Just for info. Sung by Ian Campbell. The last verse never fails to get me "... heartbreak and toil and suffering gone, the boys beneath them slumber on ..."
I once had the privilege of meeting one. I don't suppose he ever expected, more than fifty years after he had burned his youth away in Libya and Italy, that an Italian would salute him, shake his hand, and thank him for helping to set my country free. As for me, I'm glad I had the opportunity, since the D-d d's are getting rare.
My Dad was There.. Never Talked about It.. He was at Dunkirk. got lost from his division. Got back on a destroyer. When he arrived at Ramsgate They asked him for his number .. They said '"Oh your reported missing in action" Oh he said " i'll go home then".. No chance. he was then sent to western desert.. Then on to Italy.. He got wounded at casino Still never talked about It.. All I know was from my Uncle... However, He had a good time at Lake Como.on rest and recovery. lucky Dad..
In respectful memory of the officers and men of the 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles who died in the assault on Monte Cassino, of the 1st Polish Corps who took it in the face of determined and fierce resistance from the superb Fallschirmjaeger who held it for so long and finally of Anders Lassen VC, the Danish 24 year old major posthumously awarded Britains highest operational award for bravery for his actions at the battle of Commachio. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Lassen
My Father was a D-day dodger and he left many friends laying in the mud of italy. There were crack Nazi troops ther. Remember Monte Cassino and other places. I was lucky Dad came home, a real Hero.
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, way out in Italy. We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay, The Jerrys brought the bands 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. Naples and Cassino were taken in our stride. We didn't go to fight there. We just went for the ride. Anzio and Sangro were just names, We only went to look for dames: The Artful D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy. On the way to Florence we had a lovely time. We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line. Soon to Bologna we will go, And after that we'ii cross the Po. We'll still be D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy. Once we had a rumour that we were going home Back to dear old Blighty, never more to roam. Then someone said, "In France you'll fight." We said, "No fear: we'll just sit tight," The windy D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy. We hope the Second Army will soon get home on leave, After six months service, it's time for their reprieve. But we can carry on out here another two or three more years: Contented D Day Dodgers to stay in Italy. Dear Lady Astor, you think you know a lot, Standing on a platform and talking Tommy rot. You're England's sweetheart and its pride We think your mouth's too bleeding wide. That's from your D-Day Dodgers, in far-off Italy. Look around the mountains, in the mud and rain You'll find the scattered crosses, some which have no name. Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone The boys beneath them slumber on Those are the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy.
there were two american ladies universally hated in Britain. Lady Astor, or as churchill named her "the member from Berlin". She was after all a member of "the Cliveden set". Look it up, you who do not know: and Mrs Simpson who cost Edward his throne. she was also Joachim von Ribbentrops mistress, which should have brought her onto the trap-door in Pentonville Prison. England could not do that at this early stage of the war - would have dried up the american help.
You should not have changed the lyrics to remove the profanities. The swearing is necessary to reflect the bitterness of those lads labelled "D Day Dodgers".
I didn't change anything. There are many versions of the song. But since I use this in the classroom for a class on WWII, profanity would not go over too well so I found a version that I thought best fit my purpose for the song.
The first time I ever heard my Dad swear was when I was well into adulthood. Needless to say, it was with reference to Lady Astor. I hope you explain to your kids the depth of feeling behind the song.
@@keefjones2378 I don't think there is any need. The last few lines are enough for anyone with ears and a heart. "Look around the mountains, in the mud and rain, look at all the crosses, there's some that have no name..."
Don't forget,this is the woman who wanted all merchant seamen to wear a yellow armband to indicate they might have V.D After all the sacrifices the merchant navy suffered in the second world war,with over 35000 men lost. No words are strong enough to condem this wretched woman.
Just for info. Sung by Ian Campbell.
The last verse never fails to get me "... heartbreak and toil and suffering gone, the boys beneath them slumber on ..."
I once had the privilege of meeting one. I don't suppose he ever expected, more than fifty years after he had burned his youth away in Libya and Italy, that an Italian would salute him, shake his hand, and thank him for helping to set my country free. As for me, I'm glad I had the opportunity, since the D-d d's are getting rare.
God Bless D-Day Dodgers...you set the stage for Victory!
