Original verses (whichever they are) written by Major Hamish Henderson of the 51st Highland Division in response to an ill considered, 1944 comment by Lady Astor, in the House of Commons, accusing Soldiers in Italy of "dodging D-Day".
Todd's comment: Never cross the infantry!!I figured everyone would get a kick out of this because we are all familiar with the Med. theater, and of course we have a couple of folks that were there!! Reminder, this was written from the British perspective as a result of one of their politicians ill advised comments.
There is a song the Eight
Army used to sing,
Marching through the desert,
Marching with a swing
But now they're on a different game.
Although the tune
Is still the same
The words have all been altered,
The words we're singing still:
We're the D-Day Dodgers
Here in Italy,
Drinking all the vino,
Always on a spree.
We didn't land with Eisenhower
And so they think we're just a shower
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
We're the D-Day dodgers
Here in Italy
Drinking all the vino,
Always on a spree.
Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks,
We go to war in ties like swanks.
We are the D-Day Dodgers,
Way out in Italy
Dearest Lady Astor,
You think you're mighty hot,
Standing on the platform,
Talking tommyrot.
Dear England's sweetheart and her pride
We think your mouth's too bleeding wide -
From all the D-Day Dodgers,
In sunny Italy.
Here's to Lady Astor,
Our pin up girl out here.
She's the dear old lady,
Who sends us such good beer
And when we get our Astor band,
We'll be the proudest in the land,
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
We landed in Salerno,
A holiday with pay,
The Jerries brought the band out
To greet us on the way.
Showed us the sights and gave us tea,
We all sang songs, the beer was free
To welcome D-Day Dodgers,
To sunny Italy.
Salerno and Cassino
We're takin' in our stride
We didn't go to fight there,
We went there for the ride
Anzio and Sanzio were just names,
We only went to look for dames,
The artful D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
'round Lake Trasimano
We'd a lovely time
Bags of wine and women,
They didn't cost a dime.
Base wallahs, amgot and the yanks,
All stayed in Rome,
To dodge the tanks
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
We stayed a week in Florence,
Polished off the wine,
Then thumbed our way to Rimini
Right through the Gothic Line
Soon to Bologna we will go
When Jerrys gone across the Po
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
The lads that D-Day dodged.
We hear the boys in France are
Going home on leave,
After six months service
It's a shame they're not relieved
But we can carry on out here
For what may be a few more years
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
Once we heard a rumour
We were going home
Back to dear old Blighty
Never more to roam
Then someone said in France you'll fight
We answered: "No, we'll just sit tight!"
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
The lads that D-Day dodged.
When the war is over
And we've done our bit
Climbing over mountains,
Through mud and sleet and ----,
Then we will all be sent out east
Till B.L.A. have been released
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
Forgotten by the many
Remembered by the few
We'd our armistice when
An armestice was new
One million Germans gave up to us
We finished our war without much fuss
For we're the D-Day Dodgers,
Out here in Italy.
Look around the mountains
In the mud and rain
You'll find scattered crosses,
Some which bear no name.
Heart break and toil and suffering gone
The boys beneath them slumber on,
For they're the D-Day Dodgers,
Who stayed in Italy.
