discovery of the register
One result of the Foundation’s work has been the discovery of a Register of Medals awarded, but never presented, to Italians for their courage when assisting the Allied cause. These medals awards were approved by the military commanders in the field, but an embargo was subsequently was placed by the British government in 1948 on the presentation of medals to Italian nationals.
Thus, with a single exception, it is the Foundation’s belief that no medal from the Register of medals has actually been conferred upon the person who won it. Further detailed research has revealed the stories of each individual medal winner’s courage, as documented in the Allied Screening Commission files. The citations for most of the medals still exist in the National Archives, Kew, London.
Initially the Foundation was not aware of the existence of the Medal Register in the US National Archives. In October 2014, the Chairman stumbled across it by chance, during a research visit to those archives. Further research research has led to the discovery of the files which supported the medals. The Foundation has thoroughly research the Allied Screening Commission files, and also such material as still exists at the National Archives, Kew, London. We have concentrated on the medals that were awarded, and on the register of deaths resulting from the help given. The result is the publication of a book:
Italy's Outstanding Courage, the Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two, by Brian Gordon Lett
The book is available on Amazon throughout the world, at present only in the English language, but hopefully next year in Italian.
It includes the names and citations for the Italian medal winners, and a Roll of Honour of those who died.
Thus, with a single exception, it is the Foundation’s belief that no medal from the Register of medals has actually been conferred upon the person who won it. Further detailed research has revealed the stories of each individual medal winner’s courage, as documented in the Allied Screening Commission files. The citations for most of the medals still exist in the National Archives, Kew, London.
Initially the Foundation was not aware of the existence of the Medal Register in the US National Archives. In October 2014, the Chairman stumbled across it by chance, during a research visit to those archives. Further research research has led to the discovery of the files which supported the medals. The Foundation has thoroughly research the Allied Screening Commission files, and also such material as still exists at the National Archives, Kew, London. We have concentrated on the medals that were awarded, and on the register of deaths resulting from the help given. The result is the publication of a book:
Italy's Outstanding Courage, the Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two, by Brian Gordon Lett
The book is available on Amazon throughout the world, at present only in the English language, but hopefully next year in Italian.
It includes the names and citations for the Italian medal winners, and a Roll of Honour of those who died.
presentation of the medals
As a part of its commemorative work, the Foundation has presented copies of the medals to a number of the families of those who won them, together with copies of the file detailing the heroism of the medal winner. This work is ongoing.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Brian Gordon Lett, has now presented four medals, three of them to those whom his father had nominated.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Brian Gordon Lett, has now presented four medals, three of them to those whom his father had nominated.
Daniele bucchioni
Kings Medal for Courage, presented 2001
|
On 13 May 2001, in the valley of Rossano, the Chairman presented Daniele Bucchioni with an original King’s Medal for Courage, for which he had been nominated by the Chairman’s father fifty-six years before. Bucchioni had written to Buckingham Palace to enquire whether he had ever been granted the medal, and had been informed that he had indeed won it. Bearing in mind that Bucchioni was then in his mid-eighties, and that time might be short, the Chairman obtained an original medal, and presented it to Bucchioni, with the blessing of the appropriate authority, when they next met. In due course, in 2005, Bucchioni was awarded an OBE, which he received in a ceremony at the British Embassy in Rome.
|
|
Dany Bucchioni, second from left, wearing his King’s Medal in Rossano, May 2001. The flag is that of the International Battalion of partisans, commanded by Gordon Lett.
Others in the photograph, left to right): Avio Braccini - partisan, Dany, Lt Colonel Bob Walker Brown - commander of Operation Galia, Falco Montefiore -partisan. |
|
tarquinio deluchi and LUIGI TOGNARELLI
Kings Medal for Courage, presented 2015
|
Tarquinio Deluchi and Luigi Tognarelli were names well known to the Chairman. Both lived in the Rossano lived in the valley and had been recommended for their medals by the Chairman’s father, Gordon Lett. The Foundation therefore acquired two further King’s Medals in 2015, and at a ceremony in Rossano in June 2015, in the presence of the Deputy Mayor Andrea Benelli, the Chairman presented both the medals and the files that supported them to Antonio Deluchi, son of Tarquinio, and Giovanni Tognarelli, eldest son of Luigi. The two sons were well known to the Chairman.
The medals were acquired commercially, and were presented as momentos to the families. Click here for the Chairman’s speech. |
Left to Right: Antonio Deluchi, the Chairman and Giovanni Tognarelli with their King’s Medals at the ceremony in Chiesa di Rossano in 2015.
|
dora pieruccini
Kings Medal for Courage, presented 2016
|
In October 2016, the Foundation conducted a search for the Pieruccini family of Deccio di Brancoli, Vinchiana, near Lucca, Tuscany. In 1943 and 1944, there had been a network of helpers in the area of Vinchiana di Lucca, Tuscany, which had been sheltering escaped Allied prisoners of war. Dora Pieruccini, a lady aged 29 at the relevant time and blessed with six sisters, was a leading figure amongst the Vinchiana helpers. Dora had been known as the “Mother of Prisoners of War." She had been approved for the grant of a King’s Medal for her outstanding courage.
|
The Chairman discovered that although Dora herself had died in 2001, three of her sisters, who had also helped escapers, were still alive. The Foundation therefore moved quickly, and on 12 December 2016, in a ceremony held in the splendid “Hall of Mirrors” in the comune of Lucca, courtesy of Mayor Professor Tambellini, the Chairman presented a replica King’s Medal and a copy of the Allied Screening Commission file to one of Dora’s surviving sisters, Beatricia Pieruccini. Sadly the other two surviving sisters, Paola and Genni, were not well enough to attend. The ceremony was also attended by Dora Pieruccini’s great great niece, named Dora, who was only a few weeks old.
Click here for the Chairman’s speech.
Click here for the Chairman’s speech.
the search continues
The Foundation is currently searching for any surviving relatives of other medal winners from the Vinchiana network: Guglielmo Giannechini, Alfonso Lazzarini, Maria Poli and Emilio Angeli.
The Foundation’s work is continuing throughout central and northern Italy, in the hope of contacting and informing the surviving families of all medal winners. Notwithstanding the decision of the British Government in 1948 that the medals should not be bestowed on their winners, the Foundation believes that the surviving families have a right to know how highly the courage of their relatives was regarded.
Contact with the Foundation may be made via email to [email protected]
The Foundation’s work is continuing throughout central and northern Italy, in the hope of contacting and informing the surviving families of all medal winners. Notwithstanding the decision of the British Government in 1948 that the medals should not be bestowed on their winners, the Foundation believes that the surviving families have a right to know how highly the courage of their relatives was regarded.
Contact with the Foundation may be made via email to [email protected]