| Place | Europe: Italy |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM14806 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Italy |
| Date made | c 1878 |
1848-49 Italian Veterans Medal
Description
1848-49 Italian Veterans Medal. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: A five pointed star surrounded by a laurel wreath with the bust of King Umberto I facing left, in a centre circle and the inscription 'UMBERTO I RE D'ITALIA'. Reverse: The inscription 'VETERANI 1848-49 GUARDIA D'ONORE ALLA TOMBA DEL RE VITTORIO EMANUELE II' on four lines. The medal is fitted with a fixed bar suspender and a piece of 35 mm ribbon in green, blue, white, blue and red.
History / Summary
Awarded by King Umberto I to veterans of the First Italian War of Independence that formed the honour guard at the tomb of King Emanuele II. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.