Davide Menini

Davide Menini was an Italian Lieutenant Colonel of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. He participated in the Battle of Custoza of the Third Italian War of Independence and commanded the 1st Africa Alpini Battalion during the Battle of Adwa before being killed in the battle.

Davide Menini
Menini during the First Italo-Ethiopian War
Born1843
Genoa, Liguria, Sardinia-Piedmont
DiedMarch 1, 1896(1896-03-01) (aged 52–53)
Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia
Allegiance Italy
Branch Royal Italian Army
Years of service1866 – 1896
RankLieutenant Colonel
Commands held1st Africa Alpini Battalion
Battles/warsThird Italian War of Independence

First Italo-Ethiopian War

Biography

Menini was a veteran of the Battle of Custoza in 1866 and he joined the corps of the Alpini since its establishment, becoming famous in the group for having embarked on December 29, 1895, aboard the ship Gottardo which carried the 1st Africa Alpini Battalion to Italian Eritrea. Promoted to major, Menini found himself managing the 1st company, led by Giovanni Trossarelli, with men from the 1st Alpini Regiment, the 2nd company, led by Ernesto Mestrallet, with men from the 2nd Alpini Regiment, the 3rd company led by Captain Lorenzo Blanchin, with troops of the 4th Alpini Regiment and the4th company, led by Captain Pietro Cella, with troops of the 5th, 6th and 7th Alpini Regiment.[1][2] He had command of 20 officers and 954 between non-commissioned officers, graduates and soldiers.[3] The troops settled shortly afterwards by order of Menini himself at the fort of Adigrat, at 2473 meters above sea level.

Menini's commanded the 1st Africa Alpini Battalion were involved shortly after in the Battle of Adwa which represented the bloodiest phase of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. It was fought on March 1, 1896, at the Amba Rajo against the Ethiopian troops. During the battle, Menini was promoted to lieutenant colonel but he died the same day of the battle becoming famous for having refused help to allow his men to advance, urging them as he shouted "Come on, my Alpini!".[4][5]

A notable climber, he discovered the Menini Canal, an access road to Mount Antelao in the Dolomites on August 7, 1886.

Works
  • Operazioni militari alla frontiera Nord-Ovest. Memorie di escursioni alpine del 1890., Verona, 1891

Awards

References
  1. "Le prime battaglie africane del VII Alpini". anaconegliano.it (in Italian). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. "Le nostre Medaglie d'Oro: ana-parma". Sezione di Parma (in Italian). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  3. "Quello strano destino che lega gli alpini all'Africa" (in Italian). May 10, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  4. "Battaglia di Adua". anapisa.it. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  5. "Battaglione Alpini Tirano". iltirano.org (in Italian). Archived from the original on February 19, 2010.
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