He was born in Rome on March 14, 1882, the son of Giovanni di Giorgio, and enrolled at the Royal Military Academy of Infantry and Cavalry of Modena in 1899, graduating as cavalry second lieutenant on September 4, 1901, assigned to the 13th "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" Regiment. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1907 and transferred to the 22nd "Cavalleggeri di Catania" Regiment till 1915, when he was assigned to the 12th "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" Regiment. Just before Italy's entrance into World War I he was promoted to captain, and after the outbreak of hostilities he immediately distinguished himself in action, receiving a War Merit Cross. He was then transferred to the Bersaglieri corps at his request and fought with the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment, as aide-de-camp to the commander of the "Aosta" Infantry Brigade, Major General Giovanni Ghersi, receiving a Bronze Medal for Military Valour for his behavior during the fighting near Bovec between February and April 1916. In 1917 he was promoted to major and in June 1918 he distinguished himself during the Second Battle of the Piave River, leading an assault which resulted in the capture of an Austro-Hungarian trench, for which he was awarded a second bronze medal for Military Valour.