D-Day Dodgers

Discussion in 'Italy' started by ourbill, Jan 26, 2007.

  1. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Interest in the Italian campaign is very much at the heart of this forum and long may that continue.
     
    Combover, 4jonboy and Ron Goldstein like this.
  2. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Couldn't have put it better myself Paul :wink:
     
  3. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Paul,

    I am going to Lake Como in a few weeks time, any recommendations of interesting WW2 museums or places of interest around the location ?...I know Mussolini was from Salo and found this ref

    https://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/special-collections/featuresalo.pdf

    exert here :-

    Mussolini attempted to escape with his mistress, Clara Petacci, but they were caught by Communist partisans on the shore of Lake
    Como, at Dongo

    Derrick
     
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Derrick

    the fighting was all over by the time the US 5th Army got as far as Lago Como - Mussolini was held by - and killed by Italian partisans - and hung up in Milan and about the only Allied chap to be

    among the first to see it was Alan Whicker who drove through the sharp end to get there first...

    Cheers
     
  5. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Tom,

    What a man eh, sad to hear of his passing, he did live a very full life and it was always interesting to watch his exploits.

    Lake Como looks a fascinating area to visit, have you ventured over that part of Italy ?

    Derrick
     
  6. Rav4

    Rav4 Senior Member

    There is a Churchill quote regarding Lady Astor that is one of my favourites.

    Lady Astor to Churchill “If you were my husband I would poison your drink”

    Churchill reply “If you were my wife I would drink it”.
     
  7. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Rav4

    Sorry, but mention of the D-Day Dodgers song should always include it's use of the haunting Lili Marlene tune, on which it was built.

    There are many good examples to be found by Googling "Youtube D-Day Dodgers", e.g.


    One of the Dodgers

    Ron
     
    Capt Bill likes this.
  8. MalcolmII

    MalcolmII Senior Member

    Here's another, my Uncle Tom.
    Aye
    MalcolmII
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf likes this.
  9. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Following on the recent 70yrs Commemoration services at Cassino, the thorny subject of whether or not Lady Astor actually made a statement in the Commons regarding D-Day Dodgers has been raised in the letters page of the Times, sparked off by a letter from yours truly. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/46105-monte-cassino-anniversary-18th-may-2014/?p=623917

    In today's issue of The Times, I see it has popped up again:


    Sir, Lord Astor denies that his great-aunt used the words “D-Day dodger” (May 20) but I think he is wrong. I was in Italy in June and July 1944 when this remark reached the 8th Army and it is unlikely that this could have been falsely attributed or even made up. Lady Astor was hardly known among the soldiers, and the song mentioned was specifically addressed to her. It is quite likely that she did not seriously mean it and that she may have made it in jest (rather tastelessly) in a private conversation which was repeated outside and speedily found its way to Italy. In typically British Army style, nobody I met took it to heart, and it was treated as a joke which we all enjoyed.
    Charles Cameron
    Auchterarder, Perthshire
    Sir, Sergeant Reg Tallentire, an extraordinary D-Day Dodger who arrived in Salerno in January 1944, recalls that the song was written by Lance Sergeant Harry Pimm of the Tank Rescue Section, 19 Army Fire Brigade. Reg, his comrades and those who stayed, were in many of the places mentioned — exactly where he was based. This song could have been written for Reg.
    Eric Jordan
    Evenwood, Co Durham
    Sir, D-Day Dodger lyrics were not the only ones to the tune of Lily Marlene. In Bomber Command the song went: “Walk across the tarmac, climb into the kite, / Open up the throttles and roar into the night. / Leaving the runway far behind / We don’t mind, we never mind. / We’re pressing on regardless . . . for the wingco’s DSO.”
    John Smith
    Uckfield, E Sussex

    According to the last letter, even the RAF had their own protest version, sung to the tune of Lili Marlene :)
    Ron
     
  10. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    The D Day Dodger version of posting # 26 is that of the Canadian 1st Div who actually fought at Agria - and where their cemetery is

    to be found in Sicily- other Cdn battles were at the Moro and Ortona - they were usually in the thick of it at the Hitler line - and

    the Gothic Line and beyond - winning three V.C.'s in the process before heading off to Belgium to finish the war in Germany…with

    their other four Divisions and two Ab's - six thousand of their "Dodgers" still lay in Italy - many more in NWE…

    Cheers
     
  11. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    There does not seem to be a 'definitive' version on the "D-Day Dodgers" song, some of which are ruder than others!

