Posted 16 February 2016 by bombtrack2
Hey there,
I've recently discovered that an uncle of mine received the Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare for an action in 1937. I'm looking for someone to translate the citation for me, as the google translate function i'm using isn't doing a good job of it. Also, any background of the circumstances would be great.
"Sxxxxxxx Raffaele di Giovanni e fu Cxxxx Eufemia, nato a Casacalenda (Campobasso) il 4 ottobre 1896, camicia nera del V battaglione Camicie Nere d'Africa.
Offertosi volontario di partecipare ad un'azione quale conducente di una stazione radio al seguito di un raggruppamento A.S., durante improvviso attacco di forte nucleo ribelle coadiuvava efficacemente il comandante della stazione, riuscendo a trattenere i ribelli e a dar modo alla compagnia di retroguardia d'intervenire.
Gellià, 16 ottobre 1937 - XV."
Thank you for your assistance!
--------------
Posted 18 February 2016 by fredleander
bombtrack2, on 16 February 2016 - 11:26 PM, said:
Hey there,
I've recently discovered that an uncle of mine received the Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare for an action in 1937. I'm looking for someone to translate the citation for me, as the google translate function i'm using isn't doing a good job of it. Also, any background of the circumstances would be great.
Offertosi volontario di partecipare ad un'azione quale conducente di una stazione radio al seguito di un raggruppamento A.S., durante improvviso attacco di forte nucleo ribelle coadiuvava efficacemente il comandante della stazione, riuscendo a trattenere i ribelli e a dar modo alla compagnia di retroguardia d'intervenire.
Gellià, 16 ottobre 1937 - XV."
Thank you for your assistance!
I'm afraid I cannot tell you much more than what you have already found yourself. The medal was won for an action in Africa, but not in East Africa. Which is a little strange several years before the war started. In that period it would be natural to think it had to do with Ethiopia. He was quite old, too - was he an officer?
Somebody else here can probably come up with more information.
Fred
--------------
Posted 19 February 2016 by bombtrack2
I should have posted this in the original post, but here is what precedes his citation (I've omitted the other names and awards)
--------------
Ministero Della Guerra
BOLLETINO UFFICIALE
Dispensa 33a | 1941 - Anno XIX | 27 Marzo
--------------
Regio decreto 13 Maggio 1941-XVIII
Registrato alla Corte Di Conti li 25 agosto 1940-XVIII
registro 7 Africa Italiana, foglio 167
Sono concesse le seguenti ricompense al valor militare per operazioni guerresche in A.O.
--------------
CROCE DI GUERRA AL VALOR MILITARE
--------------
fredleander, on 18 February 2016 - 06:58 PM, said:
I'm afraid I cannot tell you much more than what you have already found yourself. The medal was won for an action in Africa, but not in East Africa. Which is a little strange several years before the war started. In that period it would be natural to think it had to do with Ethiopia. He was quite old, too - was he an officer?
Somebody else here can probably come up with more information.
Fred
So it does appear that the citation was for an action in A.O. which is "Africa Orientale" aka Italian East Africa.
From what I understand, after the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935-36, a rebellion began in the spring of 1937. It seems that it is that context in which the medal was awarded.
His rank is listed as "Camicia Nera" which is the MVSN's equivalent to "Private". At first glance being a 41 year old Private seems odd, however, from my research (mainly Osprey Publishing books) the MVSN recruited men from 17 to 50 years, in two classes, the older classes being "territorial" or local soldiers, and that the Camecia Nere d'Africa were recruited from local Italian colonists in Africa. He came from a family of peasant farmers, and peasant farmers were recruited by the Italian government to colonize East Africa, so it makes sense that he lived in Africa, as a colonist, and therefore served in the Camecia Nere d'Africa which was one of very few local white Italian military formations in East Africa at the time.
Getting back to the translation request:
Can anyone explain to me what a "Raggrupamento A.S." is? that's my main sticking point.
It sounds like he volunteered for a mission to an Italian military radio station, which came under 'rebel' attack and he somehow assisted the commander of the station and then fought a rearguard action? Is that correct?
Also, does anyone know where "Gellià" is? I'd like to know what it's current African name is so I can see it on a map.
And lastly, is the Roman numerals after the year 1937 the year of Mussolini's reign?
