Hi Jeff,
Yes it appears that he was called up and then left in congedo illimitato, until being properly called up the following year. So, I guess his service actually starts in 1942 (he served all the way up until 8 September 1943) and then became a partisan leader all the way through until 1945, being awarded a silver medal of military valour in 1963 for actions during the second battle of Mortirolo in 1945.
Am I correct in assuming that Zio Gildo is eligible also for the war merit cross due to his partisan activities?
Concerning Zio Angelo, his records are a mystery. I have the first page of his Atto di Servizio (often incorrectly called the Foglio Matricolare) which shows his voluntary service from 1931 up until 1939. I know that when my Cousin was born in 1941 he was already in Africa, and didn’t return until his eventual repatriation (date unknown).
His detailed foglio matricolare, or even the second page of his atto di servizio appear to be missing. I have contacted every official entity that SHOULD have his documents.
What is interesting, and may assist other members with their researching, is that for months and months I was told that there was no foglio matricolare for Zio Gildo, even though I knew there had to be. The relevant authorities in his correct province of birth had nothing. I persisted and eventually received his foglio matricolare from the army document centre in his 1941 place of residence.
As many know, all records should be with the original province of birth, however in this case, one slipped through the cracks. Even though he moved back to his birth province after the war, the documents did not follow him as they should have.
Concerning Zio Angelo, I have a photo of him in U.S Army uniform, with Italian insignia (Carabinieri fregio and Vice Brigadiere rank). I’m unsure if this was in Italy or elsewhere. It makes me think he may have volunteered with either the Co-Belligerent Forces or some type of Italian Service Unit.
I will now contact all other archives within his birth region, and last known residence region, as I hope, like Zio Gildo, his foglio matricolare has slipped through a crack and still exists somewhere.
The Carabinieri and Army officials presume it may have been destroyed by allied bombing, however he remained in Carabinieri service for his entire career so his foglio matricolare must have been updated during the 1950s and 1960s - so where is it?
I have contacted the relevant departments in Italy to have their medals issued but I have never received a reply. Other people I know received a reply (with the medals!) within 3 months, so go figure.
Kind regards,
James