Gold Medal: Vittorio Montiglio
Born on 15 January 1903 in Valparaíso (Chile)
Lieutenant, 7th Alpini Regiment
Died on 9 November 1929 at Magliano Sabina in a car accident.
Citation for the Gold Medal of Military Valour:
Born in faraway Chile to an Italian family and brought up with a deep love of his country, his heart captured by the heroism and sacrifices of our war, whose echo reached him through the letters of his two brothers who had volunteered for the front, at barely fourteen he left his father’s house and, scorning dangers and hardships, came to his homeland. Hiding his very young age behind his strong build, he enlisted in the army and, after being assigned to a territorial unit, at his insistence was transferred to an Alpini assault unit, as he had dreamed and hoped. A second lieutenant at fifteen, in command of the arditi of the “Feltre” battalion, he took part with great courage in combat and was wounded. On his own initiative he left hospital to take part in the great battle of October 1918, in which he distinguished himself and was put forward for a decoration. A lieutenant at sixteen, he was sent with his unit to Albania where, in important actions against the rebels, his initiative shone, undimmed by the malarial fevers that struck him. There too, by saving at great risk one of his soldiers who was in danger in the treacherous currents of the Drin, he showed deep humanity and civic virtue. A magnificent figure of a boy soldier, a high example to the young of what love for one’s land can achieve. Italy – Albania, June 1917 – June 1920.
Biographical notes:
Brought up to love their homeland by his Italian parents, who had emigrated to South America, at twelve, when Italy declared war on Austria, he longed to take part in the fight. In March 1917 he managed to leave for Italy with false papers that made him look like a volunteer born in 1899; boarding the “Regina d’Italia” at Buenos Aires, he reached Genoa two months later. Enlisting as a volunteer, he was posted to the 7th Fortress Artillery Regiment and then moved to the 3rd assault unit of the 6th Alpini Regiment in the Adige valley, taking part in many night patrols. Appointed officer cadet, in March 1918 he was transferred to the “Feltre” battalion of the 7th Alpini Regiment. Promoted to second lieutenant in May and given command of the arditi unit, he led it, always in the vanguard, in daring raids on the enemy trenches of Coni Zugna, in one of which he was seriously wounded. He fought in the battle of October 1918 and was among the first to reach liberated Trento. In May 1919, promoted to lieutenant, he was sent with the battalion to Albania and, fighting against rebel bands, was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valour by royal decree of 28 April 1925. Back home, he took part in the Fiume venture with Gabriele D’Annunzio; then, in 1923, he attended a pilot course at the Ghedi airfield near Brescia and was transferred with his rank to the regular army.
“Dear Dad, if you report me or send me back to Chile before I have fought for Italy, I’ll kill myself” (message from the young Vittorio Montiglio to his father as he left for Italy)
Related article: The Sons of Belluno at War.
