After the British had captured Bardia and Tobruk, Tellera ordered the newly-arrived 60th Infantry Division "Sabratha" to set up a defensive line between Derna and Al Qubbah, and the Special Armored Brigade took up positions at Mechili.

For his gallantry in action Lt. Gen. Tellera was posthumously awarded the Medaglia d'oro al valor militare, the highest military decoration in the Italian Army.

He took over, in a particularly critical situation, the command of an Army Corps, kept during the forced withdrawal from Cyrenaica Gebel, more serene calm, giving evidence of high-capacity light control and eminent personal worth.

In the battle of South Bengasino when the enemy had made impossible the withdrawal of our troops on Agedabia, stopped in a two days fighting, the vehemence of the opponent, and inflict heavy losses, forcing it to desist from its push into Sirtica.

In this supreme and heroic effort, fell gloriously on the field, properly sealing a life of dedication to the entire country”.