Maria Bergamas
Encyclopedia
Maria Bergams was an Italian woman who was chosen to represent all Italian mothers who had had lost a son during World War I
not knowing where he was buried.
. At the time, both Gradisca d'Isonzo and Trieste were part of Austria-Hungary
, so her only child Antonio was drafted into Austrian Army. In 1916, Antonio deserted
and joined the Regio Esercito
, but was killed in action on 16 June 1916; his body was never recovered.
After the war, on 26 October 1921 in Aquileia
, she chose one of 11 unidentified bodies of members of the Italian Armed Forces whose remains had been retrieved from various areas of the front. The selected body was buried on 4 November 1921 in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
in the Vittoriano in Rome
. The other 10 remains were buried in the military cemetery in Aquileia
.
After her death, Bergamas was buried on 4 November 1954, the 46th anniversary of victory, in the cemetery of Aquileia, together with the bodies of the ten other unknown soldiers.
the American soldier that chose the body of unknown soldier of United States of America.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
not knowing where he was buried.
Life
Born in Gradisca d'Isonzo 23 January, 1867 she lived for many years in TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. At the time, both Gradisca d'Isonzo and Trieste were part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, so her only child Antonio was drafted into Austrian Army. In 1916, Antonio deserted
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
and joined the Regio Esercito
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
, but was killed in action on 16 June 1916; his body was never recovered.
After the war, on 26 October 1921 in Aquileia
Aquileia
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso , the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times...
, she chose one of 11 unidentified bodies of members of the Italian Armed Forces whose remains had been retrieved from various areas of the front. The selected body was buried on 4 November 1921 in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier refers to a grave in which the unidentifiable remains of a soldier are interred. Such tombs can be found in many nations and are usually high-profile national monuments. Throughout history, many soldiers have died in wars without their remains being identified...
in the Vittoriano in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The other 10 remains were buried in the military cemetery in Aquileia
Aquileia
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso , the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times...
.
After her death, Bergamas was buried on 4 November 1954, the 46th anniversary of victory, in the cemetery of Aquileia, together with the bodies of the ten other unknown soldiers.
See also
Edward F. YoungerEdward F. Younger
Edward F. Younger was the American United States Army soldier selected to choose the body to be used as America's Unknown Soldier representing those lost by the U.S. during World War I....
the American soldier that chose the body of unknown soldier of United States of America.