Red Star,2733967,Locomotive Machinist,72nd Separate Armoured Train Battalion

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card

Order Booklet B 755481

1. Last name: Timofeev
2. Name and patrionymic: Konstantin Klavdievich
3. Rank: Master Sergeant
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1916
6. Birthplace: Leningrad
7. Party membership: n/a
8. Education: seventh grade
9. Nationality: Ukrainian
10. Time in Red Army: 1942-1945
11. Place of service at awarding: Locomotive Machinist – 72 Independent Armored Train Battalion
12. Place of work at present: Leningrad-Baltic Train Depot - Machinist
13. Home address: Leningrad, (?) Dormitory

14. Awards:
Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Red Star 2.733.967 10th Guards Army Armored and Mech Forces dated 24.7.1945

Verified by Leningrad Military Commissariat Lieutenant Colonel Chervogubov on 15th August, 1947

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet
1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Timofeev, Konstantin Klavdievich
2. Rank: Master Sergeant
3. Duty position: Steam Engine Machinist – 72nd Independent Armored Train Battalion
Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star
4. Born: 1916
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: n/a
7. Previous combat: Finnish Campaign 1939-40, Patriotic War Leningrad Front ‘41-‘45
8. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
9. Time in Red Army: since 1942
10. Inducted by: (?)ninskii Regional Military Commissariat, Leningrad
11. Previous awards: Defense of Leningrad Medal
12. Home of record: Sverdlovsk, #12, Ilich St. Bldg. 9 Apt. 205

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

Master Sergeant K.K. Timofeev excelled in fighting for the hilltop near “Lasti-Koloniya.” While accomplishing his combat mission as a member of Armored Train #703 he was subjected to intense enemy artillery shelling, resulting in the locomotive being penetrated by shrapnel in four places. As a member of the locomotive crew Master Sergeant Timofeev, sensing the danger, shoved four wooden plugs in the holes, allowing the train to move out from under the artillery shelling. By his actions Master Sergeant Timofeev saved the locomotive and its personnel.

For displayed resourcefulness and bravery he is deserving of the Order of the Red Star.
Signed Commander, 72nd Independent Armored Train Battalion, Major Kirillov on 24th June, 1945

Endorsed Commander Armored and Mechanized Forces, 10th Guards Army, Guards Colonel Koro(?) on 20th July, 1945

[Al-muell]

A rare find I would say. Never came across anything to an armored train crews.

[RedMaestro2]

Originally Posted by Bill Garvy

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

Master Sergeant K.K. Timofeev excelled in fighting for the hilltop near “Lasti-Koloniya.” While accomplishing his combat mission as a member of Armored Train #703 he was subjected to intense enemy artillery shelling, resulting in the locomotive being penetrated by shrapnel in four places. As a member of the locomotive crew Master Sergeant Timofeev, sensing the danger, shoved four wooden plugs in the holes, allowing the train to move out from under the artillery shelling. By his actions Master Sergeant Timofeev saved the locomotive and its personnel.

Really neat award! :thumbsup First armored train award I've heard of too.

I have to say, I'm not picturing the action somehow.

[medals73]

It sounds to me like the boiler got shot up and he hammered wooden plugs into the holes. Or am I missing something?

And, yes, a very nice recommendation! :)

You never know what you find until you research things, serial-number-range-guesswork to the contrary.

[Bill Garvy]

Yes, Ed, that is exactly what he did, a very resourceful solution in the pressure of the moment, no pun intended.

[RedMaestro2]

Originally Posted by Bill Garvy

Yes, Ed, that is exactly what he did, a very resourceful solution in the pressure of the moment, no pun intended.

Got it now, thanks. :thumbsup

[Bill Garvy]

Master Sergeant Konstantin Klavdievich Timofeev's Order of the Red Star, #2733967. . .

[medals73]

Looks like he wore it "on the rails".

One of those I would never EVER think of "cleaning"!!

[CtahhR]

This has got the be one of my very favourites of all researched items presented here. Very much the opposite of what naval crews were doing when pierced (keeping water in rather than out).

I suppose the consequences for losing an armoured train would be severe.