Original Italian WWII North African Campaign 7th Engineer Regiment M1928 Tropical Sun Pith Helmet with Named Goggles - Size 56

Original Item: Only One available. This is a nice service-worn model 1928 (first version- pre-WW2). Included with the helmet are original goggles with elastic strap still soft with stretch, and they are named on the back to TEN. BERTOLUZZA. The helmet does have some condition issues including a large tear in the right side with some of the cork broken and coming out. Overall a nice display piece of an item used in the North African campaign by an officer under who most probably came under the command of Rommel’s Africa Korps.

The interior shows a Size stamp, 56. The 7th Engineer badge on the front appears to have been there since the war. The original goggles are in fair condition with heavy deterioration to the padding behind the eye-pieces. They are marked FOPAIS on the small metal hook. We couldn’t find much on the name, making for a good research project.

As mentioned, there is a large tear in the side of the helmet, and the interior cork has broken up and some has fallen out, with some other pieces very loose. The tear should be repaired. The original sweatband is retained inside, as is the chinstrap, which is still buckled.

A great but damaged example, also missing the plume. Ready for further research and display.

The XXXI Sappers Battalion, LXXX Mixed Engineer Battalion, and CCIV Mixed Engineer Battalion fought in the Western Desert campaign. The XXXI Mixed Engineer Battalion fought in the Tunisian campaign, while the XVIII Army Corps Engineer Battalion fought in the Sicilian campaign. In the evening of 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile, which ended hostilities between the Kingdom of Italy and the Anglo-American Allies, was announced by General Dwight D. Eisenhower on Radio Algiers and by Marshal Pietro Badoglio on Italian radio. Germany reacted by invading Italy and the 7th Engineer Regiment was disbanded soon thereafter by German forces.

On 1 October 1944, the Italian Co-Belligerent Army formed the CIV Mixed Engineer Battalion in Cosenza, which was assigned to the Combat Group "Mantova". The battalion consisted of a command, the 79th Engineer Company, and the 107th Teleradio Company. Both companies were transferred from the 104th Infantry Division "Mantova", which had remained loyal to King Victor Emmanuel III after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile. The Combat Group "Mantova" was equipped with British materiel and dressed in British uniforms. The combat group fought on the allied side in the Italian campaign. On 1 January 1945, the 4th Engineer Company joined the battalion.