Fante Suma Concept, serial No. 56872.
"My name is Suma concept, I was born in the province of Siracusa Avola in November 5, 1893. In 20 years I was a volunteer in Libya, and 22 enrolled in the Great War. How many dead and missing had chosen by lot to leave no trace of me .. Today I decided to get out from anonymity and tell my story of a soldier is not returned from the war, because she was really overwhelmed me, nor anything we could to stop or change the events. Until my last day, August 15, 1916 .
will write down my memories as I can, after all this time.
In 1913 I was called to arms and enlisted in the Royal Army. On Oct. 10 I was already aggregated at the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Then King's Brigade was to make 20 years, and perhaps this is what pushed me over the sea as a volunteer for Tripolitania Avola, or perhaps do not know, but it went like this, who accepted my application.
On 17 November I was assigned to the 93rd Infantry Regiment, 'Brigade Messina'. The next day I was at the port of Genoa, where, amid a crowd of civilians and soldiers of all arms, I embarked on what everyone called the new Italian soil. We were stowed on each other, but morale was high: we had been given a mission, and we thought we were going to bring civilization to the people of those lands. But things went differently. In May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria had reached the War, the Great War. I was not yet 23 years ... "
have passed since then more than 90 years: where to try to find Concept Suma? Begins a journey in the footsteps of one of the 650,000 Italian soldiers died in the Great War.
Suma Concept Joseph
Soldier 96 ° Infantry Regiment 11/5/1893 born in Avola, the military district of Syracuse, died on 08.15.1916 in
40 ° section of health care for injuries sustained in combat.
The 93 Regiment is part of Libya to Naples February 26, 1916 and, along with other regiments returned, is used for the formation of a new brigade, the brigade Udine.
Brigade Udine with his two regiments, the 95th and 96th, is mobilized for the war in May 1916, we will try to follow the war of the infantryman Concept Suma, through the battles on the Asiago Plateau, moving on the Isonzo front and the Battle of Gorizia, from February 1916 until the day of his injury and death.
In May of 1916 the Austrians threw the 'Strafexpedition', the 'punitive expedition', against the Italians in the foothills of Vicenza, which will respond with counter-Cadorna the plateau in June and the Battle of Gorizia in the month August. The Udine
Brigade was placed in the employ of the 46th Division under the command of the XXVI Corps. In the maps of the 'Official Report', on 6 August 1916 the Brigade Udine is "mapped" their operations in the area around Gorizia. But Suma concept was not dead but in Gorizia, then discover how to Vertojba. A
Vertojba August 14, in fact, the order will be executed will launch its 96th Regiment to the conquest of the hills to the east, but all attempts at progress, urteranno against strong defensive positions. After fruitless attempts to conquer the Austrian trenches to share 88, 103 and 106, on the evening of August 16th will need to stop, reorganize departments and strengthen the lines reached: General Cadorna order the definitive suspension of the attack. For
the soldier Concept Suma is almost a joke: he died in the 40 ° section of health just hours before the order to suspend the attack.
The Voyage of Jack Concept Suma was published in a volume published by the Fondazione Monte di Pietà and Confartigianato - Craft Association of the province of Vicenza. Read the news .
Our infantryman of the 96th Regiment can accompany you on a photographic tour of some places in the Great War . For more information please write to
