The D-Day Dodgers

[Dave]

This song was written by Hamish Henderson of the 51st Highlanders, the man who formally accepted the the Axis' surrender of Italy from Marshal Graziani in April 1945. He kept the signed document of surrender in his pocket till his death. Commissioned in 1941, he worked as an intelligence officer in the Western desert, in Sicily and throughout mainland Italy. Promoted to captain in 1943, he fought with the partisans, captured and interrogated numerous prisoners, and was mentioned in dispatches. The same man who wrote the 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily, and Scottish would-be "anthem" Freedom Come All Ye, as recorded by Luke Kelly and Dick Gaughan among others.
The song was sung to the tune of Lili Marlene, and was written as a response to Lady Astor's public gaff in referring to those Allied troops fighting in Italy as "D-Day Dodgers".

THE "D" DODGERS.THERE IS A SONG EIGHT ARMY USED TO SING
MARCHING THRO THE DESERT, MARCHING WITH A SWING
BUT NOW THEY'RE ON A DIFFERENT GAME.
ALTHOUGH THE TUNE IS 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 THE SPREE,
WE DIDN'T LAND WITH EISIENHOWER
AND SO THEY THINK WE'RE JUST A SHOWER
FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN 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

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 WE'RE O. K.
JUST ANOTHER HOLIDAY
FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY

AROUND LAKE TRASIMANO WE HAD A LOVELY TIME
BAGS OF WINE AND WOMAN THERE, 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 OF THE VINO
THEN THUMBED OUR WAY TO RIMINI THRO THE GOTHIC LINE
SOON TO BOLOGNA WE WILL GO
WHEN JERRYS GONE ACROSS THE PO
FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY

SOON THE BOYS IN FRANCE, WILL BE GETTING LEAVE
AFTER SIX MONTHS SERVICE ITS A SHAME THERE NOT RELIEVED
BUT WE CON 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 SOME ONE SAID IN FRANCE YOU'LL FIGHT
WE ANSWERED "NO WE'LL JUST SIT TIGHT"
FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY

wHEN THE WAR IS OVER AND WE'VE DONE OUR BIT
CLIMBING OVER MOUNTAINS, THRO' MUD AND SLEET
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 HAD OUR ARMISTICE WHEN AN ARMESTICE 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

IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE MOUNTAINS IN THE WIND AND RAIN YOU'LL FIND THE SCATTERED CROSSES SOME WHICH BEAR NO NAME
HEART BREAK AND TOIL AND SUFFERING GONE
THE BOYS BENEATH THEM SLUMBER ON
FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY

__________________________________________________ ___

Hamish Henderson's Secret Wartime Mission

[Dave]

At long last someone has uploaded a version of the song. The lyrics are uncensored, and don't much resemble those printed above ! The slideshow tribute to Canadian "dodgers" is excellent.

YouTube Video

[Jim]

Thats the first time i have heard the uncensored version... Cheers Dave ..