Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Polish Cross of Valour attributed to Captain D. MacColl, Merchant Navy

Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour, in its fitted case of issue, good very fine £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the 1939-45 War.

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Sold with an old wartime newspaper cutting, ‘Poles Honours Scots Captain’:

‘Captain Duncan MacColl, 56 year old Merchant Navy skipper, of 84 Clarence Drive, Glasgow, has been awarded the Polish Cross of Valour, equivalent to our Victoria Cross, for his part in the evacuation of Polish troops from France in June 1940. A letter which he received from the Polish President states that the award has been conferred ‘in recognition of your gallant conduct during the evacuation of Polish forces from La Pallice.’ Since the German attack on Russia, Captain MacColl has been engaged in carrying war materials to Russia.’

The award is further confirmed by the following entry in the London Gazette of 21 October 1941, MacColl being listed as Master of the S.S. Blair Nevis:

‘The King has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission to wear (or for the acceptance by the next of kin) of the Cross of Valour which has been conferred by the President of the Polish Republic upon the under-mentioned officers and men of the Merchant Navy in recognition of their gallant conduct during the withdrawal of Polish troops from France in June 1940.’