Al Valore Militare Bronze - Derna, Libia 1911 - 26th Infantry

[ralstona]

Just picked this up.  A nice Bronze AVM for Italo-Turkish War in Libia.  Named on Back:
 

Derna 27-XII-1911

Pacchiotti, Mario

 

The action at Derna in December 1911, saw an Italian force of 3,500 repel an attack by Turkish and Libyan forces.  Ten officers were killed or wounded and 108 other ranks were killed or wounded.  Turkish forces at the battle were led by Mustapha Kemal (later Ataturk).  

Pacchiotti's citation reads: 

During the combat he was always the first to rush where most serious was the danger, and fights bravely and tenaciously urging his comrades by word and example.  – Derna, 27 December 1911.

Pacchiotti served with the 26th Infantry Regiment as a Zappatore.  Lt. Giovanni Esposito of the 5th Alpini Regiment won the GOLD AVM for this action.

[paul wood]

Nice acquisition,

Paul

[ralstona]

Thanks Paul,

I must admit, I have a weakness for these when they have an Africa connection.  

Here's a picture of one of the 10 officer casualties from the battle at Derna on Dec. 27, 1911.

Lt. Barberis served with the 7th Regiment of Infantry and earned a Silver AVM for the battle.

And a postcard from the 26th Regiment's time in Derna, Libya.

[ralstona]

Mustapha Kemal, Derna, Libya 1911.

He was wounded in Libya in early 1912 in one of the first aerial bombardments in world history.

"During the Battle of Derna on 16–17 January 1912, while Mustafa Kemal was assaulting the Italian-controlled fortress of Kasr-ı Harun, two Italian planes dropped bombs on the Ottoman forces and a piece of limestone from a damaged building's rubble entered Mustafa Kemal's left eye; which caused a permanent damage on his left eye's tissue, but not a total loss of sight. After receiving medical treatment for nearly a month (he attempted to leave the Red Crescent's health facilities early after only two weeks, but when his eye's situation worsened, he had to return and resume the treatment) on 6 March 1912 Mustafa Kemal became the Commander of the Ottoman forces in Derna. He managed to defend and retain the city and its surrounding region until the end of the Italo-Turkish War on 18 October 1912."  (from the website - 

http://www.liquisearch.com/mustafa_kemal_atatürk/military_career/italo-turkish_war_1911–1912

[ralstona]

Pacchiotti seems to be listed under the 26th Regiment but his rank is Zappatore.  Did infantry regiments have this rank or was it only Engineers (Genio)?

Maybe he was attached to the 26th Regiment?  The only other 26th regiment MBVM for 27 Dec 1911 are two zappatore (including Pacchiotti), two medics, and a Lieutenant Colonel.

Also the two Zappatore awarded MBVMs are from different cities (Rome and Turin) which would imply they were not in the same unit.

Edited September 28, 2016 by ralstona

[Elmar Lang]

A fine medal indeed.

I need to note, that each infantry regiment had a sappers' unit, this means why Mario Pacchiotti appears as being a soldier in an Infantry rgt..

Al Valore medals awarded for the Lybian campaign are quite sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

E.L.

[ralstona]

Thank you Elmer.

I just got these books.  Pacchiotti is confirmed as being with the 26th Regiment (they have the AVM entries for all army units in the Italo-Turkish War).