Egorka

The other ship where CHEKMENEV briefly served was minesweeper "Vekha". Built in 1938. One of the 10 ship of its project (#53). Displacement - 410-503 tons ; length - 62m ; width - 7,2m ; draft - 2,3m ; speed - 17,8 knots ; engine - 2 diesel 2500hps ; fuel tank - 60 tons ; crew - 70 men. Armament: 1 - 100mm cannon ; 1 - 45mm cannon ; 1 - 20mm AA gun ; one 4 barrels 12,7mm MG ; 20 depth charges ; 28 floating mines. Scrapped in 1950s.

The ships at which the veteran served: River monitor "Sverdlov". Taifun "Typhoon" class (7 in class, but 3 armed 4x130mm, 3 armed 8x120mm, and 1 armed 4x152mm). Displacement: 965-977 tons. Speed: 10-15 knots. Armament: 4 x 152 mm, 2 x 37 mm, 6 x 20 mm, 4 x 12.7 mm and 5 x 7.62 mm machine guns. Armor: belt, 76 - 38mm; bulkheads, 9mm; turrets, 76mm; deck, 19mm; CT, 51mm. Launched 1909, Tsarist Commision Sept 1910, Soviet Commission 24 April 1922. Repairs and upgrades in 1934 - 1935. In August 1945, participated fighting along the Songhua River and in the capture of Fuyuan and Jiamusi in Heilongjiang (Manchuria). 30 August 1945 awarded Guards title. Scrapped, the 13 March 1958. In 1929, the monitor participated in the last and (possibly) the largest ever monitors and riverine gunboats battle in the modern history. Soviet navy had a total and decisive river's victory using monitors during conflict against Nationalist China. There were a number of Chinese boats and monitors sunk and no Soviet losses. And here is the cherry: the photograph of the "Sverdlov" monitor engine mechanics crew. CHEKMENEV must be one of them! The year the photo is taken is not clear, but it must be before 1939, I think. The petty officer in the middle must me CHEKMENEV himself!

This is the service record covering years 1925 - 1944. The Red Star citation: "Senior Lt. Engineer CHEKMENEV is hard working, persistent, and decisive officer. Since the beginning of the war against Japan, he skilfully organised and personally supervised the repairs of two minesweepers UMS #523 and AM #148, which were under repairs at the workshop. As the result, both minesweepers entered the service ahead of the schedule, 6 days and 9 days respectively, and departed to the mission for meeting in the ocean and convoying to the Petropavlovsk Navy base the ships arriving from USA. He excellently organised the equipment preparation of the 1st marine squad (MO-1) of the 6th patrol boat squadron for the passage from Patropavlovsk Navy base to the island Shumshu, for the mission supporting the amphibious landing of our troops. The material equipment of the 1st marine squad had no malfunctions during the whole mission. He is worthy of medal For Combat Merits. Signed: Head of Staff of Petropavlovsk Navy base, Pacific fleet, Lt.-Captain PANKRATOV. 10 September 1945"

Kaboom! One more here! You'll be a millionaire soon.

Hello! Another interesting catch from Kassel militaria show this year. Please, meet Lt.-Commander of Engineers CHEKMENEV Ivan Kuz'mich, 1903. Entered the service in 1925 as a cadet on Black sea Fleet. Later in December 1926 after finishing the Navy school, he was trasfered to Amour flotilla and began his service as an mechanic on monitor "Sverdlov". He rose in the ranks and by 1936 became the head of "Sverdlov" 5th battle station, i.e. the head of electromechanics crew. 1937-1941 - cadet of High Navy school. After finishing the school, he was sent to Pacific Navy and entered as 5th battle station commander on minesweeper "Vekha". From 1943 he becomes chief engineer for the whole 6th minesweeper squadron. Awards: Red Star in 1935 Red Star in 1944 (long service award) Red Star for campaign against Japan (this one). Order of Red Banner in 1946 Order of Lenin in 1949 Order of Red Banner 2 in 1943.

Yes, Francois! Do you want me to take a selfie with it holding a pineapple or another exotic fruit? I am looking forward to research it properly!

Hello, I could not find an appropriate section on the forum... So here it is. Came home with me from Kassel militaria show 2017. The Crimea medal with Sebastobol clasp and 2 documents: - Promotion from Jr. Lt. to Lieutenant. - Award document for British Crimea medal in 1856. He later in 1862 was promoted to Captain adjutant Major and awarded Légion d'honneur. Born in 1823. Whole career in 6 Cuirassier regiment. More documents here: Lt. BRASSEUR

Hello, Could you, please, mention what other research points it this silversmith? Any photos to share? For me the letters are "ГД" = "GD". I don't think it looks like an "A" at all. But I could be wrong as the decorative fonts can be deceiving.

This is REAL scary stuff!!! My mind simply cannot grasp how this is possible. Think of what probability of these being two different pieces!

Sometimes just a thought of wetting a ribbon can already start fading process. So, as they say: "don't think about a white monkey!"

Hello! Quite interesting.... and strange... You see, the text in Russian is the quote from a poem written by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach in 1937. The quote means: "Don't touch us - we don't touch you. If you do - we give no quarter!" But then the quote is signed "From Budyonny marching song". But the Budyonny march, which was written on and after 1920, does not have these words. Is there a star on the cossack's hat??? But of white color? Or it was red, but later washed off, as it is possible with water colors? I think, the pencil inscription in the bottom is in Serbian, right? What does it exactly read? I understand but not good enough.

