Cross Of Merits.

[EricFG]

I think?
The center device indicates a certain timeframe for the country.

Sadly this has some serious enamel damage, and is missing it's particular suspension ring.

Solid and heavy with nice enamel work. No makers mark at all.

[Taz]

I think?
The center device indicates a certain timeframe for the country.

Sadly this has some serious enamel damage, and is missing it's particular suspension ring.

Solid and heavy with nice enamel work. No makers mark at all.

Hi Eric,

Thats right the initials indicate the time period

RP changed to PRL, then since 1992 has changed back to RP

Regards Eddie.

[CtahhR]

The Cross Of Merits was founded on 23rd June 1923 in three classes (Gold, Silver and Bronze). At the time of creation this was the highest civilian award of the Republic Of Poland. 151,034 were awarded before the government fled in 1939.

This "naked" and battered Silver Cross Of Merits may not look to be anything exciting or appealing but not everything is what is seems at first glance.

[CtahhR]

It was awarded to Adam Linkowski "Standing worker director of district state railways of Torun" on 23rd May 1938 "For Merits in the field of social work".
This at first doesn't give us much insight into anything - I just knew I had obtained another railway award.

Then after a google search an absolutely amazing biography of Adam Linkowski came to light.

A truly unique story of a man who started life escaping conscription to the Imperial Russian army only to end up in service for a lifetime - just not to the emperor.
Linkowski fled Russian Poland to the United States only to return to Europe in 1918 to fight in France against the Germans as part of the Blue Army. Linkowski then returned to the new Polish Republic to then fight against the Soviets in the Polish-Bolshevik War (during which he was decorated). He was then transferred to the reserves and joined the State Railways in Torun.
He founded a shooting range at the Torun station (probably why he was awarded this Cross).
In 1939 when Poland once again found itself at war (the third war Linkowski participated in), he was wounded whilst defending Torun Railway Station. His family fled to Warsaw to find themselves besieged. After Warsaw fell to German forces the Linkowski family were event able to see at a distance Adolf Hitler observing the victory parade.
He returned to Torun and got in a spot of trouble with the Germans before finally helping reconstruct war damage and also worked in the "General Government" as a translator. He remained at Torun Railway Station throughout the war and through into the People's Republic Of Poland, serving Poland until 1965.

The fact that this award and Linkowski both survived the traumatic adventures of the first half of the 20th century is a shining example of Polish patriotism.

I also have no idea how this award is not in the museum with the rest of his items. Make no mistake though this IS that Adam Linkowski as the award is mentioned in his service book.

[Al-muell]

A sin of omission on my side not to have done even a simple research on this one...

[CtahhR]

I am extremely grateful for this and all the other Polish (and not Polish) items you have been supplying me with.
The amount of information on this recipient - and his story is truly amazing.
For someone who fled conscription he ended up serving in three wars!

[Al-muell]

I believe he didn't want to serve in the Russian Army, not in the Army in general, but that's just a guess. You should contact the museum - they should be interested in obtaining a document's scan.

[CtahhR]

It's on the to-do list (honest!).

If he had been in Russia rather than France he;d have probably not seen the war through and this fantastic story would not be able to be told.

I remember you told me that the reason for his award wasn't very enlightening as to what he did - just a railworker. That site really changed that.
I have a new ribbon for the Cross somewhere but things get piled up and I've not found it yet. I'll post it "dressed" when I do find it.

[CtahhR]

Here is a Bronze example. Many will have seen this on the forum marketplace. This will also be re-ribboned.

[CtahhR]

At some point in its existence it has been paired with this award document (Either when awarded or in the six decades following).

Awarding Private Stanislaw Witkowski of the 1st Polish Army on 14th July 1945 with the Bronze Cross Of Merits by authority of Colonel Gofman head of the 1st Army Medical Service.

I've not been able to track the recipient but "Różga" would be deserving of such an award.