The Port Arthur Cross or Cross for the Defence of Port Arthur (Russian - ''Крест «За Порт-Артур»'') was a medal awarded by the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

. It was instituted on 14 January 1914 to mark the tenth anniversary of the

siege of Port Arthur The siege of Port Arthur ( ja, 旅順攻囲戦, ''Ryojun Kōisen''; russian: link=no, Оборона Порт-Артура, ''Oborona Port-Artura'', August 1, 1904 – January 2, 1905) was the longest and most violent land battle of the Russ ...

. It was awarded in silver to officers and in bronze to the other ranks. The ends of the cross are broad in the manner of a

St George Cross In heraldry, Saint George's Cross, the Cross of Saint George, is a red cross on a white background, which from the Late Middle Ages became associated with Saint George, the military saint, often depicted as a crusader. Associated with the cru ...

, with crossed swords in the centre with their points upwards, with a black battleship silhouette on a white enamel background at the centre on the silver issue and engraved on the bronze issue. On the left arm is "ПОРТЪ" ("PORT") and on the right arm is "АРТУРЪ" ("ARTHUR"). The reverse has a pin for attaching it to clothing.

External links

*{{in lang, ru http://awards.netdialogue.com/Russia/Empire/PA/PA.htm 1914 establishments in the Russian Empire category:Russo-Japanese War category:Military awards and decorations of Russia