VE Day: The Italian orphan adopted by Scottish soldier

The 80th anniversary of VE Day approaches on Thursday, marking the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and the formal end of the Second World War in Europe on May 8, 1945.

We looked into The Sunday Post archive to relive the celebrations from the viewpoint of those who went through six years of war and found this story of an Italian orphan adopted by a Scottish soldier.

Here is the article, published in our May 13, 1945 edition. If you have any information on Tony Leitch, please get in touch at letters@sundaypost.com

‘She’s Never Seen Her New Son’

Mother of five children, Mrs A. Leitch, 59 Abercrombie Street, Glasgow, writes every week to her foster-son, Luigi Miniotti, a 13-year-old Italian boy orphaned by German shellfire.

The letters begin “Dear Son,” and end “Your Loving Mamma.”

The boy has been adopted by her husband, Private A. Leitch, a cook in a battalion of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, now serving in Italy.

The weekly letters go addressed to the boy as Private Tony Leitch, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The battalion have officially applied to have the boy enlisted with the regiment, and Pte. Leitch wishes to adopt him legally.

His unit are making the necessary inquiries. Nearly a year ago, during the fighting for Frosinone, Tony’s parents were killed when a German shell demolished their home.

His sister died two hours later. Homeless and terrified in that town of war, Tony wandered the roads until he fell exhausted in a ditch beside the road. He was found asleep by Pte Leitch. Pte. Leitch fed, bathed, and clothed him.

Two days later, when the unit were ordered to move, Tony cried and begged to go with them. His tears won him a home. He has been with them ever since.

Today, Tony is a smart, if diminutive member of the famous fighting Argylls. Two hours daily, a clerk of the battalion, Lance-Corporal J Wilkinson, 40 Finnieston Street, Glasgow, C3, teaches him to read and write English and arithmetic. Tony goes through his lessons with a pronounced Scottish accent.

Pipemajor of the battalion, P. McGlinn, Sterling Street, Dundee, is teaching him to be a drummer, bugler and good piper. Already he can sound many bugle calls. His upbringing is in the hands of Pte. Leitch, whom he calls “pappa”.

From him he has learned to be a good soldier, keep himself neat and clean, and he has one of the smartest salutes in the battalion.

Only once has Tony been “up for orderly room”. He had been caught smoking. The following week he asked for an interview with the company commander. Marched in by the sergeant-major, Tony, bright-eyed and shrill-voiced, asked, “Please, sir, may I have two bars of chocolate instead of one as I don’t smoke.” Tony got his two bars. Tony, who had his own battledress and kilt, is now able to write unaided to Mrs Leitch, who replies regularly and sends him comics.

Tony proudly showed me his last letter from Mrs Leitch. It read: “Soon it won’t be long till victory, and you can all come home and have a good time. God bless you, son. – Your loving mother.”

Tony looked forward to that good time, when he will be able to join his brother and sisters in his Scottish home. He saves the lire which his comrades give him. He has sent Mrs Leitch postal orders for £2 to keep for him.

Tony, if accepted in the regiment, will one day be a proud Argyll and Sutherland Highlander. He dreams of the day when, in the regiment’s parade through the garrison town of Stirling, he can lead their mascot pony, Cruachan.