PSZnZ - Set of Memorabilia of General Henryk Piatkowski

A set of memorabilia of General Henryk Piatkowski
General Henryk Piatkowski is a figure associated with the remarkable story of the May Coup of 1926. During these events, he stood on the Poniatowski Bridge at the head of a detachment, paving the way for Marshal Jozef Pilsudski and threatening to carry out the order to open fire. In later years, he served as commander and chief of staff of the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino, and commanded the 5th Vilnius Infantry Brigade, including at the Battle of Ancona.
Index University of Warsaw Faculty of Law and Political Science
Photo with Gen. Anders along with the autograph of Gen. Anders
A set of decoration ribbons consisting of :
1. Virtuti Militari IV cl.
2. Virtuti Militari 5th cl.
Cross of Valor IIRP
4. Cross of Valor PSZnZ
5. the Golden Cross of Merit
6. the Cross of Independence
7. the Silver Cross of Merit
8. the Monte Cassino Cross
9. 10th Anniversary Medal of the Restoration of Independence
10. the (British) War Star 1939-45
11. (British) Africa Star
12.(British) Italy Star (Star of Italy).
Commemorative plaque of the 5th Vilnius Infantry Brigade
General condition as in the photos.
Henryk Tadeusz Piątkowski a.k.a. "Grzmot", "Blyskawica" (born July 11, 1902 in Brzezinka, died April 1, 1969 in Penley, Wales) - a certified colonel of infantry of the Polish Army, knight of the Order of Virtuti Militari. In 1964 appointed brigadier general by the authorities in exile.
He studied at the C. K. Gimnazjum VIII in Lviv. In 1917 he joined the Polish Military Organization (POW)]. In November 1918 he fought in the defense of Lviv as head of a staff company.
From January 1919 he served in the 5th infantry regiment of the Legions, then in the Lviv Rifle Brigade. From June 1, 1919, he was a second lieutenant. Student of the School of Infantry Cadets, then on the cadre of this school. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on June 1, 1921. In the academic year 1921/22 he was a Student at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Law and Political Science
During this time he practiced athletics. He was Polish champion in the 4 × 100 meter relay in 1925, vice-champion in the 110 meter run over hurdles and in the 4 × 100 meter relay in 1924, as well as bronze medalist in the 100 meter run in 1924 and in the 200 meter run in 1923. He set Polish records twice: in the 200 meter run over hurdles with a time of 29.4 seconds (September 30, 1923 in Warsaw) and in the 4 × 100 meter relay with a score of 45.4 seconds (September 12, 1925 in Warsaw). He was a player for Polonia Warsaw.
During the May Coup, he and the Infantry Cadet School sided with the government troops. The unit under his command manned the Poniatowski Bridge. Lieutenant Piatkowski was present during the conversation between Marshal Jozef Pilsudski and President Stanislaw Wojciechowski, and it was he who, when asked by Pilsudski whether he would shoot at him, replied that he would, because that was the order he received.
Description according to the account of Gen. Henryk Piatkowski:
"When I noticed this, I jumped between the Marshal and those senior cadets and shouted: "Cordon across the bridge, do not let Mr. Marshal through" While Capt. Pajak commanded: "Load the guns!" Although the cadets already had their weapons loaded, they slammed the locks of their rifles. At that moment the Marshal grabbed me by the wrist of my right hand and said: "What is it, child, that you will shoot at me?" Looking the Marshal in the eye, I replied: "Yes, sir, Mr. Marshal! I have an order from the Lord President and one more step and I will order you to shoot! (...) I saw the Marshal's face right next to mine. He was pale. His eyes were rimmed with red and great fatigue shone through from his face. But he hadn't given up yet. He turned directly to the cadets with a question: "Children, won't you let me pass? Several voices of the cadets spoke up: "No, Mr. Marshal, we have such an order from the Lord President." Pilsudski became convinced that he would not be able to meet anything peacefully and that he would certainly encounter armed resistance. This was the first defeat for the Marshal, whose carefully planned action had so far gone off without a hitch. The show of force did not end there. When Pilsudski left the fighting began."

https://przegladsportowy.onet.pl/lekkoatletyka/henryk-piatkowski-i-jego-historia-grozil-pilsudskiemu/bzwgy3k
From September 1927 to September 1930 he was a platoon and company commander in the 1st Rifle Battalion in Chojnice. On January 1, 1930 he was promoted to captain. From October 1930 to October 1932 he was a student at the Higher War College in Warsaw. He then served as 1st staff officer in the command of the 1st Legion Infantry Division in Vilna (until April 1934) and the command of the 7th Infantry Division in Czestochowa (until May 1935). Until January 1936 he commanded a company in the 27th Infantry Regiment in Czestochowa.
From January 1936, he was a commissioned officer at the General Staff of the Polish Army. He was appointed to the rank of major with seniority as of March 19, 1937 and 131st in the corps of infantry officers.
After the September campaign, he made his way to Romania, where he was interned. After his escape, he was active in Istanbul, and then on the staff of the Polish Army in the Middle East. From February he served in the command of the Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade, from October 1942 to August 1943 he was its chief of staff. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel graduated in May 1943. Until May 1944 he was chief of staff of the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, and took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino. From June to November 1944 he commanded the 5th Vilnius Infantry Brigade, including in the Battle of Ancona. From September 1944 he was a certified colonel. From November 1944 to September 1946 First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander. Later in the Polish Resettlement Corps. Deprived of Polish citizenship by decree of the Provisional Government of National Unity of September 6, 1946, repealed in 1971. Member of the Polish Scientific Society Abroad.
Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Władysław Anders promoted him to brigadier general with seniority as of January 1, 1964. He died in Penley. He was buried in South Ealing Cemetery in London.

Source of biography taken from
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henryk_Pi%C4%85tkowski_(genera%C5%82)
https://goleniow.net.pl/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.45