History

This Medal was founded by Victor Emmanuel III and was conferred upon all military participants of the Italian-Austrian War 1915-1918, during the First World War. It was meant to commemorate services during wartime, the unification of Italy, and the 70th anniversary of the beginning of First Italian War of Independence.

Eligibility for soldiers was restricted to individuals who had rendered a minimum of four months of service in Albania, Syria, Palestine, the archipelago of Greece, and within the wider national territories, between May 24, 1915, and August 2, 1920.

The crew members of Merchant Marine ships were entitled to the Medal after a minimum period of 12 months of service, during which time they were exposed to the perils of war. For the crews of requisitioned merchant ships, the period of service which counted towards the award of the Medal began after May 24, 1915. For the crew of national merchant ships, the period of service counted towards the Medal began after February 8, 1916.

The personnel in the Italian Railway Company were authorized as recipients of the Medal after January 17, 1918.

There are three main versions of this medal. Each version is identical except for the ribbon on which it is worn. The Medals awarded to soldiers are worn on a ribbon with white, green, and red stripes. The Medals awarded to members of the Merchant Marine are worn on a ribbon with blue and white stripes and the Medals awarded to State Railway personnel are worn on a ribbon with red and white stripes.

The ribbons may be decorated with clasps reading: "1915," "1916," "1917," "1918," "ALBANIA 1916," "ALBANIA 1917," "ALBANIA 1918," "ALBANIA 1919," and "ALBANIA 1920."

This Medal was designed by Silvio Canevari, and the Medals were composed of bronze taken from the artillery of the enemy forces, hence the reverse inscription “CONIATA NEL BRONZE NEMICO” which roughly translates to “Coined in the enemy’s bronze.”

The medals may be stamped with marks for the medal designer (S. Canevari), engraver, and manufacturer, such as “S.CANEVARI-SACCHINI MILANO,” “S.CANEVARI-M.NELLI INC,” “S.CANEVARI-S.J.,” “S.CANEVARI-S.I.M,” “F.I. C.M.”, ad “S.CANEVARI-S.I.M. ROMA.”