Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Kapral (Corporal)

Unit:

2nd Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st Squadron, 10th Dragoons, 1st Polish Armoured Division, Polish Armed Forces in the West

"Commander of a patrol sent to the outskirts [of a town] to rescue a wounded soldier left there the day before. Despite heavy enemy mortar fire, and while covered by his section he crawled to the wounded man and dragged him back to safety."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Kapral (Corporal)

Unit:

2nd Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st Squadron, 10th Dragoons, 1st Polish Armoured Division, Polish Armed Forces in the West

"On 16 April 1945 as commander of the 2nd Reconnaissance Platoon he received an order to reconnoitre bridges on the way to the town of Borsum [Rhede Borsum, Lower Saxony, Germany]. On seeing the guns of two enemy tanks which began shooting, he gave the order to take cover. The fire from the enemy tanks was accurate killing five people, two carriers were damaged and three other persons were severely injured in the burning vehicles and from heavy enemy machine-gun fire. At the time of withdrawing the last of the wounded, Lance Sergeant Władysław Sliwa was mortally wounded and died beside him. [Prella] placed three injured, Corporal Edward Pachurka, Riflemen Kazimierz Bilinski and Józef Biedzycki into a ditch to protect them from further enemy fire and explosions from grenades and ammunition in the burning carriers. On seeing a six-man enemy patrol advancing in his direction and being completely alone with the wounded he allowed them to approach within 60 metres before opening fire with his Sten [gun]. Having killed three of the patrol, he took the other three prisoners. He thereafter remained in position tending the wounded until help arrived."