Drenchia
Riccardo Giusto: the story of the first Italian soldier to die in World War I
Riccardo Giusto was born in Udine on February 10, 1895 and orphaned at a young age. He worked as a porter at the Udine train station when he was called to arms in January 1915 in the Alpine Corps and assigned to the 16th Company of the “Cividale” Battalion of the 8th Regiment stationed in Cividale del Friuli. On May 24, 1915, his unit took position on Mount Colovrat in the municipality of Drenchia (UD), on the border between Italy and Austria-Hungary.
The death of Riccardo Giusto
Riccardo Giusto was assigned to an exploration patrol tasked with occupying the summit of Mount Jeza, in front of Tolmino, but the patrol entered enemy territory and was hit by gunfire from Austrian gendarmes guarding the Cappella Sleme pass. Riccardo Giusto was fatally shot at 4:00 am on Mount Natpriciar by a bullet that went through his skull. He was rescued by his fellow soldiers, but died shortly after. His body was buried in the local cemetery and later moved to Udine in 1923.
The memory of Riccardo Giusto
Riccardo Giusto is remembered by a memorial plaque on Mount Colovrat with the inscription: “To Riccardo Di Giusto, the first Italian soldier to die but the first moral victor on May 24, 1915.” A road was also named after him in the eastern suburbs of Udine where his home was located.
Annual events in memory of Riccardo Giusto
Every year, on the last Sunday of May, a ceremony is held in memory of the soldier at the monument site.
Conclusions
Riccardo Giusto is known in history as the first of approximately 650,000 Italian soldiers who died in World War I. His memory is still alive and celebrated with the annual ceremony held at the memorial plaque site on Mount Colovrat. It is important to remember the sacrifice of many young men like Riccardo Giusto, who gave their lives in battle for our country.
