In silver, measures 40.9 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 34.3 mm in width; weighs 11.0 g. The serial number is stamped in standard manner on the horizontal arms. This piece exhibits а characteristic die break on the reverse near the bottom edge of the lower vertical arm, under the word "class".

In excellent condition. The arms as well as the center medallion are free of significant wear; there are only some miniscule dings and contact marks throughout, all of them practically unnoticeable to the unaided eye. The raised details of the center medallion are ext

In silver, measures 40.9 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 34.3 mm in width; weighs 11.0 g. The serial number is stamped in standard manner on the horizontal arms. This piece exhibits а characteristic die break on the reverse near the bottom edge of the lower vertical arm, under the word "class".

In excellent condition. The arms as well as the center medallion are free of significant wear; there are only some miniscule dings and contact marks throughout, all of them practically unnoticeable to the unaided eye. The raised details of the center medallion are extremely well-preserved and crisp on both sides. Very attractive even toning to silver, no blemishes. Overall, an unusually well-preserved and attractive piece, better than the vast majority of the surviving WW1 issues. It is especially uncommon to find such a well-preserved example of the higher, 3rd class of the award.

The 14th Rifle Regiment was formed in 1856, initially as a rifle battalion, and for much of its existence was stationed in the city of Odessa. In 1878, it was honored with a special St. George banner for its distinction in the Russo-Turkish War and specifically, twice crossing the Balkan Mountains. In 1888, the unit was expanded into a regiment. In 1900, it was temporarily transferred to Manchuria where it successfully protected Russian interests against the attacks of local warlords; its servicemen were subsequently given a special honorific scroll with the inscription "For Distinction in Battles against the Chinese in 1900" to wear on their full-dress headgear. In 1901, the regiment was given the honorific name of General-Field Marshal Gurko in memory of the famous hero of the Turkish War who died earlier that year. In 1904-05, the unit took part in the Russo-Japanese War as a part of the Russian 2nd Combined Rifle Corps, 3rd Manchurian Army, before returning to Odessa upon the cessation of hostilities.

During the first two years of the Great War, the regiment was a part of the 4th Brigade (later, 4th Division) of the 8th Army, Southwestern Front, which in January - February 1915 took part in the First Carpathian Campaign. The 8th Army advanced in the front's (army group's) center battling the harsh terrain and wintry weather as much as the Austrian army's resistance; despite suffering severe losses, it was eventually able to break into the Austrian Galicia. Following the initially successful offensive and capture of Lemberg (Lvov) and Przemyśl, it suffered a reversal at the hands of the Germans in May - June 1915 and retreated towards Rava-Ruska and Zotkiew (Zhovkva) north of Lemberg.

According to the brief citation, the St. George Cross 3rd cl. was awarded to Fyodor Bonchuk "for feats of bravery and valor in 1914-15 battles with Austrians and Germans". It was clearly a cumulative award earned in the previous months of hard fighting in the Carpathians and Galicia, both during the initial offensives and fighting retreat. Interestingly, the award was one of the relatively few issued on behalf of Emperor Nicholas II. It was given to its recipient at the front by Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhailovich Romanov, a grandson of Emperor Nicholas I. During WW1, Grand Duke was a member of Nicholas II's general staff whose responsibilities included monitoring the situation at the fronts and making reports to the high command. It was of course a very uncommon honor for an enlisted soldier to receive an award directly from the hands of a high-ranking member of the royal family! (Incidentally, the Grand Duke was a world-famous numismatist and collector of coins and medals; after the revolution, the bulk of his enormous collection ended up in a private collection in the USA and eventually, in the Smithsonian Institution. In 1919, Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhailovich was taken hostage by the Bolsheviks in Petrograd and then murdered along with many other Romanovs).
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