Italian Medals

[Darrell]

Just received this nice batch of Italian Medals today (thanks Marcus ).

First up:

<!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Calibri--><!--/fonto-->1. <!--coloro:#000000--><!--/coloro-->Italian WWI Unification Medal - This is a bronze World War I Italian Unification 1848-1918 Medal red white and green striped ribbon. This medal has Vittorio Emanuele III on the front and wreath on the reverse side. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#000000--><!--/coloro-->It measures 32mm in diameter (1-1/4 inches).

Obverse:

[Darrell]

Reverse:

[Darrell]

2. Turkish War Medal. This medal may appear among WWI veterans' awards. The obverse carries the likeness of King Vittorio Emanuele III. It was instituted by King Vittorio Emanuele III in November 1912. The Reverse of the Turkish War Medal <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Calibri--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo-->bears the inscription "GUERRA ITALO-TURCA 1911-12". A variant<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Calibri--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo--> has been seen a few times for the Turkish War medal. It's significance is undetermined as yet.

Obverse:

[Darrell]

Reverse,

[Darrell]

3. Medaglia Dell Guerra 1915-1918 (War Medal 1915-1918) Awarded for participation to the 1st World War. This medal was instituted on 29 July 1920 and replaced a ribbon bar, introduced on 21 May 1916, which was awarded after 1 year service in a war zone. Additional war service years were indicated by a small silver star. In 1920 this ribbon was replaced by the medal and a number of bars are attached to the ribbon according to the recipients war service. These bars are covered with laurel leaves and bear either a service year between 1915 and 1918 or the word Albania, followed by a service year between 1916 and 1920. The medal's obverse <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Calibri--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo-->bears the helmeted head of King Victor Emanuel III and around the rim is the text "GVERRA PER L'VNITA D'ITALIA 1915 1918" (War for the Unity of Italy). The reverse<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Calibri--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo--> depicts an upright Victory standing on shields born by 2 soldiers. Around the rim is the text "CONIATA 'NEL BRONZO NEMICO" (made from enemy bronze).
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Obverse:

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Reverse.

[Darrell]

4. <!--coloro:#000000--><!--/coloro-->Italian East Africa Campaign Medal - This is a bronze World War I Italian East Africa Medal with FERT sword device and black and blue striped ribbon. This medal has Vittorio Emanuele III on the front and the fasces and Africa Orienale on the reverse side. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#000000--><!--/coloro-->It measures 35mm in diameter (1-3/8 inches).
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Obverse:

[Darrell]

Reverse;

[Darrell]

5. Medaglia di Madri e Vedove Dei Caduti (Medal for Mothers and Widows of the Fallen.) This medal was instituted on 24 May 1919 as a token of national gratitude. The obverse has an allegorical design showing a woman offering a laurel wreath to a dying soldier while another woman stands in the background. The Reverse <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Calibri--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo-->is completely filled with the text IL FIGLI / CHE TI NACQVE / DAL DOLORE / TI RINASCE "O BEATA" / NELLA GLORIA / E IL VIVO EROE / "PIENA DI GRAZIA " / E TECO (the son which was born out of you in pain, is reborn to you, o blessed one, full of glory and he lives as a hero. With gratitude).
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Obverse:

[Darrell]

Reverse..

[Darrell]

6. <!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec-->Veterans' Pantheon Guard of Honour Medal.

Obverse:

[Darrell]

Reverse>

[Darrell]

7. <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->Medal of Honour of the Armies, aka the Courage in the Field Medal (created 1923, manufactured by Nelli, Firenze). Non-official award. Can be found in silver and is based on a larger gold one that was presented to the King in Dec. 1919.

Obverse:

[Darrell]

Reverse,,

[Darrell]

8. <!--coloro:#000000--><!--/coloro-->Italian WWI War Merit Cross Medal -<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> The Cross for War Merit was originally instituted in 1918 with an obverse having a 5-pointed star on a rayed background (some sources will refer to this side of the medal as being the reverse) and a reverse bearing the crowned letters "V.E. III" (King Victor Emanuel III) on its top cross arm. The obverse was never changed but in 1941 a first alteration was made, to the reverse. In fact, a new award can be said to have been created in 1941 : by a decree stating that the reverse is to show the wording "CROCE AL VALORE MILITARE", the Cross for Military Valour was created. It hung from the blue white-striped ribbon as before with a sword emblem for gallantry placed on it. Later, after the war (although sources can be found that indicate 1943), the crown and royal cypher were replaced on the Military Merit Cross by the interlaced letters "RI" (Italian Republic) and the Military Valour Cross's reverse was altered to read "AL VALORE MILITARE". It, furthermore, was stipulated that the latter was to be worn on a plain blue ribbon (as with the three classes of the Medal for Military Valour), thus becoming the fourth gallantry award amongst the bravery decorations. Models with slightly different inscriptions are in existence, e.g. "AL VALOR MILITARE" and "VALORE MILITARE".
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Obverse: