The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks M.C. C.D. A Canadian Hero

Chapter 4: Military Awards and The Polish Medals Controversy

Section 4.4: THE POLISH WAR MEDAL CONTROVERSY and the OFFICIAL UNOFFICIAL BEAURAUCRATIC SOLUTION

For the TIME PERIOD of April 1945 to Oct 1947 a political war of words evolved concerning my Polish Military Awards.

This involved our former allies the Free Polish Government in Exile, the newly establish communist Polish Government, the British Government and of course the Government of Canada.

During the time period that it took this controversy to play out, I had returned to Canada, had postings in Canada, returned to Europe for several posting with the MRES, and then returned to Canada for further postings. My involvement in the controversy was minimal, I had to supply what documentation I had obtained for my Polish awards and contact a few of my former Polish AK superiors. I was certainly an "interested spectator" to what unfolded!

It was quite the saga!

Unfortunately John Duncan had to go through a similar ordeal.

The unfolding of the controversy is documented quite well by the Air Force Association of Canada Web Site (article authored by Hugh Halliday) and augmeneted in this document by the UK's The National Archives Kew file AIR 2/9342.......

The following documents speak for themselves:

1. Documents in Possession of the Canadian Authorities as of 19–April–1945 (see point 4 in the letter immediately following):

   and the following file note...

   

   and the following from the Polish General Staff...

   

   with the first attachment (see also original document signed by Major Borowy in previous section)...

   

   with the second attachment...

   

   As an aside, none of these Polish General Staff messages were passed on to my family in Montreal..... presumably the military had their reasons to keep my presence with the AK secret.

   
   

2. Before the Canadians took a run at sorting the issue as to whether or not Brooks could wear his Polish medal awards without restrictions, the British through the Central Honours Committee and debated this for a period of about 5 months.

   1. Letter Dated 2^nd July 1946; # 39B
      To: F.S. Yuill;
      From: Sir Robert Knox, H.M. Treasury, Great George Street, S.W

      

   2. Letter dated 4^th July 1946 # 39C
      To: The Air Force Commanding In Chief, RCAF (overseas)
      From: F.S. Yuill
      
      This letter repeats essentially verbatim the 2^nd July 1946 from Sir Robert Knox.

   3. Letter dated 4^th July 1946 to Hubert Brooks

      

   4. "Souvenir" Letter dated 5^th July 1946 from G/C Lister to Hubert Brooks:

      

   5. Letter dated 16 Sept 46: Ref: BJ.94368 # 40A
      To: The Under–Secretary of State, Air Ministry
      From: W/C J.M. Enstone, Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Headquarters (Overseas)
      
      "As the two decorations were awarded to the above noted officer by the Polish General Staff on January 20^th 1945, and not after July 6^th 1945, as you were led to believe, may this headquarters be advised, please, if permission to wear the decorations may now be granted."

   6. Letter dated: 20-September 1946 : Ref: A.756334/45 / 40B
      To: Sir Robert Knox, H.M. Treasury, Great George Street, S.W.
      From: F.S. Yuill
      
      "Will you please refer to my letter (39A) as of the 6^th of June and your reply (39B) of the 2^nd of July regarding the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords and the Cross of Valour presented to F/L Hubert Brooks of the RCAF. We have now been advised that both awards were approved by the Commander of the Polish Home Army in January 1945 and I attach, fyi, copies of the certificates that have been forwarded to us by the Canadian authorities who are anxious for the permission of F/L Brooks to wear the decorations without restrictions.
      
      In view of the circumstances, I shall be grateful if you will let me know whether, in view of this further information, the Committee will now give approval for acceptance of these awards."

   7. Letter dated: 5 December 1946: Ref:43D
      To: Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Headquarters (Overseas)
      From: A H Willey
      
      "With reference to your letters of 16^th September and 2^nd December 1946,this is to inform you that the Central Honours Committee has not as yet, given authority for F/L Brooks to accept and wear without restrictions the Polish decorations presented to him."

   8. Letter dated: 10 December 1946 : Ref: 43E
      To: F.S. Yuill
      From: Sir Robert Knox, H.M. Treasury, Great George Street, S.W.
      
