Italian Medal for Military Valour

Italian Medal for Military Valour. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The arms of Savoy surmounted by a crown within a wreath of laurel and palm branches, and the inscription 'AL VALORE MILITARE' around the circumference. Reverse: A laurel wreath (with a blank centre for engraving) surrounded by 'CAMPAGNA DELL ITALIA MERIDIONALE'. The medal is fitted with a fixed bar suspender and a piece of 42 mm plain blue watered silk ribbon.

Instituted 1833 in three grades of gold, silver, and bronze this medal was awarded to officers and men of the armed forces for gallantry in action against the enemy. The reverse of the medal indicates that it was issued for the South Italy Campaign (Sicily) in 1860 during the Italian War of Independence 1848 - 1871, which led to Italian unification. 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.