Original Italian Fascist AO Corte Forestale Combattente Enamel Sleeve Shield
Very nice original Italian fascist period item. One of the rarest of all the Italian sleeve shield this is for the Corte Forestale Combattente, which was the members of the state security forestry service militia that volunteered to serve in East Africa (Ethiopia and Somalia) during the Italian invasion in 1935-1936.
There are two versions of this scudetto (shield) of which this is the second version. On both versions was the words Corte Forestale Combattente A.O.: for the first type, the date campaign took place (A-XIII-XIV) and battles the unit was involved in are engraved on the beam of the fascio. On the second version there is NO campaign date, only the battles.
The reason for these versions is that during the campaign there were two deployments of the "Agostini Column", as the unit was known. The first was made up of approximately 500 foresters who arrived from Italy in 1935; the second was an additional 100 foresters sent to reinforcement of the Cohort in 1936. Since the 100 reinforcements did not participate in the first phase of the campaign they were awarded a separate shield with only the two battles they were engaged in (Dawa River and Ogaden). So, only 100 of these shields were produced for the second deployment.
The badge is of bronze with a gilt surface and green enamel of the Forestry Militia (it was only issued as an enamel shield). Measures approx. 58mm tall with holes and a loop for attachment by sewing on. There are a few spots of damage to the enamel, most noticeably to the left of the fascio and directly below. The enamel damage does not detract from the overall appearance of the shield. The reverse is maker marked LORIOLI & FRATELLI MILANO ROMA in raised fine lettering.
I have only seen one other and only in a picture.
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