Description
Monte Cassino Cross officially numbered 49 656.
A consignment of 50,000 crosses was ordered from a manufacturer in Tel Aviv, then part of British-ruled Palestine, where the Polish forces had spent part of 1942 and almost all of 1943 in training.
A total of 48,498 crosses (serial numbers 1 to 48,498) were awarded with accompanying award documents issued in the field to each soldier who took part in the battle.
The 1502 un-awarded original crosses (serial numbers 48,499 to 50,000) of which this is one were eventually sold off to dealers and collectors. With an original hook and eye ribbon.