Władysław Grydziuszko

Infobox Military Person
name = Władysław Grydziuszko
lived = birth date|1910|9|6 - death date and age|1946|1|29|1910|9|6


caption = Grydziuszko in Palestine
nickname =
placeofbirth = Mikulicze, Poland
placeofdeath = Treia, Italy|allegiance = flagicon|Great Britain Great Britain
branch = Polish Army
serviceyears = 1942-1946
rank = Sergeant
unit = 2nd Polish Corps, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, Eighth Army (United Kingdom), 2nd Armoured Brigade (Poland)
commands =
battles = PBW, PDW, WWII, Monte Cassino
awards =
relations =
laterwork =

Sergeant Władysław Grydziuszko (1910-1946) was a member of the Polish Army during World War II. He was born on September 6 1910 in the rural town of Mikulicze in Poland." [http://grydziuszko.googlepages.com/info Grydziuszko, Władysław: Paragraph 1 (page 1)] ." "RAF". June 2007.] Prior to his military service, Władysław worked as a master tailor and was enrolled with the Polish Forces." [http://grydziuszko.googlepages.com/info Grydziuszko, Władysław: Paragraph 1 (Page 1)] ." "RAF". June 2007.] On August 28 1939 he was called from reserve and together with the Polish Police unit participated in the 1939 Invasion of Poland campaign. Taken prisoner of war by the former Soviet Red Army and was held in the USSR. Following his ordeal on the basis of the Sikorski-Maisky agreement of July 30 1941, Władysław Grydziuszko was released for the purpose of joining the Polish Armed Forces in USSR. From 1942 to 1944 Władysław fought in the Middle Eastern campaign in such countries as: Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt. Soon afterwards from 1944 to 1946, he embarked on the Italian campaign." [http://grydziuszko.googlepages.com/info Grydziuszko, Władysław: Theater of Operations (page 2)] ." "RAF". June 2007.]

Battle at Monte Cassino

Primarily he was posted to the Fifth Field Artillery Regiment and later transferred to the Seventh on January 1 1942. Władysław Grydziuszko was most famed for leading one of the tactical maneuvers in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. The Polish Army was advancing against the Hitler Line" [http://grydziuszko.googlepages.com/info Grydziuszko, Władysław: Theater of Operations (page 2)] ." "RAF". June 2007.] which was held by Hitler's forces; on May 23 they finally managed to break through attacking village of Piedimonte. Władysław, along with many other soldiers in the 2nd Polish Corps used stables and other local buildings to camouflage tanks and attack the enemy from behind. In the following day the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division Battle of Monte Cassino breached the lines and on May, 25 the Poles cleared way for any advance to be made into Rome and further inland. Grydziuszko was awarded both the Cross of Valor (Krzyz Walecznych) and the Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross" [http://grydziuszko.googlepages.com/info Grydziuszko, Władysław: Medal Entitlement (page 2)] ." "RAF". June 2007.] for his war efforts. Unfortunately Grydziuszko was lightly wounded on October, 17 1944 and suffered spinal cord injuries. He however quickly recovered and returned back to the forces to serve for another two years.

Other War Efforts

Death and Aftermath

Following the Italian campaign, Władysław Grydziuszko was killed in an accident near Treia, Macerata in Italy on January 29 1946. During a routine 2nd Armoured Brigade (Poland) training period, Władysław was tragically killed when he fell underneath one of his tanks. His death was instantaneous, and soon afterwards there was a memorial service held in his honor. Some 400 soldiers attended his funeral. He was buried in the Polish cemetery in Loreto, Italy on January 30 1946." [http://grydziuszko.googlepages.com/info Grydziuszko, Władysław: 5th Paragraph (Page 2)] ." "RAF". June 2007.] The two witnesses of his death was a future Polish Politician named Zygmunt Ostrowski and Michał Matusiewicz.

Works Cited

Note: References 1 through 6 are a collection of original documentation by the APC Polish Enquiries, Ministry of Defence and the RAF. These letters are not to be reproduced without permission. Documentation is provided by great-nephew Patrick Camil Grydziuszko.