Since we gave prayers and honours to the veterans this past Monday, November 11th, I thought I would showcase 3 songs my dad liked during the war years. My dad was part of the Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Regiment complete with kilt! He went over to the British in 1943 and finally saw battle in 1944. I know he was part of the liberation of Holland, fought in the Rhine and, near the end of the war, was part of the battle of the Reischwald Forest. He was a scout, with 2 others, to get an idea where the enemy were. When the 2 others were cut down, my dad got shot in the chest and then another bullet hit his magazin with the bullets popping every which way. He tore off the magazin with his shirt and dropped to the ground. He crawled backwards to his group because he didn’t want to get shot by his own men! He told the ambulance men to take others as he wasn’t too bad but when the doctor saw hi , he was shocked that he was not one of the first to go in the ambulance as the bullet was close to his heart. The drs could not get the whole bullet out because it was too close to his heart so they left part of it in. Over the years it moved towards his shoulder and, every once in a while, his shoulder would give him issues. He died with that bullet still in him.
My dad loved the big bands and he loved the 2 singers from that era so I am joining in with the Monday Music Moves Me and here are my 3…
1. WE’LL MEET AGAIN DUET WITH DAME VERA LYNN AND KATHERINE JENKINS-2020
I love Katherine Jenkins, who had the chance to meet and become friends with Dame Vera Lynn before Lynn died in 2020 at the age of 103. They created a duet of Dame Vera’s famous recording of this song that was a big hit back in 40s because, well, listen to the words…
2. SING, SING, SING BY BENNY GOODMAN ORCHESTRA-1937
What an incredible story! He was lucky.
ReplyDeleteWow that’s a real survivors story Birgit how lucky your Dad was to get home….like you my Mum and dads songs from the war were very familiar to us kids and we would watch them dance round the living room reminiscing and singing their favourites such happy memories xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing your dad survived.
ReplyDeleteWOW, what a story! Your dad was a real hero. That generation was amazing. I thank you for your daddy's service and thanks for joining the party. The sound of Big Bands is magical and such a way pulling your mind back in time. Have a boogietastic week, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI actually found the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders on Wikipedia! They wore the MacDonnell of Glengarry tartan, their motto was "Dileas Gu Bas" ("Faithful Unto Death"), and their quick march was "Bonnie Dundee." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66q1LPYKX6M)
ReplyDeleteThat is totally cool! Did he get a medal for his injury? Like Cathy said, he's a real hero...
Lovely tribute to your dad, Birgit. He was an authentic war hero! The big band era had some exceptional talent. I remember Kate Smith more for being the Philadelphia Flyers' hockey team good luck charm in the 70s. When she sang the national anthem at their home games, they usually won.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a tribute, what a war story. We owe so much to the generation of my parents and yours. My father served in the U.S. Army Air Corp and my late Aunt Trudy served as a WAC. I believe one of her postings was in England and she married a man who immigrated to the U.S. from Austria (I believe) after the war with just a few dollars in his pocket. I really enjoyed this set. Dame Vera Lynn was a national treasure and that song can bring tears to my eyes. But my favorite was Sing Sing Sing. I can get my daily exercise just moving myself to this song.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Terrific story, Birgit, and what a dad you had!!
ReplyDeleteThe song selections are terrific, too! I really dig all three. FUN FACT: 'Sing, Sing, Sing!', one of the most exciting monsters to come out of the Big Band era, was actually written by Louis Prima. What makes that so surprising is that Prima's career consisted primarily of working within small Jazz combos, not this sort of massive orchestra backing.
'Sing, Sing, Sing!' was one of those Big Band discoveries that led me to thinking: And all this time I was listening to Uriah Heep & UFO and thinking that was hot stuff! Uhp! I'm an idiot!
~ D-FensDogG