in the Pacific Theater. One event, the disappearance of the destroyer, USS Jarvis, DD 393, (Figure 1) on August 9, 1942 remained a mystery for seven years until an exhaustive research by naval historian Samuel Elliott Morison and an article by Commander James C. Shaw documented Figure 2: Obverse of Steward Jones’ Purple the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. The Heart with flat purple enamel background. purpose of this article is to describe how the Jarvis Seaman Villarreal’s is identical. “vanished” and to portray two sailors that were crewmen Photo by Juan Carlos Photo, Brownsville, Texas. on the Jarvis: Officers Steward Third Class Anthony Jones and Seaman Second Class Alonzo Cantu Villarreal Both medals came in their original black leatherette issue and their respective Purple Hearts (Figure 2). The Jarvis cases and have the name of the recipient engraved on the is one of the few naval ships to have her entire crew reverse in block lettering. The original certificates and awarded Purple Hearts. related paperwork accompaned each medal. The two Purple Hearts are identical except that the engraving on The Purple Hearts Awarded to Jones and Villarreal the reverse of Villarreal’s Purple Heart has his rating in addition to his name (Figure 3). Jones’ Purple Heart Although Jones and Villarreal did not live to receive their certificate is dated January 10, 1946 (Figure 4) and Purple Hearts, the medals were rightly cherished by their Villarreal’s is dated January 28, 1946 (Figure 5). families. Although the Purple Heart is a common medal, to be able to study two identical Purple Heart medals Steward Third Class Anthony Jones awarded to two sailors from the same ship lost in the same military action, is uncommon, within itself. With a crew of Steward Third Class Anthony Jones, an African only 246 and the fact that both Jones and Villarreal were American, was born on November 16 1916 in Norfolk, minorities would seem to indicate they might have known Virginia and graduated from Brooker T. Washington each other. One can only wonder how they met their fate High School in Norfolk in 1936. Jones’ mother, Rosa and what their actions where as the final moments of their Grier, gave Jones when he was an infant to Anthony

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