An authorised metal detectorist has made the rare discovery of a Cross of Saint George in the Chełm State Forests in eastern Poland.
The Cross of Military Merit of the Order of St. George was established on February 25, 1807, during the reign of Emperor Alexander I.
In 1856, a four-grade classification system was introduced, and the merit was awarded as a cross worn on the Order of St. George’s ribbon on the right side of the chest. It was awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the Russian Army in recognition of exceptional bravery and courage in direct combat with the enemy.
The obverse featured an image of St. George the Dragon Slayer, while the reverse bore the ruler’s monogram along with the serial number and class of the award. Crosses of the 1st and 2nd class were gilded, while those of the 3rd and 4th class were made of silver.
From 1913 onward, the award was officially known as Decoration of the Military Order of Saint George
The discovered artefact is a 4th Class Cross of Military Merit of the Order of St. George, bearing the serial number 195685, clearly visible on both horizontal arms of the reverse.
This award was bestowed upon Nikolai Nesterovich Mikheev, a rifleman serving in the 3rd Life Guards Rifle Regiment of His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II.
According to historical records, he received the cross for outstanding bravery during a night bayonet assault carried out between February 19 and 20, 1915, near the village of Karwowo (present-day Podlaskie Voivodeship, Kolno County, Stawiski commune).
During the engagement with German forces, Mikheev, “setting an example of exceptional courage, encouraged and led his comrades into an enemy trench and killed its defenders.”
These details were established based on records compiled by Sergei Borysovich Patrikeev in Summary Lists of the Knights of the St. George’s Cross 1914–1922, IV Degree, Nos. 100,001–200,000 (Moscow, 2012, p. 942).
The cross has been preserved in very good condition; the only missing element is the original ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes. The artefact will be donated to the collection of the Regional Museum in Krasnystaw.
Sources : Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments
