Russia – Soviet: A fine Crossing of the Narew River Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Private Vasily Klimentyevich Medyulyanov, a Sapper in the 609th Independent Sapper Battalion, 323rd Bryansk Rifle Division for his part in removing obstacles, cutting

Russia – Soviet: A fine Crossing of the Narew River Order of Glory 3^rd Class awarded to Private Vasily Klimentyevich Medyulyanov, a Sapper in the 609^th Independent Sapper Battalion, 323^rd Bryansk Rifle Division for his part in removing obstacles, cutting through barbed wire and removing mines, he also helped secured a bridgehead over the Narew River.

Order of Glory 3^rd Class, type 2 numbered 100251

Condition: Nearly extremely fine

Vasily Klimentyevich Medyulyanov was born in 1905, a Belarussian by nationality he served wih the 3^rd Belarussian Front from 20^th December 1943, and was most likely picked up by the Red Army during its advance towards Smolensk and subsequently conscripted as many men of fighting age were during the Red Army advances of the latter part of the war.

This Order of Glory 3^rd Class was issued to him by Order of the 323^rd Bryansk Rifle Division on 24^th August 1944 whilst serving as a Sapper in the 609^th Independent Sapper Battalion on the back of the following citation:

‘Private Medyulyanov, who was attached to an obstacle removal group of the 1086^th Red Banner Rifle Regiment during the preparatory period prior to and during the breakthrough itself, displayed bravery and courage. He reconnoitred the enemy positions and under enemy fire enabled finding a passageway through the heavy enemy obstacles. He cut through the barbed wire and demined the approaches to the enemy trenches, which enabled the successful advance of our infantry. During the pursuit of the enemy , he distinguished himself during the construction of a crossing on the Sakunka River. By clearing a heavily mined route he enabled the withdrawal of our troops to the main road and the Bialystok-Bukstel railway line. He particularly distinguished himself during the crossing of the Narew River. One of the first to reconnoitre the flood plain, he crossed the river under enemy machine-gun fire near the village of Bokiny, attached a cable and secured the crossing point. After the construction of an assault bridge he assisted our troops in capturing a bridgehead along the Narew River.

He deserves the Order of Glory 3^rd Class.’

It appears that this was Medyulyanov’s sole award of the Great Patriotic War, and it is unknown if he survived the war or what happened afterwards to him.