Italy - Italian Artillery Insignia

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Gents,

Can anybody shed any light on the above?? found in the estate effects of a an American Gent, the owner stated the following by email to me:

" I didn't know where to start with it. My brother bought a house recently. The previous owner had passed away. Her closest relatives lived in Florida, so they just sold the house with everything in it. There were quite a few of her husbands belongings, including this piece. We also found his college year book. It was dated late 30's, so I assumed it was WW2 related. But, he may have served earlier and attended college later. We couldn't find much info about him, just his nicknacks and yearbook and this insignia. Its about 3" by 3". Thanks again!"

Kevin in Deva.

[Guest Rick Research]

French? Belgian?

[Mike Dwyer]

Kev,

It's definitely not US Army! I'd say it's European.

[David S]

Italian . . . due to the shape of the axes, and the flame direction

Possible Engineers

Here's a current Engineer cap badge

Edited October 9, 2007 by David S

[Guest Rick Research]

Ah-- so post-WW2 maybe? I was thrown off by absence of a crown over this.

[David S]

Rick

Here's the Italian Armys website, lotta nice dodads and such

Italian Army website

[Laurence Strong]

http://ingenierosmundiales.galeon.com/texto/EUROPA.pdf

Italian

Go to page 11, you will see the same minus the unit number.

[Finnishlion178]

That is a 1930s to WW2 italian pith helmet badge.

[VSC]

That is a 1930s to WW2 italian pith helmet badge.

It is an Italian ww2 to pre ww2 Italian engineers badge . i have the identical badge in my collection. I don't think it is a pith helmet badge though. Im not sure if the 1ST engineers corps served in North Africa.

[RRA227]

Brass badges were used on the sun helmet as well as visor caps by the Italians. Rich A. in Pa.

[Kev in Deva]

Gentlemen,

many thanks for your posts with regards this item.

Kevin in Deva.

[VSC]

Brass badges were used on the sun helmet as well as visor caps by the Italians. Rich A. in Pa.

Indeed Rich , But not all Italian divisions / corps/ Army components served in North Africa and were assigned pith helmets. Nothing worse then looking at an Italian pith helmet with a badge that never saw African soil.

regards

[RRA227]

VSC,I know that. I would have to find my Order of Battle for Ital. units to know what unit was where.I have seen pics of visor caps with brass badges. None of mine have brass insignia.Mine are bullion.I sent pics of items in my collection to Rex Trye for his books. Rich A. in Pa.

[VSC]

VSC,I know that. I would have to find my Order of Battle for Ital. units to know what unit was where.I have seen pics of visor caps with brass badges. None of mine have brass insignia.Mine are bullion.I sent pics of items in my collection to Rex Trye for his books. Rich A. in Pa.

That would be interesting to find out. I have no problems ID'ing Italian Infantry, Artillery, alpini ,Bersaglieri and Militia units OOB. I do however have a very limited knowledge to Italian sappers units, its formation and deployment. Do you have any info Italian sappers? Preferably a list of which engineer units went to North Africa?

I have seen your collection before, through another forum. Its the most extensive collection of Italian badges ive ever seen.

[RRA227]

VSC,Thanks about my stuff. Nobody cares about Italian items though. Sapper unit info? Not other than what is in most books. If I wanted that kind of info I would have to send a e-mail to a friend. He would know. Rich A. in Pa.

[John Torcasio]

This is a corps Artillery insignia on the peaked visor cap my father is wearing , He served in North Africa WW2

Edited November 14, 2012 by John Torcasio

[Elmar Lang]

I don't remember exactly, but the artillery badge with "vertical" flame above the grenade, should mean Heavy Artillery. Field Artillery has the horizontal flame; Horse Artillery (like the Italian batteries equipped with german 88mm. guns from the "1° Articelere" in North Africa), wore the badge with crossed cannons and sabres.

The badge that started this thread is from the 1st Engineer's Regiment (Primo Reggimento Genio). I'm not sure whether he saw action in the North African campaign 1940-43.

Best wishes,

E.L.

[John Torcasio]

correction from post 14 November 2012

Giuseppe Torcasio Italian forces a candidate officer in uniform with the heavy artillery regiment insignia on his peaked visor cap,WW II North Africa