Hamish Henderson 1944
The D- Day Dodgers
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”.
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 tommy rot
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 jerry’s gome 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 shit
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 armeistice when
An armistice 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.
