Russia – Soviet: A Western Ukraine Medal for Bravery awarded to Senior Sergeant Aleksei Nikolaevich Dikarev, a Machine Gun Armourer with the 2nd Battalion, 175th ‘Novgorod-Volyn’ Tank Brigade for repairing 8 guns and 7 machine guns in field conditions and under enemy fire in the fighting in the village of Krasno-Krupets and the Lvov-Brody highway intersection from 15th March to 8th May 1944.
Medal for Bravery, type 2, the reverse numbered 1168566
Condition: red enamel lettering largely worn away, Very Fine
Aleksei Nikolaevich Dikarev was born in 1911. A Russian national he joined the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks in 1925 and would see service during the Patriotic War as part of the Voronezh Front, Southwestern Front, Middle-Don, Bryansk Front.
His first award would be a Medal for Combat Merits by decree of the 175th ‘Novograd-Volyn’ Tank Brigade on 27th July 1943. This Medal for Bravery would be his second award, issued by the 175th Tank Brigade on 19th May 1944. Awarded whilst serving as a Senior Sergeant and Machine Gun Armourer, 2nd Battalion, 175th ‘Novgorod-Volyn’ Tank Brigade the citation reads:
‘Comrade Dikarev has been in the battalion since 13.07.1942 in the position of armourer. Over this time, he has proven himself a disciplined, efficient junior commander. He has been a participant of combat actions in the Patriotic War since 1942, since the day the 175th Tank Brigade entered combat. During combat actions with the German invaders in battle in the area of the village of Krasno-Krupets, Radziwill and the Lvov-Brody highway intersection from 15th March to 8th May 1944, he was always situated in the battalion’s battle line. Comrade Dikarev displayed courage and bravery. For lack of an artillery repairman or artillery technician, he carried out repairs of tank guns in field conditions and under enemy fire. Comrade Dikarev repaired 8 guns and 7 machine guns, without regard to the difficulties, working day and night, investing all of his knowledge in the struggle with the German invaders, for the speedier liberation of our Motherland. For displayed courage and care for restoring weapons of war in combat conditions, Comrade Dikarev deserves the government award the Medal for Bravery.’
This medal being issued in the field, with a temporary certificate, there is no further details on Dikarev’s military or post-war career available.
