Italian Officer Hat Badge

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

Looking through the D-Day Dodgers' stuff,I found a hat badge that he previously told me about.Maybe our Italian MLU'ers can help me on this one.It is a dark blue shield shape,just like the Eighth Army Patch,edging in gold.Down the left side of the shield are the word "Divisione",and up the right sie is the word,"Metauro" in gold .Up through the middle,facing upward is a gold sword,ending at the centre apex in the middle of the top of the shield.Would anyone know the history of this division?I know that dad told me prisoners being trucked back were eager to trade anything for smokes

[Godwin Hampton]

Garry,
Is there any chance that the name of the division is 'CENTAURO'?

METAURO does not ring any bell, but I am definitely no expert in the matter, just making a suggestion.

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

Staring at it right now.Definitely states "metauro

[Gunner]

Hi Garry:

Its an Italian 'province' in the centre of the country and east of Tuscany in the Appenines.

Here's a website.

http://www.altometauro.com/english/Index.html

Cheers! Mike

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

Always left of the Line