One more interesting detail is that DOSAEVs OGIII citation is signed by two HSUs. The first one, the 629 rifle regiment Commander HSU Colonel KORTUNOV, Aleksey Kirillovich (1907–1973). He was actually a remarkable man. After the war he eventually became the first Head of the Ministry for Oil and Gas Construction, the organisation known today as GAZPROM ( here is an article about him in English ). In fact, in 2003 GASPROM issues "Kortunov medal" ( award example ) to distinguish the best employees. Well, when they make a medal with your name, you know your life was not passed in vain. You can a also see Colonel KORTUNOV with his regiment banner, which sustained numerous cuts from enemy shrapnel.

Glad to help! I think, it is a membership badge. I am trying to find it online, but fail so far to locate exactly this type. Could you post the reverse, please?

Hello, Please, meet Private DOSAEV Isaak Alekseevich. Born in 1912. A Tartar by nationality (this will play a role as you read further). OGIII # 152027 According to the award registration card he was a backer at 134 rifle division. Awarded CSM medal on 26 August 1943 and OGIII on 21 May 1945. The register card is actually a little misleading here. You see, by the time the veteran earned his OGIII he was in fact a rifleman at 1 company, 1 battalion, 629 rifle regiment, 134 rifle "Verdisnakya" Red Banner Suvorov order division. The OGIII citation reads: In the fight for taking village Wilmersdorf on 22 April 1945, comrade DOSAEV exhibited exceptional gallantry. He was the first one to rush into the enemy trenches and with his personal weapon eliminated 4 German soldiers, and captured 7 enemy soldiers. In this engagement comrade DOSAEV was wounded and evacuated to the hospital. For exhibited gallantry in the fight against the German invaders, comrade DOSAEV is worthy of order of "Glory III class”. 629th “Regiment losses on 22.04.45: KIA - 42, WIA - 151 men.” But, then why "a backer"??? Well, this is because previously comrade Dosaev served at a field backery at 5 artillery division. So it is quite relevant to bring up his CSM citation. :-) CSM medal # 390397, 26.08.1943 Unit: 5 Artillery Division of the Supreme Command Reserve, Central Front). “Comrade DASAEV occupies baker position. In his duty at the field bakery of the 5th Artillery Division RGK, he,through his persistent effort, achieved 54% backing surplus maintaining good quality of the product. This allowed for economy of 620kg of flour during June month. On top of that he saved 15kg of vegetable oil. Comrade DASAEV is disciplined and demanding towards himself and his subordinates. Loyal to the Party of LENIN-STALIN and to the Socialist Motherland. Recommended for Combat Service Merits medal.” That is not all. One more interesting observation here. The veteran was a Tartar. And as it quite frequent happens with documents for people of national minorities, their names get unintentionally twisted sometimes. F.ex. here we have three documents and three different names. The difference is not big enough for us to get confused. But it is nonetheless a good illustration. CSM citation 1943: Dasaev Isaak Aleevich OGIII citation 1945: Dosaev Iskhap Aleevich Register card 1947: Dosaev Isaak Alekseevich In fact, the award register card has pencil hand writing stating "the name and middle name are wrong".

"Navy submarine sailors union". It exists since 1992. The site of the organisation: http://smproo.ru/news/index.php

Hello! Not only one font. More or less everything. You know what, I do understand it is a bit frustrating that people cannot tell you one big specific thing which is wrong. Well, maybe someone else can, but I cannot. A lot of this is expert opinion. Mine is negative. But I would be glad if you or someone else can convince me otherwise. F.ex. this is a fake one. Looks similar to the one here. These are good ones: These are good:

Let Claudius correct me, but the font alone tells the tale on the St.George cross. See the difference from these originals. .

Looking through the list , I think, the veteran is GARDES Gaston Raoul Philippe (1889 - 1974) born, lived, and died in Paris (13 arrondissement). Legion of Honour cavalier by the decree 25 Dec 1929. Service record is available. But, it seems, I missed out on his Colonial medal with "Maroc" bar. Service in WWI: 1914-1919 in France. Wounded on 8 September 1916 in Somme: "Head fracture right side". Later in Morocco in 1919-1921. The information matches quite well. One discrepancy is that the had Croix de Guerre with one ??? star. Cann't understand if it is written bronze, silver, or gilt star. But there is a palm on my CDG. Could this be a small pimp up by veteran? Did these things happen in France too? http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/leonore_fr?ACTION=RETROUVER&FIELD_1=NOM&VALUE_1=GARDES&NUMBER=6&GRP=0&REQ=((GARDES) %3aNOM )&USRNAME=nobody&USRPWD=4%24%34P&SPEC=9&SYN=1&IMLY=&MAX1=1&MAX2=1&MAX3=100&DOM=All'

Too bad...

Thank you very much for this input! It actually makes the search much easier and fits perfectly to the post war medal issued by Hygiene ministry. I was understanding "M" stood for "Monsieur". But now I am smarter! Thanks!

This is tres merveilleux!!! Thank you very much! GARDES: http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/leonore_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=NOM&VALUE_1=GARDES

Hello! Last weekend walked by an antique market and got this group named to "M. Commandant GARDES". The "Prevoyance Sociale" medal is from 1934. Looking forward for research possibilities... and incentive to refresh my French. I don't know if the "Légion d'honneur" is wartime or for interwar period. I tend to think the later. Are there rolls with information on a "Légion d'honneur" cavaliers?

Arigatou gozaimasu.

Hello! I also got neat card set together with the order. Can someone tell me when the cards were printed?

Hello, I would like to ask for assistance. What do you think about this CVO marked C62? It looks to me the enamel on the right arm's top end has been partially fixed. What do tou think is the value of this order?