- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Year of Institution: 1908
- Country: Great Britain
The Messina Earthquake Commemorative Medal is a British campaign medal established in 1908 and awarded by the King of Italy to Royal Naval and other personnel who went to the aid of victims of the tragic earthquake that hit Messina in December 1908.
At 5:22 am on the 28th December 1908 the Sicily & Calabria area of Italy was struck by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, a major disaster with a terrible death toll (estimated 70,000 to 100,000). Many nations came to the aid of the affected areas and various ships in the Mediterranean at the time were deployed to offer whatever help could be given. Messina was the worst affected population center and a number of Royal and British Merchant Navy vessels landed men to assist, from digging survivors out from collapsed buildings to assisting with the evacuation of the injured and homeless.
In the aftermath, it was decided by the Italian Royal family that a merit medal would be produced to be awarded to those who distinguished themselves “whether by rendering assistance and medical treatment or by donating health and administrative services and meeting the material and spiritual needs of the sufferers of the disaster.”
An estimate of up to three hundred of these merit medals were awarded.
The Messina Earthquake Commemorative Medal Design
The medal is circular, struck in silver, gold and bronze and measures either 31.5 millimeters (for individuals) or 40 millimeters (for institutions) in diameter.
The obverse shows a left-facing profile of King Victor Emanuel III. The reverse bears a wreath of oak leaves within which are the words “MEDAGLIA COMMEMORATIVA / TERREMOTO CALABRIO SICULO 28 DECEMBRE 1908“.
The ribbon is green with white edges and a central white stripe.
