D-Day Dodgers

Memorial to the many dead Allied soldiers in Ortona

English military cemetery near Torino

Last resting place for over 2,600 soldiers

British soldiers' graves in Anzio

A message scratched into a tree in the Canadian War Cemetery

D-Day Dodgers is a term for the Allied soldiers who fought in Italy during the Second World War and therefore did not take part in D-Day of Operation Overlord . He inspired the British soldier Harry Pynn to write a popular war song ( Roud Folk Song Index No. 10499).

background

During the war, a rumor spread that the term was spread by Nancy Astor , a member of the British Parliament, who got it from a letter from a disaffected soldier in Italy. The soldier signed the letter "D-Day Dodger". However, there are no records to show that Astor spoke of it inside or outside Parliament, and she herself denied ever saying it.

The reference to a "D-Day dodger" was sarcastic, given the large number of Allied soldiers killed or wounded in fighting on the Italian front. Soldiers in Italy felt that their victims were being ignored after the Normandy invasion and that a "D-Day Dodger" was someone who allegedly tried to avoid combat by serving in Italy. Because a "dodger" is a slacker, while reality was completely different.

History of the ballad D-Day Dodgers

There are several text versions of the song, which was sung to the melody of the well-known German war song Lili Marleen . Lili Marleen was a favorite of the British 8th Army since fighting Rommel in the desert. Many veterans of the 8th Army subsequently participated in the landing in Italy. D-Day Dodgers only gained a gusto in the final months of the war and among post-war societies.

The song was written in November 1944 by Lance Sergeant Harry Pynn of the Armored Salvage Division of the 19th Army Fire Brigade, who was serving with the British 78th Infantry Division while it was fighting south of Bologna in Italy. There were many variations on the verse and even the chorus, but in general the song is very sarcastic about how simple life was for soldiers in Italy. There was no mention of Lady Astor in the original texts.

Indeed, many Allied soldiers in Italy had cause for bitterness as most of the material support given to the Allied armies after the invasion of Normandy went to north-western Europe. They also sneered at the fact that they had participated in several of their own “D-Days” before the Normandy landings became popularly known as “D-Day”. The term was used to denote the date of a major military operation. This term became popular in the press mainly as a synonym for the Normandy landing. The Allied soldiers who fought on the Italian front found that they had fought eleven months before "Normandy D-Day", some of whom had previously served in the North African campaign .

The numerous Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries across Italy bear testimony to the severity of the fighting that took place during Operation Avalanche or the subsequent Battle of Monte Cassino .

Although Hamish Henderson did not write the song himself, he collected different versions of it and it is attributed to him on the cover of the Ian Campbell Folk Group's album Contemporary Campbells . Many different variations have been recorded.

Lyrics and variants

Canadian graves in Ortona

Original text:

Free translation:

We're the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy - Always on the vino , always on the spree. Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks We live in Rome - among the Yanks. We are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy. We landed at Salerno , a holiday with pay, Jerry brought the band down to cheer us on our way Showed us the sights and gave us tea, We all sang songs, the beer was free. 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, over here in Italy. On our way to Florence we had a lovely time. We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line . On to Bologna we did go. Then we went bathing in the Po . For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here 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, out in Sunny Italy. Now Lady Astor , get a load of this. Don't stand up on a platform and talk a load of piss. You're the nation's sweetheart, the nation's pride We think your mouth's too bloody wide. We are the D-Day Dodgers, in Sunny Italy. When you look 'round the mountains, through the mud and rain you'll find the crosses, some which bear no name. Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone The boys beneath them slumber on They were the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy. So listen all you people, over land and foam Even though we've 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, way out there in Italy."

We are the D-Day Dodgers in Italy - Always on the vino (wine), always on the hunt for the 8th Army parasites and their tanks We live in Rome - among the Yanks (GIs) We are the D-Day Dodgers , here in Italy. We ended up at Salerno, a vacation with pay, A Canadian version: We ended up at Pachino , a vacation with pay, Jerry (Wehrmacht) brought the band to cheer us on our way. Showed us the sights and gave us tea, we all sang songs, the beer was free. Because we are the D-Day Dodgers, here in Italy The Volturno and Cassino were captured on our way A Canadian version: The Moro and Ortona were captured on our way We didn't have to fight there. We just drove through Anzio and Sangro, they were all deserted. We have nothing to do from dusk until dawn. Because we are the D-Day Dodgers, here in Italy. We had a good time on the way to Florence. We take the bus to Rimini, straight through the Gothic position . We went on to Bologna, then we bathed in the Po . Because we are the D-Day Dodgers, here in Italy. Once we had blue light to get home, back to the old beloved Blighty , never to wander around again. But then someone said: you should fight in France. We said: fuck it, we'd better stay here, the scared D-Day Dodgers, from sunny Italy. Well Lady Astor, listen to this: Don't stand on a podium and talk a lot of nonsense. You are the nation's darling and pride. We think you're opening your mouth pretty wide. We're the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy. If you look along the mountains, in the mud and in the rain, then you will find crosses that have no name. Her heart is broken from the hardships and sorrows, The boys below are asleep. They were the D-Day Dodgers who stayed in Italy. So listen here, all of you, over land and over sea. Even when we are apart, our hearts are at home. When we return, we hope you will say, "You have contributed, though far away All you D-Day Dodgers, out there in Italy."

A tank as a memorial, donated by Canadian soldiers

Recordings of the song

• Ian Campbell Folk Group on Contemporary Campbells (1965)
• The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem on Home Boys Home (1968)
• Ian Robb on From Different Angels (1994)
• Pete Seeger on Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (1996)
• The Yetties on the Argo LP Up in Arms (1974; track listed as Lili Marlele )
• The Houghton Weavers on Songs of Conflict (2012)
• The Spinners on By Arrangement (1973)
• The Leesiders on The Leesiders (1968)

literature

• Daniel G. Dancocks: D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians In Italy 1943–45. (describes Canada's participation in the Italian campaign of World War II).
• Garth Ennis , John Higgins: War Story D-Day Dodgers. Vertigo / DC Comics, 2001 ( graphic novel containing a version of the song).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Roy Palmer: 'What a Loverly War!' British Soldiers' Songs from the Boer War to the Present Day. Michael Joseph, London 1990, p. 227 .
2. ↑ A Canadian version of the song has the text here:
   “We landed at Pachino , a holiday with pay
   Jerry brought a band out, to cheer us on our way
   Showed us the sights, and gave us tea
   We all sang songs, the beer was free. "
   See Daniel Dancocks: D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy 1943–45
3. ↑ A Canadian version has the text here: "The Moro and Ortona were taken in our stride."
4. ↑ The verse on the album Sod's Opera reads : "Anzio and Sangro were a farce, we did fuck all, sat on our ass."
5. ↑ From the album Sod's Opera .
6. ↑ Nick Guida: Home Boys Home: at the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem . Clancybrothersandtommymakem.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.