Poland, Ii Republic. A Women's Army Auxiliary Service (Waas), Ii Korps, 316 Transport Company Plaque

(Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet (PWSK), 316 Kompania Transportowa). In copper, with a silvered reverse, illustrating a truck with two helmeted women onboard, one driving, the other as a passenger, inscribed "PALESTINE - IRAQ - EGYPT" over the radiator grill, with "ITALIA" (Italy) immediately below, the dates "1942" and "1946" inscribed on either side of the grill on the hood, with regimental insignia placed below the headlights, the British 8th Army on the left and the II Polish Corps on the right, inscribed "2 POLSKI KORPUS" (II Polish Corps) on the bumper and "PWSK" (Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet = Women's Army Auxiliary Service) between the wheels, inscribed "POMOCNICZA WOJSKOWA SŁUZBA KOBIET" (PWSK) above the truck, with rules on either side of the truck defining the roadway, the truck framed within a u-shaped ornate border that is surmounted by the Polish Army eagle insignia with a "POLAND" ribbon banner, the truck flanked by the Jerusalem Cross on the left and the Commemorative Cross of Monte Casino on the right, all on a dimpled background, surrounded by the inscription "316 KOMPANIA TRANSPORTOWA / MONTE CASSINO - ANCONA - BOLOGNA" (316 Transport Company / Monte Casino, Ancona, Bologna), along with laurel leaves and berries placed on either side between the two inscriptions, measuring 136 mm in diameter, the reverse with two wavy copper wires soldered in place that are attached to a large copper loop for wall hanging, along with exhibiting scattered silver wear, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Women's Auxiliary Service (WAS) (Pomocnicza Służba Kobiet = PSK, AKA Pestki) was a unit of Polish Armed Forces during the Second World War established in 1941 by the initiative of Lieutenant General Władysław Anders, while creating the Polish Armed Forces in the East. They worked as nurses, cooks and teachers in schools for war orphans, secretaries in staffs, pilots, drivers, etc. In active service there were around 4,000 volunteers at any time during the war, but on July 1, 1945, at their peak, there were 7,000 women in WAS. In 1944, the WAS was transferred to II Corps in Italy. In July 1944, the Minister of National Defence re-organized the WAS, separating it into three new units: Women's Army Auxiliary Service (WAAS) (Pomocnicza Wojskowa Służba Kobiet = PWSK), Women's Air Force Auxiliary Service (WAFAS) (Pomocnicza Lotnicza Służba Kobiet = PLSK) and Women's Naval Auxiliary Service (WNAS) (Pomocnicza Morska Służba Kobiet = PMSK). The same bylaw established Headquarters of the WAAS, Commandants of WAAS, WAFAS, WNAS and Superintendents to corps and armies' commands. Commissioned officers were appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland. Military ranks were also harmonized with ranks of the Polish Armed Forces in the West. The First Superintendent of the WAS was Władysława Piechowska, another was Zofia Leśniowska. The WAS was disbanded in March 1946.