Adrian helmet from the 1920s, a Colonel Commander in aluminum from the 40th Infantry Regiment

It descends from the Vittorio Emanuele Regiment, later the 21st, which, established in Bologna in implementation of the decree of 12 June 1859 with volunteers from the Veneto and Romagna, from 16 September of the same year formed, with its own battalion, the 22nd Infantry Regiment and both were united in the Vittorio Emanuele Brigade. On October 1st, the Brigade changed its name to "Bologna," and on January 1, 1860, the 22nd became the "40th Infantry Regiment (Bologna Brigade)," and was incorporated into the Sardinian Army on March 25th of the same year. The permanent brigades were disbanded on October 15th, and on October 15, 1871, it took the name of the 40th Infantry Regiment "Bologna," and then, on January 2, 1881, it was reunited with the 39th in the reconstituted brigade. With the 1926 ordinance, the 40th was assigned to the XXV Brigade.