Dear Hank
The Sardinians-Piedmontese* (Italians) played an important part at the battle of Chernaya. It was a Franco-Sardinian victory over the the Russians. About 15,000 Sardinian Piedmontese as a contingent from their fairly large conscript army, I believe, served in the Crimea. This was the major action they were involved in and it did involve the Bersaglieri.

"Il 16 gennaio 1855, il Piemonte entrava a far parte dell’alleanza antirussa, e Cavour, nonostante l’opposizione di gran parte dell’opinione pubblica, decise l’invio in Crimea, dove si erano concentrate le operazioni militari, di 15.000 soldati al comando del generale Alfonso La Marmora. Fra i tanti soldati inviati, ci sono 5 battaglioni di bersaglieri, che dovettero subire la falcidia del colera. "

January 1855 is not that late but they were in place in May of the same year.

Publicity stunt
Part of Cavour's strategy to gain allies for his aim of Italian unification. The size of the contingent was limited by the strength of public opposition in Piedmont Sardinia to the involvement in the Crimean War.

The French suffered catastrophic losses in the winter of 1855/6 through disease mainly Typhus. 40,000 dead and many more sick and invalided so the allies - the British, Turkish and Sardinians helped plug the gap.

The heading is needlessly insulting to the Italians who fought in the Crimean War and their descendants. Because the contingent was small, in comparison to the French, it does not follow that they are not worthy of mention.


David

* ie The kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia. The line regiments were associated with the provinces eg Cuneo, Torino, Novara and these were incorporated in the names.