A moving ceremony in Barga this week and the end of a mystery that has gone on for almost 70 years.
On October 31, 1944 two columns of Brazilian soldiers, accompanied by Italian soldiers with mules of the reconstituted Italian
Royal Army and guided by two local guides, Vittorio Biondi and his son Paolo Biondi were hit by mortar fire in the piazza in Sommocolonia.
The local guides were seriously wounded and one of the Alpino soldiers and his mule were cut down by the shrapnel and subsequently died.
In the confusion that followed he was buried in a grave in Sommocolonia with the cross marked “unknown soldier”
Jump forward many decades and the arrival in Barga of an email from a lawyer, Sebastiano Di Filippo, a relative of the Alpino, Rocco Botta, describing the death of Rocco, which took place in Sommocolonia asking if anybody had any news of the whereabouts of his mortal remains.
Di Filippo provided general information and circumstances regarding the death, taken from precise military sources explaining that the Alpino was awarded postumously the War Cross for Military Valour after his death in Sommocolonia.
The unknown soldier finally had a name: Rocco Botta, born on 11/14/1923 in Siano (Salerno ), died on 10/31/1944 in Sommocolonia (Lucca )
This week his remains were returned to his relations at a ceremony up at Sommocolonia.
War Cross for Military Valor ” memory ” Alpine – 10th Ward baggage ” Valdieri ” XX Grouping baggage . Born November 14, 1923 in Siano and resident – Single . Died October 31, 1944 , in Sommocolonia of Barga (LU) , for injuries sustained in combat. Buried in the Municipal Cemetery of Barga (LU) . Then the mortal remains were transferred , the Ossuary City Cemetery Barga ( LU) .
Called up for mobilization , January 13, 1943 , is assigned to the 78th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Bergamo . Admitted to the Military Hospital of Bergamo , April 4, 1943 , was discharged on May 1 and sent on sick leave for 20 days. He returned to the department on May 24 , moved on the 30th , the 112th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Savona and used in the coastal defense of the cover band , in Liguria. In July, follows its own department in New York , south of Rome, in the area of the Colli Albani , carrying out tasks for coastal defense , from the mouth of the Garigliano river in Ardea . Upon hearing the news of the Armistice , September 8, 1943 , he manages to escape capture by the Germans , returning to Siano. Granted him a license extraordinary , January 20, 1944 , is presented at the Military District of Salerno , April 15. Transferred on 11 May, at the Hub, the 210 Division Auxiliary Italian , framed in the U.S. Fifth Army , is sent near the Garigliano , with the units used in the beachhead at Anzio . On May 17 , he participated in fierce fighting in the north of Cassino and 5 June at the Battle of Anzio. Liberated Rome , dates from the Peninsula to the side of the military units Allies, who have to stop their advance , the Tosco – Emiliano , due to the strong defensive line , organized by the Germans , called ” Gothic Line ” . Transferred to the 10th Ward baggage ” Valdieri ” of the twentieth Grouping baggage , is used in various logistics services in support of Allied troops . On 31 October 1944, he volunteers to supply food and ammunition , a group of soldiers of the BEF Brazilians ( Brasiliera Expeditionera Force) , holed up in a farmhouse situated in “La Palmiretta ” (for 1 Km north of Sommocolonia ) . Accompanied by a local guide , the thirteen-year Paolo Biondi , the Alpine salmerista Rocco Botta carry out the mission entrusted to him , returning in the afternoon to Sommocolonia of Barga (LU) . Arrived in the local Piazza San Rocco , both are affected by an enemy shell , whose fragments mortally invest Botta and his mule , injuring at the same time in a serious way the young guide , who later irretrievably lose the sight of his right eye . He died October 31, 1944 , in the village Sommocolonia of Barga (LU) , following the severe injuries to the head. By virtue of the courage shown on the battlefield , he is granted the War Cross for Military Valor , ” to the memory .”
