WW2 Soviet Medals

[douglas2496]

Just bought this medal group on Ebay for £28 which I think was a bargain. They are left to right- 30 years of the Red Army, Victory over Germany, Valiant Labour, Defense of Leningrad and the medal for Courage. Its interesting to see a civllian award (Valiant Labourer) amongst the military ones. Its always a shame with items like this where the history and even the name of the recipient is lost.

[Adam M]

Defiantly a bargain, nice find

[Philippe]

Hi,
The medals are nice but are not in the correct order. You should be first:
for bravery, defense of Leningrad, for the victory over germany in the great patriotic war, a labor valliant the great patriotic war and 30 years of the Soviet army and navy.
Regards.

[douglas2496]

Thanks for that, it never occurred to me to check the order. Isnt it a bit odd that they are out of order, since the mount appears to be contemporary? Dosnt it seem likely that the veteran wore them like this?

[Moshemotom]

Isn't it possible to have the name traced through the Courage medals serial number? Auke, a member on this forum specialises in researching things like this. Here's his site incase you want to inquire about getting it researched - Auke de Vlieger.

I only suggest it because you got such a bargain on the group, it might be worth spending a few quid on finding who won them.

Tom

[Philippe]

Hi,
Suspension and ribbons are old. It is likely that the veteran and wearing his medals.
I can reach you a picture of a suspension which is made of regulatory, so (in the correct order, as well as mounting ribbons).

Regards.

[douglas2496]

Thank you for the responses and the photo of the group in the correct order.

Tom, these are my first Soviet awards and I was not aware they could be traced. I will look into this as it would be most interesting. Thanks.

Doug

[Bill Garvy]

Doug, yes, indeed, the number on the reverse of the Bravery Medal, or Medal for Courage, could be researched, and I encourage you to do so. The Award Card may also document the validity of the other medals as well.

[Auke]

Thanks for that, it never occurred to me to check the order. Isnt it a bit odd that they are out of order, since the mount appears to be contemporary? Dosnt it seem likely that the veteran wore them like this?

It's not the first bar I've seen mounted in this manner. If he wore his medal bar on a civilian suit upon being discharged, the bar would have been attached diagonally along his lapel. The medals would then overlap, with the medal on the right being on top. The same could be seen on military uniforms from the 1960s, where officers sometimes wore their medals in reverse order along the lapel to make their highest award - the one on top - stand out.

I can't find a good example, but this is the kind of uniform I'm talking about: Ãâàðäèè ïîäïîëêîâíèê Êàë¸íîâ Íèêîëàé Àêèìîâè÷
If he wore his awards in reverse order, his Order of Lenin would occupy a more prominent position.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Douglas, congrats on your bargain! Very nice. I agree, well worth talking with Auke about researching them.

Cheers, Ade.