Italian Awards and Decorations

The following Italian awards were made to soldiers of the Worcestershire Regiment for gallantry or meritorious service. They are recorded in the London Gazette, indicating the granting of the award or decoration by the sovereign of Italy, and intimating the British sovereigns permission for it to be accepted and worn by the recipient.

Order of St. Maurice
and St. Lazarus
Medal for Military Valour
(Silver)

Medal for Military Valour
(Bronze)

Croce di Guerra
(War Cross)

 

Order of the St. Maurice & St. Lazarus (Ordine dei SS. Maurizio e Lazzaro)

The Order of Saint Maurice was established by Duke Amadeo VIII of Savoy in 1434. Renewed and joined to the Savoyard branch of the Order of Saint Lazarus. The Order was awarded in 5 classes, namely: Grand Cross badge, Grand Officer, Commander (1st class & 2nd class), Officer, Knight. This Order was no longer conferred after 14th June 1946. The Order of the St. Maurice & St. Lazarus is made of real gold and sometimes it is found in silver / gilt. The annual Chapter is held in September at the Abbey of Saint Maurice at Valois.

 

Medal for Military Valour (Al Valore Militare)

Instituted in 1833 in three grades: gold, silver, and bronze. Awarded to officers and men of the armed forces for gallantry in action against the enemy.

Medal for Military Valour is in gold, silver, or bronze according to the grade. Obverse the arms of Savoy surmounted by the crown and centred between two branches of foliage, surrounded by the wording AL VALORE MILITARE (For Military Valour). Reverse engraved details or me recipient within two branches of laurel. Ribbon: Bright blue watered silk. Ribbon is suspended from a staffa bracket attached to the medal.

Medals issued during the First World War were engraved on the rev (above the recipient's name), GUERRA DI 1915-1918, whereas those issued for colonial wars were engraved with the place and date of action.

In the Second World War during the years 1943-45, the design of the medal changed by order of the new RSI (Italian Social Republic), Government. Obverse the arms of Savoy were replaced by an upright Roman sword with the hilt inscribed ITALIA, superimposed on branches of oak and laurel, the surrounding wording AL VALORE MILITARE remained unchanged as did the reverse design. Since April 1945 the medal obverse has a five-pointed star in a cogwheel surrounded by a wreath of foliage and above the words REPUBLICA ITALIANA.
The wording AL VALORE MILITARE remained unchanged as does the reverse detail.

For subsequent awards of gallantry additional medals are bestowed. The gold medal is only awarded in exceptional circumstances and is very highly regarded as a supreme reward for heroic deeds. When ribbon only is worn the gold and silver medals are denoted by gold or silver five-pointed stars

 

War Cross (Croce di Guerra)

King Victor Emanuel III instituted the Croce di Guerra on 19th January 1918, for war merit in land, sea, or air operations, after at least a year's service in the trenches or elsewhere in contact with the enemy; those who were wounded in action and who had earned the award of the Medal for Wounded, those who had performed acts of bravery but not warranting the award of the Al Valore Militare (Medal for Military Valour) and for those who had received promotion for a mention for war merit.

War Cross a Greek cross in bronze. Obverse on the transverse arms the words MERITO DI GUERRA, the lower arm of the cross has an upright Roman sword entwined in a spray of oak, on the upper arm the crowned Royal Monogram. This monogram is replaced on the 1943 version by the letter RI. Reverse has a central five-pointed star set upon diverging rays. Ribbon: Light Blue with two white stripes.

Subsequent acts of meritorious service are denoted by small 6mm bronze crown worn upon the ribbon.

 

First World War (1918-1920)

Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus (Italian)

Surname

Forename/s

Rank

Number

Award Class

Gazette Date

Farmar C.M.G.

George Jasper

Brevet Colonel (T/Brig.-Gen.)

-

Officer

26/05/1917

 

Medal for Military Valour - Silver (Italian)

Surname

Forename/s

Rank

Number

Gasette Date

Adshead

Harry Willetts

Major

-

11/03/1919

Greenaway

Joseph Horace

2/Lieut.

-

29/11/1918

Hill

J. C. H.

Lieut.

-

26/05/1917

Leicester

Philip Austin

Capt.

-

22/08/1917

Salter

James E.

L/Cpl.

200369

17/05/1919


Medal for Military Valour - Bronze (Italian)

Surname

Forename/s

Rank

Number

Gasette Date

Allen

Arthur

Lieut.

-

29/11/1918

Brown

Christopher

2/Lieut.

-

29/11/1918

Cartwright

George H.

Sgt.

2675

26/06/1917

Faulkner

Harry

Sgt.

240126

29/11/1918

Gathergood

Douglas J.

L/Cpl.

5657

26/05/1917

Jenkins

Alfred

Sgt.

2977

26/05/1917

Lyttleton

John

C.S.M.

10620

23/01/1920

Rose

Harry T.

Sgt.

17892

26/05/1917

Sherwcod

Arthur T. J.

Sgt.

240119

12/11/1918

St. Pier

James

Pte.

14412

26/05/1917

Stinton

Tom

Capt.

-

29/11/1918

Stokes

Charles

L/Cpl.

11038

26/05/1917


Croce di Guerra (Italian)

Surname

Forename/s

Rank

Number

Gasette Date

Bartlett

Reginald Leonard

Lieut.

-

17/05/1919

Bate

John Percival

Capt.

-

29/11/1918

Carter

Percy

Capt.

-

11/03/1919

Creswell

Charles W.

A/Cpl.

202029

11/03/1919

Fox

Thomas C.

Sgt.

240123

29/11/1918

Gadsby

F. E.

Lieut.

-

17/05/1919

Lawrence

Edward Lafone Graham

Brevet Major

-

17/05/1919

Leake

R. S.

Lieut.

-

17/05/1919

Mole

Frank

C.S.M.

200037

29/11/1918

Tomkinson

Francis Martin

T/Lt.-Col.

-

21/08/1919

 

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