For My Dad

 

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

This came out before the war but became a big hit during it when all the guys swung their gals all over the place. Apparently, my Uncle Ambrose and his wife, Auntie Irene could really cut a rug to this song. The drum solo was by Gene Krupa which my dad always said we were related to. I’d love to find this out one day.

3. ILL BE SEEING YOU SUNG BY KATE SMITH -1959

My dad loved this gal with the huge voice who was known as the  First Lady of Radio and  the Songbird of the South.  She had a very large body but her head was so small to me, yeah, no reason for saying it except, I had to. I agreed with my dad and thought her voice was great. She deserves to be better known today because she was so well loved especially during the war years.

What songs did your parents love?