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A presentation of medals in a cinema

The Netherlands

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On a Saturday 25 November 1944, Britain's supreme commander, Field Marshal Montgomery, presented awards to Polish soldiers in a cinema.

Almost a month after the liberation of Breda, high-ranking visitors arrived in the city in Nassau municipality. Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery presented British military decorations to soldiers of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, starting with their commander, Major General Stanisław Maczek, in a ceremony which took place at the Casino Cinema.

Montgomery began, as was usual, with a short speech. Then, one by one, the soldiers were called forward to receive their awards. First, it was the officers' turn, then the non-commissioned officers and men. The highest award, the Distinguished Service Order, was presented first, followed by the Order of the British Empire, the Military Cross and the Military Medal. The soldiers walked up to Montgomery, standing to attention and saluting. The field marshal then attached the decoration to the uniform and asked several questions, after which the men saluted again and walked back to the line. To conclude the ceremony, Montgomery in turn received from Maczek the highest Polish decoration, the Virtuti Militari.

Twenty awards should have been presented that day, but six soldiers were absent: four were in hospital and two had died in the meantime. However, the latter were not forgotten that day: their names were read out, after which General Maczek shouted in English and Polish that they had fallen, 'Killed in Action. Polegl na polu chwaly.'

Thus, this cinema building has a special place in the memory of Breda residents and Polish liberators. The Casino Cinema began in 1910 as Hof van Holland and after 1933 was a 960-seat cinema. In 2008, the last film screening took place, and years later the interior of the building was converted into what it is today, the Foodhall.

Address

Reigerstraat 24, 4811 XB Breda, Nederland, Noord-Brabant