Hi All,
Please see attached a photo of my uncle in some sort of uniform.
Circa 1930s / 1940s, maybe Messina region in Sicily.
Has the number 21 on their hats. To me it looks like a GIL Youth Uniform because my uncle eventually fought in WW2 and the photos of him in his military uniform are different. He was also never in a 21 unit.
If anyone could help with identification that would me amazing
Thanks
Joe
Photo Identification
Re: Photo Identification
The uniforms aren't from the GIL, because the hat is different, the hat of the male members of the GIL is a black fez with an eagle decoration.
The GIL uniforms have also black jackets and shorts, too.
I think, because of the number, that those uniforms were boarding school uniforms.
The GIL uniforms have also black jackets and shorts, too.
I think, because of the number, that those uniforms were boarding school uniforms.
Re: Photo Identification
It is my opinion... that these are the uniforms of Bicycle messengers.
The jodhper style pant and wrapped calves suggest bicycle/motorcycle pants.
I have not been able to find Italian examples, but there are many vintage images of bicycle messengers in other countries.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116534543802
https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage ... =apv&pvs=0
Just a thought
T.
The jodhper style pant and wrapped calves suggest bicycle/motorcycle pants.
I have not been able to find Italian examples, but there are many vintage images of bicycle messengers in other countries.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116534543802
https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage ... =apv&pvs=0
Just a thought
T.
Re: Photo Identification
Have you read your uncles' military service records? Is 21 the number of the regiment they were assigned to?
Emilio Lussu: “Che ne sarebbe della civiltà del mondo, se l’ingiusta violenza si potesse sempre imporre senza resistenza?”
Slava Ukraine! 
תחי ישראל
Re: Photo Identification
The uniform is that of the Italian army infantry (mod.1909). It is from around 1909 to 1923.
https://cbc-fe-collaudo.regione.fvg.it/ ... 7CTYPE%3Af https://cbc-bo-collaudo.regione.fvg.it/ ... 151455.jpg
https://cbc-fe-collaudo.regione.fvg.it/ ... 7CTYPE%3Af https://cbc-bo-collaudo.regione.fvg.it/ ... 151455.jpg
Emilio Lussu: “Che ne sarebbe della civiltà del mondo, se l’ingiusta violenza si potesse sempre imporre senza resistenza?”
Slava Ukraine! 
תחי ישראל
Re: Photo Identification
Hi mmongommogno wrote: 04 Aug 2025, 18:29 The uniform is that of the Italian army infantry (mod.1909). It is from around 1909 to 1923.
https://cbc-fe-collaudo.regione.fvg.it/ ... 7CTYPE%3Af
958626d0-6f2e-417e-9fc0-9a9e0e0c81c5_151455[1].jpg
https://cbc-bo-collaudo.regione.fvg.it/ ... 151455.jpg
Thanks for the photo identification. I went back and searched through my other families records and found another uncle who served in ww1 in the 21st regiment as a medic. Because they were brothers they looked very similar when young so looks like one of the family wrote the wrong brother on the back of the photo. Thanks for the help and correct identification really helped.


