How to decipher Italian military uniform?

[darthsmozers]

Good evening,

My great-grandfather's picture that hangs in my grandparents' house features his Italian military uniform. He was born in 1900 in Palermo, Sicily, but was married in Trenton, NJ in 1923. So, so presumably this uniform would date to the 1910's / very early 1920's.

Can anyone help me or point me to a resource that could tell me as much about this portrait as possible? I'm looking for any clues, military or otherwise, found in the picture. Thanks!

(oops, sorry for the double attachment)

[Italysearcher]

Wristwatches were first worn by military men towards the end of the 19th century, when the importance of synchronizing manoeuvres during war, without potentially revealing the plan to the enemy through signalling, was increasingly recognized. 'Wikipedia'

Since he is wearing a wristwatch I imagine this is pre WW1 and the family were able to afford one!

[paola52]

The photo was taken in Moncalieri, Piedmont
If he was born in 1900 this could not be pre WW1, as the last class to fight in the war were "i ragazzi del '99"
young men born in 1899
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragazzi_del_%2799
Ciao Paola

[Italysearcher]

Good point Paola. Since the photo was taken in Piedmont and he was born in Sicily, we can assume it was taken during his military service, so probably 1918-June 1923 when he was married in USA.

[Italysearcher]

Why not request his military record?

[darthsmozers]

Why not request his military record?

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that nor knew where to look for that.

Thank you all for your replies so far!

(Wow, Piedmont seems to be outside of Turin...a far cry from Sicily! I've been to Turin once. Forgive my ignorance ... why would he have been there during his military service time? Was there a base there? Another naive question: Is there a chance the photographer was from Piedmont but moved around to photograph soldiers? Or can we confidently assume he was in fact photographed in Piedmont?)

[PippoM]

It was very very usual for southern soldiers to be send north, and northern to south.
However, North needed more soldiers to defend state borders.
But only military documents can provide an answer.

[darthsmozers]

Thank you. Where might I begin finding his military record?

[PippoM]

You can write to the National Archives section qualified for his province of birth, providing name, place and date of birth, to request them. It usually implies paying a small fee. If you can provide us with such data, we can check and be more accurate.

[KathyLPV]

Greetings, My grandfather also served in WWI, his uniform was the same as yours. Though he was a US Citizen, my grandfather left the US in 1913 & returned in 1919 ! From his passenger list, he [a doctor] was a major, passage paid by the IT government.
Here are some sites I found to help you write a letter to request his info. He may have served in Piedmont, but may have joined in Palermo.

1. To FInd Military Records - This request should be made in Italian Here you go a request for you try email first: as-fr@beniculturali.it
- But you may not get a response or it may take a long time to get one.

2. To see how to write a letter, in Italian, with English translations & how to address the envelope to them:
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwi ... tools.html

3. For the Addresses of the Cities - to send info:
http://www.italywgw.org/records/military_records

4. The Italian Military site [all in Italian, no translations given]:
http://www.esercito.difesa.it/organizza ... cmcapitale

I"ve been writing for his records for years, and so far, few have responded. My next step is to write the "Ufficio dello Stato Civile" of Palermo for more info.
Buon fortuna, darthsmozers