My Great Grandfather's Medals and Service Record

[GIZMO8Z]

While I'm at it... does anyone know of a good source for Italian WWI militaria? I'd LOVE to add something to my collection that my bisnonno would have/ could have worn/ used!

Sorry to bother you again about this, enorepap... I'm just so excited. Does the paperwork make any mention of the medals my bisnonno earned? I wonder if any are missing from the lot that I currently have!?

[enorepap]

Well Joe

A postcard of the regiment:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=360490984674

I know that two books were at least published about the regiment:

Luigi Musini, "Diario di un Fante del Carso La guerra a vampate" by Società Tipo-Editrice Ravennate Mutilati Ravenna, 1934.

Vittorio Schettino, "Guerra vissuta Impressioni di un Fante" by Edizioni S.T.E.R.M., Ravenna, 1935.

I do not own them and I think they are very rare ...

[enorepap]

The paperwork doesn't make any mention of the medals your great-grandfather earned, becuse they are comemmorative decorations granted after the war.

In this combination of medals normally there was also the Unification of Italy 1848-1918 medal (however, to be sure, I should have to consult widely the rules for granting):

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Me..._1848-1918.jpg

I repeat you the link of the postcard because it doesn't work well:

http://www.ebay.it/itm/X823-WW1-112-...-/290652347691

http://www.regioesercito.it/reparti/...rgt/rgt112.htm

[GIZMO8Z]

Grazie mille!

[GIZMO8Z]

Hi enorepap,

By any chance does the paperwork say what type of soldier my bisnonno was? My grandmother says that he always insisted that he was a cook.

[enorepap]

Hallo Joe

Unfortunately I do not see any record of this type on your papers.

I must say that the medals you own were conferred for two concomitant reasons:

- a certain period of time spent in the war zone;
- an honorable conduct in front of the enemy.

[GIZMO8Z]

Thanks, enorepap!

Maybe my bisnonno made the best pasta e fagioli in the whole Italian army!

[enorepap]

Hallo Joe

I do not think he was just a cook.

It seems that he knew how to use a gun

These are the requirements for the award of decorations of your great-grandfather and I assure you that the WW1 Italian Royal Army did not award easily his war medals:

- Commemorative Medal for the Italo-Austrian War: at least one year of mobilized service in the war zone;

- Commemorative Medal of the Italian Victory: to be decorated with the previous medal and at least four months of mobilized service in the war zone;

- Cross of War Merit: a proper military conduct during military operations, at least one year in the trenches or in contact with the enemy, honorably participation in some fightings of considerable importance, acts of bravery ( but not worthy of a valour decoration);

- Knight of the Order of Vittorio Veneto with cross and medal (1968): to be decorated with the Cross of War Merit and at least six months of service in war.

[GIZMO8Z]

Grande! Thanks, enorepap!

Should I begin my search for a Unification of Italy 1848-1918 Medal?

[enorepap]

I think so, because the commemorative medal for the unification of Italy 1848-1918 was granted to those who had been decorated with the commemorative medal of the 1915-1918 war and, therefore, it required the same requirements.

This in principle, because not always the groups of medals were complete, sometimes by mistake, sometimes by disregard of the War Veterans.

[GIZMO8Z]

I think so, because the commemorative medal for the unification of Italy 1848-1918 was granted to those who had been decorated with the commemorative medal of the 1915-1918 war and, therefore, it required the same requirements.

This in principle, because not always the groups of medals were complete, sometimes by mistake, sometimes by disregard of the War Veterans.

I'm on it!

You'll notice that my bisnonno's Commemorative Medal for the Italo-Austrian War has the incorrect ribbon sewn onto it... this leads me to believe that as you said, my great grandfather's medals were disregarded ...or... maybe my nonna played with them as a kid.

[enorepap]

Probably you are right: for some reason the ribbon of the medal of the war was lost and it was exchanged with that of the inter-allied medal. You may also notice that the ribbon of the Cross of War Merit is much more recent and that it was secured to the jacket using the long back pins. The Cross and the Medal of Vittorio Veneto have never been worn.

[Raffaello Carola]

One of the many heroic Italian soldiers who won the First World War

YES well said nice thread thanks!! an little contribute one book
(my collection) with the history of the Piacenza Brigade (published 1919)
unfortunately the grandfather of Gizmo not make part of
the list of the soldiers with medal cross (imho is incomplete).
best
Raffaello

[GIZMO8Z]

Thanks for the kind words, Raffaello!

[GIZMO8Z]

Just added this medal to the grouping.