A Second War Soviet Order of Glory group of three awarded to Private A. E. Kolesnik, 847th Mortar Rifle Regiment

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Order of Glory, 3rd Class badge, silver and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘490020’; Medal for Bravery, 2nd type, silver, lacking enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘1501202’; Victory over Germany Medal 1941-45, mounted Russian style as worn, very fine and better (3) £100-£140

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, July 2004.

The Order of Glory, 3rd Class, number ‘490020’ was awarded to Private Artem Evtikhievich Kolesnik, a 120mm. Mortar Loader with the 847th Mortar Rifle Kishiniv Order of Kutusov Regiment, 303rd Rifle Verkhnedneprovsk Red Banner Division, 25th Guards Rifle Corps, 7th Guards Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front. Awarded by Order dated, 15 May 1945.

A translation of his citation reads, ‘In battles for the city of Bratislava on 4 April 1945, the mortar loader Comrade Kolesnik destroyed four machine gun points with their crews, three bicycles and up to thirty Hitlerites.’

The Medal for Bravery, number ‘1501202’ was also awarded to the above. Awarded by Order dated, 6 September 1944.

A translation of his citation reads, ‘Mortarman in battery of 120mm. mortars, Private Kolesnik, Artem Evikhievich, during the breaking of the enemy’s defences as a member of the 3rd Crew of the Battery, quickly and precisely carried out his duty and as a result of this the crew destroyed two enemy strong points, a mortar battery and up to twenty German soldiers.’

Artem Evtikhievich Kolesnik was born in 1904 in the village of Studena in Vinitskaya Oblast, Pechanskii Region of Ukraine. He served in the Red Army from October 1926 to October 1928 and from March 1944 to August 1945.

Sold together with the recipient’s original awards booklet which lists the above; together with copied service and award details with translations, and other research.