Every version of this song kills me... this one more than most.
My Dad was There.. Never Talked about It..
He was at Dunkirk. got lost from his division. Got back on a destroyer. When he arrived at Ramsgate They asked him for his number .. They said '"Oh your reported missing in action" Oh he said " i'll go home then"..
No chance. he was then sent to western desert.. Then on to Italy.. He got wounded at casino
Still never talked about It.. All I know was from my Uncle... However, He had a good time at Lake Como.on rest and recovery. lucky Dad..
What battalion? was he royal artillery ?
In respectful memory of the officers and men of the 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles who died in the assault on Monte Cassino, of the 1st Polish Corps who took it in the face of determined and fierce resistance from the superb Fallschirmjaeger who held it for so long and finally of Anders Lassen VC, the Danish 24 year old major posthumously awarded Britains highest operational award for bravery for his actions at the battle of Commachio. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Lassen
Proud my dad was a D Day dodger👍
Thank him for me and for my whole country.
And my Dad xx
And my Dad xx
My Father was a D-day dodger and he left many friends laying in the mud of italy. There were crack Nazi troops ther. Remember Monte Cassino and other places. I was lucky Dad came home, a real Hero.
as was mine 12th battalion royal artillery
Legends all of them.
This is incredible. Great find!!
If you've never read the book; "Monte Cassino; Ten Armies in Hell," I highly recommend it.
I own that book but haven't read it yet. Thanks for the reminder and recommendation!
I read it over Thanksgiving-Christmas, it was really good.
I only knew Hamish Imlach's version before, this has some verses I didn't know.....even more heartbreaking.
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, way out in Italy.
We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay,
The Jerrys brought the bands 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.
Naples and Cassino were taken in our stride.
We didn't go to fight there. We just went for the ride.
Anzio and Sangro were just names,
We only went to look for dames:
The Artful D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.
On the way to Florence we had a lovely time.
We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line.
Soon to Bologna we will go,
And after that we'ii cross the Po.
We'll still be D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.
Once we had a rumour that we were going home
Back to dear old Blighty, never more to roam.
Then someone said, "In France you'll fight."
We said, "No fear: we'll just sit tight,"
The windy D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.
We hope the Second Army will soon get home on leave,
After six months service, it's time for their reprieve.
But we can carry on out here another two or three more years:
Contented D Day Dodgers to stay in Italy.
Dear Lady Astor, you think you know a lot,
Standing on a platform and talking Tommy rot.
You're England's sweetheart and its pride
We think your mouth's too bleeding wide.
That's from your D-Day Dodgers, in far-off Italy.
Look around the mountains, in the mud and rain
You'll find the scattered crosses, some which have no name.
Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone
The boys beneath them slumber on
Those are the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy.
there were two american ladies universally hated in Britain. Lady Astor, or as churchill named her "the member from Berlin". She was after all a member of "the Cliveden set". Look it up, you who do not know: and Mrs Simpson who cost Edward his throne. she was also Joachim von Ribbentrops mistress, which should have brought her onto the trap-door in Pentonville Prison. England could not do that at this early stage of the war - would have dried up the american help.
You should not have changed the lyrics to remove the profanities. The swearing is necessary to reflect the bitterness of those lads labelled "D Day Dodgers".
I didn't change anything. There are many versions of the song. But since I use this in the classroom for a class on WWII, profanity would not go over too well so I found a version that I thought best fit my purpose for the song.
The first time I ever heard my Dad swear was when I was well into adulthood. Needless to say, it was with reference to Lady Astor. I hope you explain to your kids the depth of feeling behind the song.
@@keefjones2378 I don't think there is any need. The last few lines are enough for anyone with ears and a heart. "Look around the mountains, in the mud and rain, look at all the crosses, there's some that have no name..."
Revisionist history is that she never said that, it was just a rumor. Not sayin' that's true, just sayin' it's said.
What an appalling creature Lady Astor was...an antisemite too. Tories love her...a recent statue.
You're spot on ! She's probably rotting in hell....hopefully.
Don't forget,this is the woman who wanted all merchant seamen to wear a yellow armband to indicate they might have V.D
After all the sacrifices the merchant navy suffered in the second world war,with over 35000 men lost.
No words are strong enough to condem this wretched woman.