Bosleys Military Auctioneers
Lot 802
WW2 Italy The Rank Insignia of General Pietro Maletti. This rare grouping of Italian Military Insignia was acquired by Lieutenant-General Sir Reginald Arthur Savory, KCIE, CB, DSO, MC, following the death of General Pietro Maletti at Nibeiwa Camp, near Sidi Barrini on the 9th December 1940. The insignia includes bullion General’s cap badge ... silver bullion rank indicating General, plus other items. The badges are accompanied by a typed letter on “Sir Reginald Savory” printed paper, stating how he acquired the badges and presented them to Mr Hugh King in August 1974. The letter is signed. General Pietro Maletti, a veteran of the Great War was in 1940 given command of a special ad hoc grouping of motorized infantry and tanks which was called the "Maletti Group". He took his command into Egypt and on the 9th December the British Attacked as part of Operation Compass. Sir Reginald Savory Commander the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade which was deployed in the Western Desert and took part in Operation Compass. The accompanying letter describes how he acquired the badges, following the attack on the camp, when he was undertaking a mopping up operation, his Indian servant appeared from a sand storm, wearing the Italian General’s greatcoat and cap, however the servant appeared to be more pleased with the two dead chickens that he pulled from the pocket of the greatcoat. Later one of his Staff Officers cut off the badges and presented them to him. Hidden away until 1974 in his hand he wrote “I have pleasure in presenting them to my friend H King 3 South Court Street, Farnham Surrey”.
