Italian Army WWI

This is the description of ranks as given in the Military and Navel Recognition book.
They differ slightly to other sources such as Andrew Mollo, but still may be of interest.
Needless to say not to scale!

The insignia of rank is worn on the shoulder of all uniforms except the field service uniform, which is worn almost altogether in time of war, the insignia is worn on the outer part of cuff of sleeve.
1. General.  Three gold stars on a shoulder mark of broad silver braid or three gold stars in a vertical row on a vertical rectangle of broad silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve. On the cap four stripes of braid the lower stripe entwined with a waved stripe. With field uniforms these stripes are of the same color as of the cap.  The rank of General is held by the King only
2. Lieutenant General.  Two gold stars on a shoulder mark of broad silver braid or two gold stars in a vertical row on a vertical rectangle of broad silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap three stripes of braid the lower stripe entwined with a waved stripe.
3. Major General.  One gold star on a shoulder mark of broad silver braid or one gold star on a vertical rectangle of broad silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap two stripes of braid, the lower stripe entwined with a waved stripe.
4. Brigadier General.  A shoulder mark of broad silver braid or a vertical rectangle of broad silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap three narrow stripes over one broad stripe.
5. Colonel.  Three silver stars on a shoulder strap with silver braid edging or three silver stars in a vertical row with a rectangular edging of silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap three narrow stripes over on broad stripe.
6. Lieutenant Colonel.  Two silver stars on a shoulder strap with a silver braid trimming or two silver stars in a vertical row with a rectangular edging of silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap two narrow stripes over on broad stripe.
7. Major.  One silver star on a shoulder strap of silver braid edging or one silver star inclosed in a rectangle of silver braid on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap one narrow stripe over one broad stripe.
8. Captain, First Class.  Three silver stars with a narrow stripe of silver braid on either side, worn on the shoulder or on the outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap one broad stripe.
9. Captain.  Three silver stars on shoulder strap without trimming or three silver stars in a vertical row on outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap three narrow stripes of braid.
10. First Lieutenant.  Two silver stars on shoulder strap without trimming or two silver stars in a vertical tow on outer cuff of sleeve. On the cap two narrow striped of braid.
11. Second Lieutenant.  One silver star on shoulder strap without trimming or one silver star on outer cuff of sleeve.  On the cap one narrow stripe of braid.
12. Aspirant one black star on shoulder strap or on outer cuff of sleeve.
Noncommissioned officers wear chevrons, points up, on the cuffs of sleeve; one, two, three, or four, according to rank.

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Ranks changed from the shoulder to the fore arm in 1915, also there were a few more changes up until the end of the war.
Here’s my attempt at the ranks
The chart shows
1. General [the King]
2. Lt General Chief of Staff [1918]
3. Lt General Army Commander [1918]
4. Lt General Corps Commander
5. Lt General Division Commander
6. Major General Division Commander [1918]
7. Major General Brigade Commander
8. Brigadier [1918]
9. Colonel commanding a brigade
10. Colonel, when commanding a regiment the  red backing.
11. Lt Colonel
12. Major
13. 1st Captain
14. Captain in command of battalion had stars with red backing.
15. Captain promotion in the field badge, crown crossed swords.
16. Captain
17. Lieutenant
18. 2nd Lieutenant
19. Aspirante
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Would you happen to have the enlisted ranks rank insignia?

I do Chris, I tend to try and cram everything onto one page so this time I thought I would start off with the relatively easy officer ranks, also just putting off doing all those twists and curls of the nco ranks.
I do intend getting around to doing the nco grades, but if you would like a couple of images from a far better artist than myself I could send them to you.
Regards
WF

Here's a chart for the NCO ranks, maybe a little rushed.

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Wow, thank you very much Bill. Looks great.

Thanks Chris but! I’ve said that the first ranks were again used in the 1930’s because that was what was stated on the original ‘Italian’ reference. I used the assumption that an Italian reference should know about Italian insignia, maybe a little naively.
They were with some minor changes, for example the three warrant officer ranks worn on the shoulder strap with the two senior ranks having the braid coming from the button at an angle, also the NCO ranks after 1939 were worn point down as well, not inverted as here.
WWII sergeant major one thick above two thin, sergeant one thick above one thin and so on.
Most illustrations for the WWI show one thick chevron while the Italian source from which the chart is done shows two, the gap being very narrow compared with the gap between the thin chevrons, which looks like the later insignia where the broad chevron has another chevron added on top, usually of the same colour, which gives the appearance of a separator.
Sorry rambling.

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Hi WF. Attached is a sheet of schematic figures showing Italian uniforms c1923 (grey-green ones) mixed in with some of the pre-1915 ones (blue-black). Not great art work but it does show some of the rank insignia that you illustrated so comprehensively.

Cheers

Any chance of you sending me a larger copy?
Here’s the site from which I took my illustrations from, here’s the link for you,
There is a great deal of information so just click and play, navy, army and aiforce insignia.
enjoy!


http://digilander.libero.it/alby.net/

http://digilander.libero.it/alby.net/Esercito/Uniformi%20ed%20accessori.htm

This should also help, should have put it in the previous post!
If you click on the link in the top left corner and get the pdf file of the rank insignia. Saves you searching the whole site just for the insignia.
Saying that its well worth searching as there are some nice illustrations of the various uniforms, just a little small to see any great detail.


http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/Uniformi/gradi_sp_su.asp

from my site

http://uandd.forumfree.it/?t=30843256

ciao fron italy

edil wrote:from my site

http://uandd.forumfree.it/?t=30843256

ciao fron italy

Excellent job! I like those illustrations

Thanks edil.
A lot of time and effort has gone into those illustrations, very nice.
WF

I've added the text from the adjoining pages with a Google translation below.
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