Russia – Soviet: A Czechoslovakia theatre Medal for Bravery awarded to Private I.G. Guminyuk, a telephonist in the Telephone Cable Compaby, 596th Independent Signals Battalion, 140th Siberian ‘Novgorod-Seversky’ Order of Lenin, Twice Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Rifle Division for repairing telephone lines during the battles for Moravska Ostrava in Czechoslovakia.
Russia – Soviet: Medal for Bravery, type 2, reverse numbered 2250589
Condition: Red-enamelled lettering worn from the obverse, some contact wear, thus Fine
Ignat Grigorevich Guminyuk was born in the village of Bagovitsa, Kamanets-Podolsky district, Kamanets-Podolsky Oblast during 1913. A Ukrainian national he attained an elementary education and served from April 1944 onwards, most likely as he was picked up and pressed into service by the Red Army during their advance westwards.
This Medal for Bravery is his sole award, and it was issued to him by decree of the 140th Rifle Division on 21st May 1945. At this time he was serving as a Private and Telephonist, Telephone Cable Company, 596th Independent Signals Battalion, 140th ‘Siberian, Novogord-Seversky’ Order of Lenin, Twice Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Rifle Division. The recommendation for the award was a follows:
‘Situated among the rifle sub-units, Private Gumilyuk on 13th February 1945 was concussed. Upon recuperation, he was sent to the signals battalion as a telephonist. During battles for Moravska Ostrava, as a lineman, he had to repair up to 20 breaks of the telephone line under enemy fire, thanks to which communications between the regiment and the division command post were uninterrupted for the entire period of battle.’
This appears to have been his sole award of the Great Patriotic War and by May 1947 having been discharged he was serving as a Driver at the Kolkhoz ‘Peremoga’ whilst living in his home village of Bagovitsa, Kamenets-Podolsky district and oblast.
