Tunic of Spanish General of Division don Luis Cuervo Pita

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen,

I have owned this tunic for some time but not done any research on it until last week. There are some things that I could use some help with in restoring it. I need the correct insignia for the collars and for the shoulder boards. Please email, or PM, me if you can help. There were a number of items in the lot when I purchased it from an auction house in German. I'll post pictures of them all.

[Gordon Craig]

Pictures of the interior and badges on the exterior of the tunic. These pictures show the sword hanger on the interior, the crest of the Regulares on the right breast pocket with bars below the crest for years of service with the Regulares. This means he served in Spanish Morocco for some time. The shield on the right arm is the Coat of Arms for the 2nd Military Region and was worn up until 1984. The button is for a General officer and the type of crown on the button is correct for the type period of the tunic.

[Gordon Craig]

Next photos show the incorrect collar devices in wear and the holes were the correct Generals insignia should go. I don't have a clear picture of this insignia but it should be crossed swords with a crown above them. The insignia shown is for the infantry. Also shown are the holes in the shoulder boards where the General of Division should go. I don't have a picture of what these metal devices should look like but they are probably very similar to what you will see in another picture embroidered into the cuff of each sleeve.

[Gordon Craig]

Pictures of ribbon bar and the left breast pocket. The third ribbon from the left (as viewed by you) in the third row is the Peace medal, instituted in 1927, to commemorate the restoration of peace at the end of the RIF War. Fits well with the Regulares insignia on the right breast pocket. There is one thread loop remaining on the left breast on the pocket and the marks where one used to be indicating a badge of some sort was worn in this location. There is also evidence that other badges were fastened to this pocket without the use of thread loops.

[Gordon Craig]

There were a number of other pieces, as mentioned earlier, that came with this tunic. I am not sure how they were worn, or if they were worn with this service uniform, so I have placed them in the locations they may have been worn. First the leather belt and lanyard. Then an embroidered cross belt

[Gordon Craig]

More pictures of the embroidered cross strap. Two of these came in the lot. And a close up of the buckle on the leather belt.

[Gordon Craig]

Next up are a set of dress embroidered shoulder boards for a General of Brigada. One rank below General of Division. And the contents of a plastic bag that came with the lot. The brown badge is probably for a beret.

[Gordon Craig]

Now we come to something that may, or may not, have belonged to the General officer who wore this tunic but I would like to think that it did. It is a sun helmet made in Germany. It certainly shows use and two holes in the front where a badge would have been situated. Sun helmets were worn in Morocco/North Africa by Spanish troops and this could have been an issue or private purchase piece.

[Gordon Craig]

A close up of the makers label in the sun helmet and pictures of a card that I found in the pocket when the tunic arrived. Unfortunately, there appears to have been a pair of pants sold with the tunic at one point but were not present in the lot when I bought it. General Pita was promoted to General de Division when he was assigned to the position of Military Governor of the Square and Province of Cadiz in 1978. If you can add any information to this thread re General Pita, especially any pictures of him in uniform, it would be greatly appreciated.