Russia – Soviet: An intriguing Great War Veteran’s Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Sergeant A.A. Kucharin, 267th Separate Machine-Gun and Artillery Battalion, 9th Fortified Area who was wounded on 15th September 1914 and would then take part in the fighting around Warsaw during the Great War, and then would take part in the fighting in the Civil War. He would be decorated with this award as a result of his service as a Cook to the Battalion throughout the Great Patriotic War being 53 years old by the end of the war.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, concave reverse and made by the Leningrad Mint in February 1945, numbered 427937.
Condition: some minor contacting to the enamel, the order is pleasantly toned, Good Very Fine
Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Kucharin was born in the village of Svistunovo, Gryazovetskij Raion, Volga region during 1892, a veteran of several wars he saw frontline service again on the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War in 1941 and having served throughout the conflict would be awarded an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Order of 23rd Army on 16th June 1945 as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Comrade Kucharin is a veteran of 4 wars. During the Imperialistic war 1914-1918, he fought in the battles in East Prussia as a private of the 1st Guards Corps, where he was severely wounded on 15th September 1914. In the Imperialistic war, he participated in the battles near Dvinsk, Warsaw, Lutsk, Rovno.
During the Civil War 1918-1920, he participated in the battles near Kharkov, Ekaterinoslav, Aleksandrov, Melitopol, Gulyai-Pole and on the Perekop.
At the start of the Finnish campaign, he volunteered to the army service, served during 1939-40 and was bestowed with medal ‘For Combat Merits’.
From the first day of the Patriotic War, he volunteered to the front line as part of the peoples volunteer corps.
In the unit commanded by me, 267 Separate machine-gun and artillery battalion, he has been serving since the day of its formation ie. 4.7.1941.
He is a disciplined, reliable and exemplary soldier. As a cook of one of the companies, comrade Kucharin commands well deserved respect among the troops.
For participating in 4 wars against the enemies of our Motherland lasting in total over 11 years, for his exemplary and impeccable service, comrade Kucharin deserves state award ‘Order of Glory 3rd Class’.
This recommendation was changed to an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. He would also be decorated with the Medal for the Victory over Germany and the Medal for the Defence of Leningrad.
After the war he worked ass the Chief Cook at the ‘Astoria’ Hotel, whilst living in Sovetskaua Street, Leningrad.
