Russia – Soviet: A Medal for Bravery, type 2, awarded to Starshina P.A. Dzherikh, 1350th Rifle Regiment, 234th Rifle Division, 2nd Belarussian Front who had fought from August 1942 onwards being wounded in the initial defence of Stalingrad and again in April 1944, he would later take part in the Liberation of Warsaw.
Russia – Soviet: Medal for Bravery, type 2, reverse numbered 1975110
Condition: red enamelling mostly worn from the lettering on the obverse, Very Fine
Pyotr Andreevich Dzherikh was born in Bolshe-Yanisol, Stalinskaya Oblast in 1903, a Greek national he attained an elementary education before seeing a brief period of service in the Red Army between 1925 and 1928. Recalled shortly after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, he would serve from October 1941 onwards.
He was awarded this Medal for Bravery by decree of the 1350th Rifle Regiment on 19th February 1945, the citation reading:
‘Clerk-quartermaster, 8th Rifle Company, 1350th Rifle Regiment, Starshina Dzherikh Pyotr Andreevich, for ‘he has been on the fronts of the Patriotic War since August 1942 to present and has been an active combatant of the battles with the German invaders. In battles for the Motherland he was twice wounded.’
It is stated that he was lightly wounded on 27th August 1942 outside Stalingrad and lightly wounded on 14th April 1944 whilst serving with the 1st Belarussian Front.
Apparently not entitled to the Medal for the Defence of the Stalingrad, his wound must have taken place in the initial defence outside the city and subsequently led to him being removed from frontline duty. He would later also take part in the liberation of Warsaw in January 1945 and the Vistula-Oder offensive across Poland.
After the war he would work as an investigator in Staryi Kermenchik District, Stalinskaya Oblast.
