Bravery Medal

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, I had a naked Bravery Medal in my collection which was devoid of a ribbon and suspension device. Thanks to Richie, it is now restored to it's former glory with a new replacement ribbon etc!

Serial number is:1275837


Awarding of the medal "For Bravery" is made for personal courage and bravery displayed:

in battles with the enemies of the socialist motherland;
:while protecting the state border of the USSR;
:in the performance of military duty under conditions involving a risk to life.

Cheers, Ade.

[Reg]

That looks great now Ade, Did the Red army keep records on who was allocated which serial numbered medal? IE, would it be possible to trace the original recipient and find out the circumstances of its being awarded?
Cheers
Reg

[Alan M]

She`s a beauty now she`s "dressed " Ade !!

cheers Al

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Reg, yes, the records were kept and are available. There are various researchers who can supply you with copies of the records plus a translation into English if needed. The slight downside is the cost involved. I think and am open to correction on this, that it is around the $100 mark? Sometimes this costs more than the value of the award. Of course a researched award does increase in value. But don't ask me a % on this though? I really intend to get all my serial numbered awards researched someday once funds permit. Some are a better bet for having the research done than others. For instance, Orders of the Red Star can be awarded both for bravery but also long service. Under a certain serial number it is a fairly safe bet it was for bravery, above that is a lottery. But Bravery Medals, Orders of Glory, etc are for actions involving bravery. Of course research will most likely reveal that the soldier had other awards which will now be missing from the "group" which will be my case, as all mine are singles. But I would still get a big thrill out of knowing the history behind the awards.

Hi Al, yes I am really pleased with it. I think this forum has the best comradeship of any site!

Cheers, Ade.

[Reg]

Great that it can be researched, though I agree $100 is a bit pricey.

Reg

[Ed_Haynes]

Well said, Ade.

Just now, though there have been political "bumps" in the process, you can get most military awards researched. Research on naval or KGB awards is spotty, and it depends very much on the particular researcher you use, their mood, and the mood of the archivists. Some can even research some of the early labor awards.

And you'll never know what you'll find. Even within the sad "long service" award ranges, there are hidden gems. When you turn up a Red Banner for Suez, a Red Star for Czechoslovakia, MMM for Suez, or Red Stars to Mongolians (I have had all these results) it is well worth the process. And, much to my surprise, research on Afghan-war-era awards is pretty easy. And even it turns out to be a long service award, it is still part of a person,. their history, and their career. Even HSU recipients got long service awards (never had one of those though).

I have shown abbreviated research results in my "my Soviet collection" thread. May put up a sample group in full to give an example of what you get (if anyone is interested). Or, if it doesn't violate forum policy, I can direct you to where these are already up; unless needed or desired, I hate duplicating threads across fora.

[Ed_Haynes]

Great that it can be researched, though I agree $100 is a bit pricey.

Reg

Well, when you consider what is involved in doing it . . . ????

Real research is hard work.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Ed, posting links is fine, it all helps people.

I would indeed be happy to have a potential Long Service award researched, like you say, you just don't know where that research may take you. Yesterday I just purchased my first post war Order of the Red Star, 1952 I am thinking, so the chances are it may be a long service job.

Am I about right in quoting $100 for research?

Cheers, Ade.

[Ed_Haynes]

Depending on what you get -- award record card, recommendation, full service record (often with photo) if it is an officer's, recommendations for any other awards, autobiographies (if any), newspaper clippings, and full translation -- $100 is about right and seems quite fair to me. Fees dffers by researcher, as does the speed and quality of the service and how much "encouragement" the archivist on duty needs. (Never forget that researching, or even owning, these things is legally grey in today's Russia.) Also never forget that is the researcher looks and finds nothing, there is no charge; and, moreover, that it often takes much more time to conduct an unsuccessful serrch than to conduct a successful one.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Thanks Ed that is all useful info to know.

Cheers, Ade.