      

   9. Letter dated: 14 December 1946 : Ref: 43F
      To: Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Headquarters (Overseas)
      From: A H Willey
      
      "With reference to the Air Ministry letter dated 5–Dec 1946 a reply has been received from the Central Honours Committee. An extract is appended which is self-explanatory."
      (essentially repeats letter 43E above)

3. At this point the CANADIANS took over.....
   
   Letter; 3 February 1947,
   To: DND
   From: S/L J.M. Enstone (Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Overseas Headquarters)
   
   Re: Brooks with many Appendices as follows:

   1. APPENDIX "A"
      
      a) EXTRACT FROM LETTER DATED 10^TH DECEMBER 1946
      – See item 2 viii) above. –
      "The Provisional Polish Government in Warsaw has recently protested about the issue of Polish decorations except under their authority. Group Captain Bohuszewicz, who signed the certificate produced in support of the application for permission to accept the awards for Flight Lieutenant Brooks, does not function under the authority of the Warsaw Government".
      
      b) EXTRACT FROM LETTER DATED 17^th DECEMBER 1946 from Squadron Leader J.M. Enstone for Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Overseas
      "A reply has been received from the Central Honours Committee relative to your Polish awards, to the effect that if you were a Royal Air Force officer it would not be possible to take official cognizance of the awards in view of the awards not having been referred to H.M. Government and agreed to by the Government before recognition was withdrawn from the former Polish Government, 6^th July 1945.
      Inasmuch as you are a Royal Canadian Air Force officer however, it is desired to bring this matter to the attention of Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa, for their comment."

   2. APPENDIX "B"
      
      a) Letter, 28 January 1947, Major W. Klonkowski (officer in charge of Award and Decoration Section, Polish General Staff, London), to S/L J.M. Enstone, Acting Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Overseas Headquarters:
      
      "I would like to inform you that F/L H. Brooks was awarded, on January the 20^th, 1945, the Polish Cross of Valour, and on January the 25^th, 1945, the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords.
      
      The above awards were made by the Commander of the Polish Underground Army in Poland during F/L H. Brooks' service there between May 1943 and 26^th January 1945.
      
      When F/L H. Brooks returned to England and proved his awards by special certificates given to him by the Commander of the Underground Army, they were confirmed by the President of the Republic of Poland in Exile.
      
      The Cross of Valour was presented to F/L H. Brooks on December the 6^th 1945, and the Cross of Merit with Swords on June the 6^th 1946.
      
      I enclose a certificate authorising F/L H. Brooks to wear the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords."

   3. APPENDIX "C"
      
      Document issued by Polish General Staff, London, 6 December 1945:(SEE ORIGINAL in previous SECTION)
      
      C E R T I F I C A T E
      It is certified that F/Lt. Hubert Brooks, born 29.12,1921, Alberta, Canada – has been awarded the CROSS OF VALOUR on the 20^st January 1945, by the Commander of the Polish Home Army for his generous courage and bravery during his service in the Polish Underground Army from May 1943 to 26^st January 1945.
      
      Stamped with crest         signed: W. Bohuszewicz
                                                      Group Captain

   4. APPENDIX "D"
      
      Identity card dated 6 December 1945 and issued by Polish General Staff, noting that P/O Hubert Brooks is entitled to wear the Cross of Valour; further noted: "Award published in the "Gazette of the Personal", No.2 dated 8 March 1946 and signed by Group Captain W/ Bohuszewicz.
      (SEE ORIGINAL earlier in previous SECTION)

   5. APPENDIX "E"
      
      Translation of a Polish document dated 20 January 1945.
      
      C E R T I F I C A T E
      I certify that the bearer of this certificate P/O Hubert Brooks took part in engagements against the Germans on the Polish territory among the groups of the Polish Home Army / A.K./.
      The above mentioned officer distinguished himself with courage and bravery and has been awarded the Cross of Valour.
      The decoration has not been presented because the award should be confirmed by the (Polish) Government in London.
      
      (signed) Borowy, Major
      (SEE ORIGINAL document in previous SECTION)

   6. APPENDIX "F"
      
      Document dated London, 4^th June 1946, from "General Staff"
      
      C E R T I F I C A T E
      It is certified herewith, that the Commander of the Polish Home Army by order of the 20^th January 1945 has conferred the SILVER CROSS OF MERIT WITH SWORDS on F/Lt Hubert Brooks for bravery during his service in the Polish Home Army in Poland from May 1943 to 26 January 1945.
      