    I posted one version to the BBC "People's War" website:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/32/a4418732.shtml
    .....................................

    These are the words (with one four-letter word left to the reader to work out):

    The Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers (one version)
    [Anonymous - sung to the tune of ‘Lili Marlene’]

    We’re the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy -
    Always on the vino, always on the spree.
    8th Army scroungers and their tanks
    We live in Rome - among the Yanks.
    We are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.


    We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay,
    Jerry brought the band down to cheer us on our way
    We all sung the songs and the beer was free.
    We kissed all the girls in Napoli.
    For we are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.


    The Volturno and Cassino were taken in our stride
    We didn’t have to fight there, we just went for the ride.
    Anzio and Sangro were all forlorn,
    We did not do a thing from dusk to dawn,
    For we are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.


    On our way to Florence we had a lovely time.
    We ran a bus to Rimini through the Gothic line,
    All the winter sports amid the snow,
    Then we went bathing in the Po.
    For we are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.


    Once we had a blue light that we were going home
    Back to dear old Blighty never more to roam.
    Then somebody said in France you’ll fight.
    We said never mind, we’ll just sit tight,
    The windy D-Day Dodgers in sunny Italy.


    Now Lady Astor, get a load of this.
    Don’t stand on your platform and talk a lot of ****
    You’re the nation’s sweetheart, the nation’s pride,
    But your lovely mouth is far too wide.
    For we are the D-Day Dodgers in sunny Italy.


    If you look around the mountains, through the mud and rain
    You’ll find battered crosses, some which bear no name.
    Heartbreak, toil and suffering gone
    The boys beneath just slumber on.
    For they were the D-Day Dodgers way out in Italy.


    So listen all you people, over land and foam
    Even though we’re parted, our hearts are close to home.
    When we return we hope you’ll say
    ‘You did your little bit, though far away
    All of the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy’.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Putting the term "D-Day Dodger" into its historical context, surely it is one to be proud of? In my opinion it is in many respects similar to having been an "Old Contemptible" in the First World War.
     
    Red Jim, dbf and CL1 like this.
  12. No.4CommandoBairn

    No.4CommandoBairn Well-Known Member

    I am so glad I read those poems and watched the video - thanks to those who posted them and contributed to this very interesting thread.

    My dad was at the Salerno Landings as he'd volunteered to fight with No.2 Commando, then returned to No.4 in time for Normandy.

    I've been trying to find out how he would manage to get back when No.2 went off elsewhere? As he'd volunteered it may have been on the understanding that the powers-that-be would make sure he got back for the Normandy Landings?

    Perhaps the p-t-b wouldn't be so helpful ... but he got back nonetheless. Anybody know? I've asked on the CVA site.

    Looking out some books to barter ... after Salerno, back to Sicily ... then No.41 Commando ordered back to England. Dad probably went back with them.
     
    Roxy likes this.
  13. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

    on this, the eve of the 'day of days'
    I remember those who gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy

    but I am proud to declare that I am the son of a D-Day Dodger
     
    Red Jim, dbf, 4jonboy and 1 other person like this.
  14. Roxy

    Roxy Senior Member

    The grandson of a D-Day Dodger concurs with the above!

    Roxy
     
    Red Jim and Capt Bill like this.
  15. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    The Italy Star Association has just produced a lovely video with some of the D-Day Dodgers Veterans recalling their memories of their time in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Also included are some photos of the "Two Types" cartoons by JON and the D-Day Dodgers song.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipVPn9J_ZjM

    Enjoy!


    Lesley
     
    Owen, bexley84, von Poop and 3 others like this.
  16. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    "So we were going southwards towards Salerno in our convoy and on the headlands in Italy, we could see the headlights of the panzer division coming to meet us, which was rather friendly of them"

    smashing, makes you want to hear more.
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  17. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Great stuff, have shared that on Twitter.
     
  18. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Lesley thanks for sharing link. The Recce Major, Douglas N Waugh served with 46 Recce

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  19. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Like Paul, many thanks Lesley for sharing the Video link.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  20. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    That's the chap I met Paul, at Cassino in Italy last year :) . A really lovely chap.
    [sharedmedia=gallery:images:25534]
     
    dbf and Owen like this.

Share This Page