Sergei Vasilyevich Belyaev

Sergei Vasilyevich Belyaev (Russian: Сергей Васильевич Беляев; old style 20 September/2 October 1856, Moscow - ?) was a Major general of the Imperial Russian Army, brigade commander of the 83th infantry division.

Biography
Sergei Belyaev originated from the Moscow Governorate nobility. In Moscow he lived in the Frolov family house beside the Saint Nicholas Church on Pillars. He graduated from the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages in Moscow and then passed an officer’s examination at the 2nd Constantin Military School in Saint-Petersburg.

He resided at Bolshoy Sampsonievsky Avenue, 65. .

Service
He started his military career in 1879. Starting from 1882 he served as praporshchik and podporuchik at the Moscow Guard Regiment. In 1886 – poruchik and in 1893 he was promoted for the stabs-kapitan rank for a distinction in service, he subsequently commanded the 11th company at the Moscow Guard Regiment. In 1897 was the next promotion to the captain’s rank. In 1901 Belyaev was awarded an Order of Saint Stanislaus of the 2nd class, in 1904 – an Order of Saint Anna of the 2nd class. In 1903 he became a colonel. In 1909 he received an Order of Saint Vladimir of the 4th class. Major general from 24.05.1915 promoted from 09.11.1914.

World War I
Belyaev fought in the First World War, being the commanding officer of the 71st Belevsky Regiment in the rank of colonel. He was wounded at the front line and from August 18 to 30, 1914, was in the Kiev military hospital. Together with Lieutenant-Colonel podpolkovnik Ivan D. Datsenko he commanded the 71st Infantry Belevsky Regiment during the victorious attack on the Austrians by the Opatovka River in October 1914, which resulted in the taking of over 900 prisoners

In November 1914 he was appointed commander of the brigade of the 83rd Infantry Division, which fought in eastern Poland. On The highest order of May 24, he 1915 was promoted to Major General from November 9, 1914.

While at the front line, he received several more military insignia: in March 1915 - swords and a bow to the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree class (for military merit); in April of the same year - the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree class with swords. The last military award, which he is known to have - the Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st degree class with swords, was granted to Belyaev on the highest order of June 16, 1916.

As of July 10, 1916, he served in the same rank and position, when the 83rd Infantry Division participated in the bloody offensive operation of Russian troops in the region of Baranovichi. He kept records in the field book of headquarters 83 infantry division until July 22, 1917, while the troops were in the village of Kvasovitsa, Volynsk region (now north-western Ukraine). The place and date of his death are unknown.

Awards

 * Order of St. Stanislaus 2nd class (1901).
 * Order of St. Anna 2nd class (1904).
 * Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th class (1909), swords and bows to this order (1915).
 * Order of St. Vladimir of the 3rd class with swords (1915).
 * Order of St. Stanislaus 1st degree with swords (16.06.1916).

Family
His father Belyaev Vasily Alexeyevich (1823-1881) was a professor at the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages. His mother Belyaeva Olga Mikhailovna (1833-1912) was from the family of Moscow merchant jewelers the Frolov. Sergei Belyaev was married to Belyaeva Evgenia Platonovna. His brother Belyaev Nikolai Vasilievich (1859-1920) was an entrepreneur and one of the founders of the Upper Volga Railroad Society. His sister Belyaeva Maria Vasilievna (1869-?) was married to the Consul general of the Russian Empire in Damascus.[15]