The inscription reads:

LA 3 COMP. ARTIERI
SOTTO l’INSIDIA NEMICA
PER LA SAPIENTE GUIDA
DEL GENERALE C. NEGRONI
E VIRTU’ DI FANTI GENIERI E CCRR
DOMATE LE SABBIE ROVENTI
DA SOLLUM A SIDI EL BARRANI
QUI ANNODO’ LE LITORANEE
LIBICA ED EGIZIANA

20 NOVEMBRE 1940

translated to:

THE 3RD SAPPER COMPANY
UNDER ENEMY DANGER
THROUGH THE SKILFUL GUIDANCE
OF GENERAL C. NEGRONI
AND BY VIRTUE OF THE ENGINEER AND CCRR INFANTRYMEN
HAVING CONQUERED THE SCORCHING SANDS
FROM SOLLUM TO SIDI EL BARRANI
HEREBY LINKED THE
LIBYAN AND EGYPTIAN COASTLINES

20 NOVEMBER 1940