✅ SOLVED Weird Old Medal/Token

[nkellam22]

I found this Medal/Token in an old homesite in NSW, Australia.
I have found a few WW2 related items at the site so I feel it could be relating to that era.
There is writing around the edge of one side but it is completely illegible except for a few letters here and there.
It is made of copper.
I searched the internet for hours with nothing so any help is appreciated.
Thank You!

 

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[HuntinDog]

It looks like a British military machine gunners watch fob

 

[CRUSADER]

It looks like a British military machine gunners watch fob

Apart from the Crown is not a British Crown

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It's Italian... The crown and Savoy knot plus the word "battaglione" on the left tell me that much and the bar emblem under the knot is on at least one other Italian medal I've seen ... The gunners seem to be wearing pith helmets, and there's a palm tree behind them which makes me think it's related to action in Africa....

I can't find a match to it, but if you can make out even one word or most of a word on the top or right side I can probably get a 100% ID

 

[nkellam22]

Thanks for the help, I never would have thought Italian.
I can make out a RENE as the last 4 letters and a Mo(possibly i or t)OR(something)LA towards the middle left.
Hope this helps

 

[NOLA_Ken]

This one isn't an exact match, but its basically your medal... can you try to make out the last word on the right side?





https://www.emedals.com/europe/italy/medals/medal-of-508th-motorized-battalion-a-trieste-eu4032

 

[Mackaydon]

https://numismatica-italiana.lamoneta.it/moneta/W-ME61T/79
Don.......

 

[DizzyDigger]

Reworked the pics in hopes of bring out the lettering:







Taking images under fluorescent lighting is what causes the yellowing.

Close, but not quite 100% Don. This one has a Palm tree in the background
behind the machine gunner. Could be same group, different campaign.

 

[nkellam22]

The last word on the right side could be YIRENE

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It's halfway down this page on the right, identified as 63'd Motorized Battalion Cirene... Can't enlarge the pic because the site seems to want me to register but I can't read Italian

Faleristica.it

 

[nkellam22]

Sorry but the link does not work

 

[nkellam22]

Maybe just post a screen shot of the medal with the info

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Maybe just post a screen shot of the medal with the info

I took a screenshot and enlarged it a bit, not sure what's going on with that site

 

[nkellam22]

Thanks, does it talk about the age.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Thanks, does it talk about the age.

From what I can find, the battalion was in existence between October 1937 - January 1940, so the medal had to be made during that short period of time. The unit ceased to exist after being defeated by the 6th Australian Army division in the Battle of Bardia in Libya.... That would explain how it got to where you found it... This was a pretty important battle as Italy's defeat there is what led to Germany getting involved in Africa

 

[nkellam22]

Thanks a lot for the help NOLA_Ken
I never would have gotten an ID without your help.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

You're welcome, I enjoyed looking for it and learning something new as well

 

[A2coins]

Awesome find and great info and ID

 

[Wildcat1750]

Great find. I enjoyed reading the comments about this medal and following along as the riddle was solved!