Gold Medal: Solideo D’Incau
Born in 1915 in Sovramonte (Belluno)
Corporal major
7th Alpini Regiment
“Feltre” Battalion
65th Company
Citation for the Gold Medal of Military Valour (posthumous):
In command of a machine-gun squad holding a forward position attacked by overwhelming enemy forces and swept by violent artillery and mortar fire, after seeing his officer fall he kept mowing down the enemy with his weapon, urging his comrades to resist by word and example. After repeated assaults, bravely thrown back, he was surrounded by the enemy and called on to surrender. Although wounded in the head, he refused and fought on relentlessly. Overwhelmed, before falling into enemy hands, in a supreme act of manly presence of mind he dismantled his machine gun and made it useless to the enemy. Taken prisoner, and with the enemy trying to force him to reassemble the weapon, he chose death over such disgrace, falling under bayonet blows struck with savage fury by the enemy. A shining example of a high sense of duty, deep love of his country and sublime sacrifice.
Vendrescia (Greek front), 13 February 1941
Biographical notes:
A bricklayer and farmer by trade, he reported to the 12th Alpini Regiment in October 1936 for his military service; assigned to the “Belluno” battalion, the following year he moved to the “Feltre” battalion of the 7th Alpini. Discharged as a corporal in 1937, he was recalled in May 1940 and assigned to the 65th machine-gun company of his old “Feltre” battalion. With the battalion mobilised, after Italy entered the war he took part in operations on the western Alpine front, earning a formal commendation. Promoted to corporal major in September, three months later, on 24 November, he left for Albania.
(The citation and biographical notes are taken from the book «Le Medaglie d’Oro al valor militare», Gruppo Medaglie d’Oro al valor militare d’Italia, Rome 1965.)
The “Solideo D’Incau” barracks at Ugovizza, Malborghetto Valbruna (Udine), known as “La tana dei lupi” (the wolves’ den), is named after him.
It was built in 1937–39 on today’s Via Pontebbana to house units of the G.a.F. (Frontier Guard) of the XVII covering sector.
After the war it housed units of the Alpini battalions “Gemona”, “Val Fella” and “Val Tagliamento” and a training detachment of the “Cividale”.
In May 2010 the whole area, covering 11,000 square metres, was transferred from military property to the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, which in turn handed it over to the Municipality of Malborghetto.
At present (2011) it is used as a base of the ANA Civil Protection and as a municipal warehouse.
It is called the “Tana dei Lupi”, and a commemorative medal was struck for everyone who served there.
Further reading: Our Fallen.