Thanks again.
Hey there,
I've recently discovered that an uncle of mine received the Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare for an action in 1937. I'm looking for someone to translate the citation for me, as the google translate function i'm using isn't doing a good job of it. Also, any background of the circumstances would be great.
"Sxxxxxxx Raffaele di Giovanni e fu Cxxxx Eufemia, nato a Casacalenda (Campobasso) il 4 ottobre 1896, camicia nera del V battaglione Camicie Nere d'Africa.
Offertosi volontario di partecipare ad un'azione quale conducente di una stazione radio al seguito di un raggruppamento A.S., durante improvviso attacco di forte nucleo ribelle coadiuvava efficacemente il comandante della stazione, riuscendo a trattenere i ribelli e a dar modo alla compagnia di retroguardia d'intervenire.
Gellià, 16 ottobre 1937 - XV."
Thank you for your assistance!
--------------
Posted 18 February 2016 by fredleander
bombtrack2, on 16 February 2016 - 11:26 PM, said:Hey there,
I've recently discovered that an uncle of mine received the Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare for an action in 1937. I'm looking for someone to translate the citation for me, as the google translate function i'm using isn't doing a good job of it. Also, any background of the circumstances would be great.
Offertosi volontario di partecipare ad un'azione quale conducente di una stazione radio al seguito di un raggruppamento A.S., durante improvviso attacco di forte nucleo ribelle coadiuvava efficacemente il comandante della stazione, riuscendo a trattenere i ribelli e a dar modo alla compagnia di retroguardia d'intervenire.
Gellià, 16 ottobre 1937 - XV."
Thank you for your assistance!
I'm afraid I cannot tell you much more than what you have already found yourself. The medal was won for an action in Africa, but not in East Africa. Which is a little strange several years before the war started. In that period it would be natural to think it had to do with Ethiopia. He was quite old, too - was he an officer?
Somebody else here can probably come up with more information.
Fred
--------------
Posted 19 February 2016 by bombtrack2
I should have posted this in the original post, but here is what precedes his citation (I've omitted the other names and awards)
--------------
Ministero Della Guerra
BOLLETINO UFFICIALE
Dispensa 33a | 1941 - Anno XIX | 27 Marzo
--------------
Regio decreto 13 Maggio 1941-XVIII
Registrato alla Corte Di Conti li 25 agosto 1940-XVIII
registro 7 Africa Italiana, foglio 167
Sono concesse le seguenti ricompense al valor militare per operazioni guerresche in A.O.
--------------
CROCE DI GUERRA AL VALOR MILITARE
--------------
fredleander, on 18 February 2016 - 06:58 PM, said:I'm afraid I cannot tell you much more than what you have already found yourself. The medal was won for an action in Africa, but not in East Africa. Which is a little strange several years before the war started. In that period it would be natural to think it had to do with Ethiopia. He was quite old, too - was he an officer?
Somebody else here can probably come up with more information.
Fred
So it does appear that the citation was for an action in A.O. which is "Africa Orientale" aka Italian East Africa.
From what I understand, after the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935-36, a rebellion began in the spring of 1937. It seems that it is that context in which the medal was awarded.
His rank is listed as "Camicia Nera" which is the MVSN's equivalent to "Private". At first glance being a 41 year old Private seems odd, however, from my research (mainly Osprey Publishing books) the MVSN recruited men from 17 to 50 years, in two classes, the older classes being "territorial" or local soldiers, and that the Camecia Nere d'Africa were recruited from local Italian colonists in Africa. He came from a family of peasant farmers, and peasant farmers were recruited by the Italian government to colonize East Africa, so it makes sense that he lived in Africa, as a colonist, and therefore served in the Camecia Nere d'Africa which was one of very few local white Italian military formations in East Africa at the time.
Getting back to the translation request:
Can anyone explain to me what a "Raggrupamento A.S." is? that's my main sticking point.
It sounds like he volunteered for a mission to an Italian military radio station, which came under 'rebel' attack and he somehow assisted the commander of the station and then fought a rearguard action? Is that correct?
Also, does anyone know where "Gellià" is? I'd like to know what it's current African name is so I can see it on a map.
And lastly, is the Roman numerals after the year 1937 the year of Mussolini's reign?
Thanks again.
