Italy WW1 War Merit Cross With Gladius Sword FERT. Full-Sized.

The Italian War Merit Cross was awarded to members of the armed forces with a minimum of one year's service in contact with an enemy, or who received the Medal of the Wounded, or to those who, when mentioned for war merit, received a promotion.

Gladius sword - "FERT" citation (FERT, Fides Est Regni Tutela (Latin: "Faith is the protector of our Kingdom").  The equivalent to MiD (mentioned in despatches).