Carlo Stuparich

Carlo Stuparich (3 August 1894 – 30 May 1916) was an Italian writer, patriot and war hero. His one substantive work was published only posthumously, on the initiative of his elder brother, Giovanni "Giani" Stuparich (1891–1961), another notable author. Admirers believe that, had he lived for longer, Carlo would have been remembered as the more accomplished and more original writer of the two. On 30 May 1916 Carlo Stuparich and the platoon he led, having become cut-off near Fort Corbin in the aftermath of a general retreat order some days earlier from higher up the chain of command, found themselves surrounded, outnumbered and overwhelmingly outgunned by the Austrian army under the command of Field Marshal von Hötzendorf. After a failed counter-attack in which his platoon had been wiped out, Carlo Stuparich committed suicide to avoid capture by the enemy.

Posthumously, he became a recipient of the coveted Gold Medal of Military Valour.