      Stamped with crest         signed: W. Bohuszewicz
                                                      Group Captain
      (SEE ORIGINAL document in previous SECTION)

   7. APPENDIX "G"
      
      Document issued in London, January 1947 by "Polish General Staff"
      
      C E R T I F I C A T E
      It is hereby certified that F/L H. BROOKS was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords during his service in the Polish Underground Army in Poland from May 1943 to the 26^st January 1945, and is entitled to wear the above named decoration.
      
      SZTAB GLOWNY                signed by: W. Klonkowski, Major
      stamp of crest                    Officer in Charge of the Award and Decoration Section
                                              POLISH GENERAL STAFF
      
      (SEE ORIGINAL earlier in this SECTION)

4. Memo, 19 February 1947, W/C W.A. Dicks (RCAF Records Officer) to Air Member for Personnel:
   
   Honours and Awards – Foreign Decorations
   J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC

   1. Hereunder is correspondence received from CLO concerning Polish recognition for the a/n officer for services rendered the Polish underground forces subsequent to his escape from POW camps, Germany.

   2. F/L Brooks was awarded and invested with the Polish Cross of Valour and the Polish Silver Cross of Merit by persons who, it appears, do not presently function under the Warsaw Government. From Appendix "A" (correspondence hereunder) it seems that the Warsaw Government has been strongly protesting regarding the issue of Polish decorations except under their authority.

   3. It is pointed out that:

      1. The Polish authorities did not enlist the acceptance of these awards from the RCAF.

      2. F/L Brooks received the MC for services rendered prior to and subsequent to his escape as a POW and RCAF policy dictates that a foreign gallantry award will not be accepted where the gallantry in question has been recognized by the award of a British decoration.

   4. In view of the possible political embarrassment involved, it is recommended that the RCAF does not take any official cognizance of the Polish awards in question, and if you concur the CLO will be requested to inform the Central Honours Committee accordingly.

5. Memo,
   1 March 1947,
   W/C W.A. Dicks (RCAF Records Officer) Ottawa
   To: CLO (Chief Liaison Officer) , RCAF Overseas Headquarters, London
   
   Honours and Awards – Foreign Decorations
   J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC

   1. In reply to your referenced correspondence, it is advised that the RCAF will not take official cognizance of the Polish awards with which the a/n officer was invested.

   2. It is requested that the Central Honours Committee be advised accordingly.

6. FILE NOTE Dated 17 September 1947,
   Signed by F/L E.R. Heggtveit, EA
   To: AMP (Campbell) – apparently not directed to anyone in particular
   
   That concludes: F/L Brooks will be given authorization to wear the ribbons in question

   

7. Memo
   Dated 15 October 1947;
   From: A/V/M Hugh Campbell (AMP)
   To: AMAP (Morfee)
   
   Honours and Awards – Foreign Decorations
   J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC
   

   1. The a/n officer who was recently taken on strength of this HQ, and posted to your Division for duty, was awarded the Polish Silver Cross of Merit with Swords and the Polish Cross of Valour for meritorious services rendered the Polish underground forces subsequent to having escaped from German custody as a prisoner of war.

   2. It will be observed from the folios in this file that official RCAF recognition of these awards was withheld from this officer, even though the awards were confirmed by the President of the Republic of Poland and F/O Brooks had been invested with the actual insignia. This course of action was taken because of the complicated political picture in the country concerned and the attitude adopted towards this subject by the British authorities due to the unstable nature of the government in question.

   3. It will be noted at flagged folio "A", however, this HQ has taken cognizance of these awards by virtue of having F/O Brooks' records annotated accordingly, although no promulgation action in either the Canada Gazette or AFROs was taken. On reviewing the whole case, it has been decided that our previous ruling in this case should now be interpreted as granting permission for this officer to wear the ribbons of these awards on Service uniform in addition to the recording action taken, but as in the first instance, no promulgation action will be undertaken at the present time.

   4. In view of the above, may F/O Brooks be informed that permission to wear the ribbons of the Polish decorations in question is granted.

John Duncan Polish Medal Controversy Epilog

Sadly as a related epilog, John Duncan experienced similar difficulties with the British Army authorities.

• On 25–July–1946 he was also awarded the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords by the Polish Army for bravery with the Polish Underground Army.

• The British War Office refused him permission to wear his award by decree on 12–Feb–1946 ref no 68/GEN/8044 (MS3L).

This was rather "rich" as it had been the British Government (through the RAF) that had specifically asked John and I to remain in Poland and fight out the rest of the war with the Polish AK partisans.

The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks M.C. C.D.