Often the Italian Campaign is associated with the idea of a secondary front; instead it has been a real war in the war since the Allies have fought step by step along the Peninsula from Sicily to the Alps, suffering heavy losses as well as the Axis forces did. The Italian Campaign ended in April 1945, although Italy was no more in the limelight since the Liberation of Rome (June 4th 1944) which little anticipated D-Day in Normandy (June 6th 1944). Despite that, in the second half of 1944 and for the whole winter of 1945 thousand soldiers from both parts were deployed by/against the Gothic Line, the last German fortified defense line built up in the Apennines Mountains. Only during the first days of April 1945 Allies finally managed to clear the Gothic Line and push through the Po Valley for the last effort to reach the North of Italy. The most frequent images of those days depict columns of liberators marching northbound with the population familiarizing with soldiers during a spring of new hope.

This year our commemoration of the days of Liberation, which in Italy is officially celebrated on April the 25th, will take place between the Bologna area, Cesena and Cervia on the Adriatic Coast! That theater of operation was in charge especially to the 8th British Army.

The event starts April 25th in Bologna and the following days April 27th to 29th.

More information are available on the Gotica Toscana NPA website

Placing some recent correspondence between a woman named Michelle and myself. We both thought you'd get a kick out of this. Sure made my morning!

I am going crazy trying to figure out where a song came from. I just called my mother and she helped me figure out some of the lyrics, but I am having no luck finding anything about this song. I was hoping you could help me.

 

I only know parts of the song, and what got me on it in the first place was the saying “Scotty Watty Doo-doo” popped into my head. That led me to start trying to find that, but the only thing that came up was some idiot who has a blog for goodness sakes! Anyway, my son, who is only 15, said, “Doesn’t it go Scotty Watty Doodle all the day?” How do our kids know these things?!?!

 

The lyrics that I can remember go like this:

 

“Fare thee well, fare thee well, fare thee well my bonny bell…..gonna sing my song….

Singing Scotty Waddy Doodle all the day”

 

I am missing all kinds of words, but it has those words in it. I would love to get the words to this song and to know where it came from. My mother said it could be from WWI even, but I can’t imagine it is from that far back. I’m only 47, so I can’t think where I would have heard a song from that long ago. I love the music from the 40’s and 50’s, as does my youngest son. I figure that I had a teacher who taught this to me when I was young. That is why I think it is from the 40’s.

 

Is this just too ridiculous a request for you? If it is, I completely understand.

 

With gratitude,

Michelle Marconi

Dear Michelle:

 

Oh my gosh, what a great way to start off my day. I just woke up, and started reading your letter and laughed out loud. This is just too adorable.

 

At first nothing struck, but when I got down to the line about your son singing, it immediately popped into my head and I started singing, "Polly Wolly Doodle All Day".

 

It's actually a southern tune (minstrel tune) and has been around since approximately the 1840's. Although it's been disputed, credit is often given to Dan Emmett. It was very popular during the civil war.

 

http://www.events-in-music.com/look-away-dixie-land.html

 

Here's a very popular version done by none other than Shirley Temple, from the movie, Littlest Rebel. Note the change in lyrics!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHXngZATy0I

 

Well this sure was fun. Now, you'll never get that song out of your head.

 

Marion

Dear Marion,

 

I love you! Thank you so much for the answer to my silly question. I have already clicked on the link and it is absolutely the correct song! I am sitting outside by our pond, all bundled up in a blanket, singing the lyrics to my husband. I think he thinks I have lost my mind! I can’t tell you how much this means to me. It is so wonderful to be able to reach out and talk to someone who has the knowledge. I marvel at the wonders of modern technology. I would have had no way to figure this out even just 10 years ago. Say what you will, the internet can be a wonderful thing sometimes!

 

Can I keep you e-mail on file just in case I have some other question in the future? I know my son would love to get on your site, as he truly loves the music from the forties.

 

Very sincerely,

Michelle Marconi

Dear Michelle:

 

I was hoping to hear back from ya! Another great letter to begin my day! I could picture you wrapped up in your "blankie" singing to you husband. How funny!

 

Yes, yes, keep me on your contact list. It will be refreshing to exchange letters.

 

Oh, just read your response to my hubby this morning and he says, "Make sure you send her the Leon Redbone version." I told him I thought about that, cuz it's a great one.

 

So here it is; enjoy!

 

 

Hey can I post this conversation on my forum, for I'm sure my readers would get a kick out of it? If not, that's okay too, of course.

 

Yes, you are absolutely correct about the internet. Hey if it wasn't for cyberspace, I would have never been able to research my father's WWII history, nor meet the hundreds upon hundreds of people from around the world, and also been inspired to share the music of the forties with people like you and your family. Trust me; I am truly grateful.

 

I am never going to be able to hear Polly Wolly the rest of my life, without thinking of you. I can picture myself when I am 85, relaxing in my chair, when someone will play that song and your letter will flash back into my head. Ah the joy it will bring!

 

Smiles and love,

Marion

Absolutely, you may use my letter. I am happy to know it might help someone else find a song they have been thinking about. Thanks for the 2nd link. I actually ended up sending the words to my mom, as she is from originally from Arkansas. I’m a born and raised California girl, but I seem to love all things Southern – as do my kids. Thanks again.

 

Sincerely,

Michelle

My new friend Chris is trying to find information on his older brother's battalion. Here's his letter. Am going to see what I can find. Am writing to the Army Corps of Engineers Office of History, this morning.

Dear Marion,

 

Thank you for responding so quickly. I served as a Naval Aviator primarily in the Pacific from 1958 til 1966. I did not fly during the "hot war" in Viet Nam, at which time I was on staff duty on the east coast. I'm inquiring about my older brother William (Bill) Mays, who served in the 1275th combat engineers. He arrived in France on 25 May 1944 and his record (which was recovered from the burned out St Louis Facility), indicates he served in Northern France , The Ardennes, and the Rhineland. He then depaarted Europe and like so many others, was sent to the Pacific on 30 July arriving 9 September after the Japanese surrender. Any info regarding the 1275th during their stay in Europe would be greatly appreciated. I have difficulty finding his battalion.

Thanking you in advance.

 

Chris Mays

Chris informed me his brother is buried in Youngstown Ohio.

Wishing everyone the joys of spring! Happy Easter to all my friends at VI Corps! God bless everyone!

Love Marion and Lee too!

Last spring I purchased my own server (for a great, low price), and began hosting all my websites, including 6th Corps. This move paid for itself in a year's time, and now allows me to run all my own programming.

As of today, we will no longer be using Bravenet's Guestbook services, but will be implementing PHP Guestbook. While Bravenet provided a great service all these years, running a program from our own server saves me yearly fees; always a plus! And it was the perfect time to implement a new product, since my three-year contract was coming up for renewal at the end of this week.

See our new page for more information....