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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