Otranto Straits drifter blockade 1916

[Maggie Johnstone]

My late father, Walter Watt, trimmer/engineman on board steam drifter Astrum Spei BF57, was awarded an Italian Bronze Medal for Valour during an attack by the Austrian Cruiser Novara on the British drifters on 8/9 July 1916

when the Astrum Spei and the Clavis were sank. My father told me about his experience when in the late sixties we visited the cemetery in Brindisi where the bodies of the Scottish fishermen/RNR sailors who died in that raid were buried. I would appreciate some advice on how to verify that my Dad had been awarded this bronze 'al Valore Militare' as there is no inscription nor date on the medal. Can anyone help me please?

[Kath]

Is his name on the medal?

http://www.haileybury.com/medals/ITALY.htm

About halfway down + picture.

"Medaglia Al Valore Militare (Military Medal for Valour) Awarded to the military for exceptional valour which did not warrant the award of the Military Order of Savoia. This medal was instituted in March 1833 by King Albert of Sardinia in three classes : gold, silver and bronze and was meant for award to army and navy personnel. - In 1836 and 1927 similar medals were created for resp. navy and air force. When awarded, the recipient's name was written on the reverse of the medal. During World War I the words "GUERRA DI 1915-1918" (War of 1915-1918) were written above the recipient's name. - The medal's obverse has changed a number of times : the WWI obverse bears the royal weapon of Savoia under a crown. During WWII, the "Italian Socialist Republic" the arms and crown were replaced by a Roman short sword, point upwards, on a background of laurel and oak leaves. After WWII, these were replaced by a five pointed star within a cogweel and "REPUBLICA ITALIANA" at the lower rim."

Kath.

[Maggie Johnstone]

Thanks for your interest. Now realize that i had to sign in before replying

Dad's medal looks very much like the one you indicated: blue ribbon, crown

above cross; cross surrounded by leaves and the words AL VALORE MILITAIRE

and also has the letters F. G. beneath. However there is only a horseshoe

wreath of leaves on the reverse side with no inscription whatsoever.

I remember reading somewhere in the Old Sweats forum somebody saying that

there were no inscriptions on these medals, but then in the next post he

apologized and said that there were.

I have also been reading about Joe Watt's VC which was sold recently along

with his al valore militaire medal also gained about the same time as my

father's.

[chops]

The award ot the BRONZE MEDAL FOR MILITARY VALOUR CONFERED BY HIS HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF ITALY is cofirmed on the Naval Medal and Award Roll on ANCESTRY.

London Gazette 17/11/1917. He was also awarded the C G M for the same V C action London Gazette 29/8/1917 A member of a very brave crew .

Regards,

corona

[horatio2]

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30386/supplements/11926

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30258/supplements/8986

[Maggie Johnstone]

Thank you all for your posts I really appreciated them.

Have discovered a photocopy of 2 pages of "A Saga of the Drifters" by Henry Milne, Senr. Have any of you any idea from where this could have been copied as I would like to get hold of the original.