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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: lisat on Saturday 02 September 23 11:06 BST (UK)

Title: Rootschat Success
Post by: lisat on Saturday 02 September 23 11:06 BST (UK)
Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Rootschat for their part in a small success story.
In 2014 I posted ‘WW2 Italian RAF Dog Tag’ regarding a Dogtag I had kept for 50 years since my father died in 1973. The family story was that it had belonged to an Italian airman that my father befriended during his time in Italy in 1944.
Nine years later, last month, I was so surprised to receive an e mail from the son of that Italian airman, who had been searching on the internet and came across my Rootschat entry.
After exchanging many e mails and information I have at last been able to return the dog tag to the son of Angelo Leonardi, who is sadly no longer with us. Not only have we become friends but we have both started to research more into the circumstances our fathers were in,  in Naples in 1944. We still don’t really know the circumstances of how my father came into possession of his dog tag, but we like to think it was a token of friendship.
So, a huge thank you to Rootschat for their part in this story, from us both.
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: heywood on Saturday 02 September 23 12:24 BST (UK)
What a great story, Lisa.
Thank you for sharing this and what a testament to Rootschat.  :)
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: Rena on Saturday 02 September 23 16:57 BST (UK)
That is such a touching story I had to use my hankie.
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: lisat on Saturday 02 September 23 17:01 BST (UK)
It was pretty magical Rena. We like to think our Dads would be pleased!
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: louisa maud on Saturday 02 September 23 17:13 BST (UK)
Wow, what a fantastic story.
All the searching was worthwhile

LM
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: lisat on Saturday 02 September 23 17:20 BST (UK)
Just shows you should never give up!
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: louisa maud on Saturday 02 September 23 17:24 BST (UK)
No,  quite right you shouldn't,  wish I could find my few missing ones who have just disappeared  into thin air

LM
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: Leber on Sunday 03 September 23 11:15 BST (UK)
It's true: thanks also from me to Rootschat. But an even bigger thank you to you, Lisa, for your determination and for your kindness which allowed me to open a new window of knowledge in my father's life.
BL
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 21 September 23 00:26 BST (UK)
What a wonderful story with a wonderful positve result. Amazing.

Despite what was suggested on the initial thread about it being “too late” to find relatives to return these precious items to (which I beleive is nonsense), there are quite a few examples of it happening,  made a lot easier these days due to the internet.

Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: Jackiemh on Thursday 21 September 23 01:46 BST (UK)
Just goes to show that you never know where your rootschat posts will lead!
Still keeping my fingers crossed that somewhere out there are the means to knock down my brickwalls.
Jackie
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: trish1120 on Thursday 21 September 23 13:41 BST (UK)
What a great ending and am so happy for you :)
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: lisat on Thursday 21 September 23 15:15 BST (UK)
Thanks Jackie and Trish. You must never give up trying. I’m still smiling about it now! Still got brick walls though! One is like the Great Wall of China, but I refuse to give up hope now.
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: trish1120 on Friday 22 September 23 12:42 BST (UK)
I have a brick wall also that I hope to resolve sometime :)
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: maddys52 on Saturday 23 September 23 03:08 BST (UK)
Have just read through the original thread, what a wonderful outcome.  :D
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: lisat on Saturday 23 September 23 06:58 BST (UK)
The power of the internet, plus a little bit of luck! So grateful to RootsChat.
Title: Re: Rootschat Success
Post by: lisat on Saturday 23 September 23 07:31 BST (UK)
Just read an amazing story reported by BBC’s Giancarlo Rinaldi regarding the discovery of relatives of an Italian POW Francesco D’Inverno, who sadly died when the Arandora Star sank, and had been buried in an unmarked grave in Scotland. Through detailed research of Raffaello Gonella, and with the help of Facebook, he managed to trace this man’s family. Incredible story with a happy ending that spurs you on to keep trying and not giving up.
Good research can achieve fantastic results .