The D-Day Dodgers - British WW2 Song

The D-Day Dodgers were Allied servicemen who fought in Italy during the Second World War. The D-Day Dodgers also inspired a popular wartime soldier's song (Roud Folk Song Index no. 10499).

A rumour spread during the war that the term was publicized by Viscountess Astor, a Member of the British Parliament, who supposedly used the expression in public after a disillusioned serviceman in Italy signed a letter to her as being from a "D-Day Dodger". However, there is no record that she actually said this, in or out of Parliament, and she herself denied ever saying it.

Reference to a "D-Day Dodger" was bitingly sarcastic, given the steady stream of Allied service personnel who were being killed or wounded in combat on the Italian front. A "dodger" is someone who avoids something; the soldiers in Italy felt that their sacrifices were being ignored after the invasion of Normandy, and a "D-Day Dodger" was a reference to someone who was supposedly avoiding real combat by serving in Italy, whereas the reality was anything but.

The song was written in November 1944 by Lance-Sergeant Harry Pynn of the Tank Rescue Section, 19 Army Fire Brigade, who was with the 78th Infantry Division just south of Bologna, Italy.

Performed by Sods' Opera.

Links to the images:

[Viscount_Castlereagh]

I can just imagine these brave men singing this for the first few times in the mess hall trying to keep moral up.

[reecewaters]

American military songs: full of balls to the wall energy and pride.
British military songs: embodiment of shared sufferance.

[aldgate]

Such a shame they didn't get the recognition they deserved, the Italian front was brutal as all hell

[THEBIGTUG]

3:46 ‘For they where the D-Day dodgers, who’ll stay in Italy’ that’s one of the saddest lyrics I’ve ever heard

[petermcallister]

The last verse can almost, unashamedly, bring me to tears. From sunny Scotland.

[johnstuart]

My Grandpa Stuart, a proud D Day dodger. !!

[amandamckenzie]

My Grandfather was a D-day dodger he took a bullet in the fight he recovered & sent back out, my Great uncle Russell wasn't so lucky he never came back to Scotland ❤❤❤

[archimedesfromteamfortress]

Today marks the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Salute to the D-Day heroes and dodgers alike.

[wealdmotorsport]

My Grandfather was a in the 7th Battalion the Rifle brigade... survived a shrapnel injury on the outskirts of between life and death... He passed away peacefully in 2018 age 96...

[thefanboy]

Then someone whispered, "In France you'll fight"
We said, "Fuck that, we'll just sit tight"

lmao. Old people were savages

[alkasku]

“If you look ‘round the mountains, in the mud and rain, you’ll find the scattered crosses, some which bear no name. Heartbreak and toil and sufferin’ gone. The lads beneath them, slumber on. For they were the D-Day dodgers, who’ll stay in Italy..”

[gaminguniverse]

Brutal front and yet they ain’t bragging they are just laughing and having a good time between fights this is the British spirit that makes me proud to be one

[jeannie]

My mother used to sing this when I was a child. I still remember all the words. She had a brother in the 8th Army in Italy and he sent her the words.

[JohnCampbell-rnrz]

Gotta mention that 5, 300 of those D-Day Dodgers who stayed in Italy were Canadians. My father-in-law was one who came home, with shrapnel behind his ear for the rest of his life.

[andym]

Africa, Sicily, then monte cassino some picnic
Passing Monte Cassino on a family holiday was the only time I ever saw my father cry in his 92 years

[frankwright]

My father was a "d-day dodger" (40 Commando, Royal Marines) and introduced me to this song. His mate was a glider pilot at Arnhem. Christ, those two could drink! About ten years ago I went to a stately home where a historical re-enactor was playing Lady Astor. Much to my partners embarrassment, I just had to re-educate the poor woman with my late father's opinions of the character she was playing :)

[josephsardena]

My Uncle Ted was in the 1st Armoured and fought all the way from North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Austria.
The D Day Dodgers fought all the way with 2 sea invasion included.

[markaxworthy]

I went to a WWII conference at Edinburgh University in about 1995. There the veteran who wrote it gave a rendition. Some of the world's leading military historians were presenting there but nothing brought me closer to our subject than that in the whole three days.

[edwardellery]

Remember dad saying he wore his overcoat all day in North Africa the flies the heat of the lorry and the cold by night then went to Italy Monte Cassino and many other battles, the war didn't kill him but in civvy life he drank heavy think he said only eleven of his company came back.

[TheIrishvolunteer]

Hang on, I think they are being a bit sarcastic!!!