A Free Polish Army gallantry, campaign, insignia and document group that of Lance Corporal (Driver) Stanisław Łagowski, 22nd (Artillery Supply) Company, Polish Army Service Corps, including Monte Cassino Cross with Legitymacje, number 44189; Second World War Campaign medals; two 'Wojtek' collar badges; 11th Carpathian Field Artillery regiment badge; RoSPA National Safe Driving award with 1970 - 1973 clasps; 1927-28 school certificate; military driving license, number 18252; British WW2 transmittal slips; soldier's service and pay book; Aliens Order registration booklet with endorsements and photograph; official government letters granting naturalisation and the 1939-45 British War medal and family and other photographs

[Stanisław Łagowski (1914-75) was born on 5 October 1914 at Przedbórz, north-west of Kielce. By 1927, however, he was at school at Delejów in the Stanisławów province of south-east Poland. He worked as a carpenter, and remained in this area up to the outbreak of war – following which, he managed to survive Soviet captivity. In 1942, Stanisław Łagowski joined the Polish Army which was forming in the USSR, and had reached Palestine by at least July of that year. In January 1943, he was permitted to drive military vehicles as a member of the ‘Polish Army in the East’. He went on to serve with the 22^nd (Artillery Supply) Company, Polish ASC – the same unit, which gave a home to Wojtek, the ‘shell-carrying’ bear. Lance Corporal Łagowski took part in the Italian campaign and, in July 1946, was awarded the Exemplary Driver Badge, 2^nd Class. He arrived in the UK on 20 October 1946 and worked as a coal miner around central Scotland, before settling in West Lothian. At some point, he became a motor van driver and salesman with the Co-operative Society – and was very proud of his safe driving record. Latterly, he was living at 28 Burnside Road, Polbeth, West Lothian. Stanisław Łagowski died at Bangour Hospital on 23 May 1975 – his death being registered, in fact, under the surname ‘Forbes’.]