D Day Dodgers Group

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Paul Reed, Oct 21, 2008.

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  1. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Although I am a Mod, for some reason I was not aware of the existence of groups! So, have started one for those interested in the Italian Campaign. See:

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/group.php?groupid=11

    My Dad is always proud of the title 'D Day Dodgers', which is why I chose the name.
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Paul -
    Don't think it will be a very large group - not many originals left at this time !
    Cheers
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Paul,
    Count me in, I could do with knowing more about what my father was up to in Italy.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Paul -
    Don't think it will be a very large group - not many originals left at this time !
    Cheers

    Hi Tom - I know not many "originals" but us young-uns have got to keep the spirit alive!

    Thanks for joining chaps!
     
  5. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Paul

    Another 'oldie' for you......

    Count me in :)

    Ron
     
  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Remember you have to click 'Join Group' to actually join!

    It's just above where it says 'This is a public group' on the right.
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I'm in.
    Do we get notified when someone makes a post in that group or do we have to visit it?
     
  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Do we get notified when someone makes a post in that group?
    No.
    Though it looks like vB and others are working on it as an option.
     
  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    That's good - the groups are an excellent idea.
     
  10. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

    count me in as a 'son of' a dodger.

    The song, sung to the tune of Lilli Marleen


    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 tommyrot.
    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 Jerrys gone 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 ----,
    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 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.

    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.





    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".
     
  11. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Capt Bill

    You just beat me to it as I thought that some of our junior members wouldn't have a clue at what the fuss was about Dodging D Day - which they all know about - but very few know about Italy -

    The song was taken from the Lila Andersen version - and sung by the famous Marlene Dietrich to the Afrika Corps of Rommel and picked up by the British desert rats.

    Then when the idiotic Lady Astor M.P. referred to all 8th Army men in Italy as being "D Day Dodgers" - Hamish Henderson wrote his version of the song - many versions were composed - most unfit for printing. The one I refer to in this link is that of the Canadian Corps who fought at Agira in Sicily - Ortona and other well known battles - the most memorable verse is the final one of Hamish with it's reference to the crosses in the mountains .....
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/46/a1145846.shtml
     
  12. andy007

    andy007 Senior Member

    Hi Guys,
    I have joined the group, Being a Kiwi the Italian theatre is of great interest for me. I agree with Tom, very few young people know about Italy. I used to be like that, but found that I have more a personal connection to Italy through the 2NZEF's involvment. :)
     
  13. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Guys,
    I have joined the group, Being a Kiwi the Italian theatre is of great interest for me. I agree with Tom, very few young people know about Italy. I used to be like that, but found that I have more a personal connection to Italy through the 2NZEF's involvment. :)

    Hi Andy

    Welcome aboard :)

    Back in 2006 I wrote about the same lack of knowledge regarding the campaign in Italy:

    This morning I was round at Lew's (an old Army friend), where I was paying my weekly visit to help him brush up his computer skills.

    He had a particular problem on his computer that needed a solution from the company that had sold him the system and I found myself chatting on the phone with a computer expert.

    We went into a mode that allowed the expert to operate Lew's computer by remote control and he was interested to see that Lew's screen saver showed him visiting a cemetery.

    I pointed out that the photo displayed was Lew re-visiting the CWGC Cemetery at Cassino and mentioned that he and I had both served in the same unit.

    The conversation then went something like this:

    Expert: Where did you say that was?
    Ron: Cassino
    Expert: Where's that?
    Ron: May I ask how old you are?
    Expert: Thirty-nine
    Ron: Are you seriously telling me that you've never heard of Cassino?
    Expert: No, where is it
    Ron: Italy.... and tell me, did you not have any relatives who served in WW2?
    Expert: Yes, one in the Navy and one in the RAF, but they have both since passed away.

    I got the expert to promise me that he would look up "Cassino" on GOOGLE after he had put the computer problem to rights and Lew and I simply stared at each other.

    Please tell me that some people have heard of Cassino, or am I asking too much

    Ron
     
  14. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Ron,

    Unless the children have some kind of special interest in History and learn themselves, there appears to be a distinct lack of teaching history from this period.

    Sadly there are too many young people who have not a clue, of events that occurred during WW2 and I for one find it extremely sad.

    Perhaps this subject deserves a thread of its own as I am sure that I am not alone in this thinking.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi,

    I wouldn’t class myself as knowledgeable by any stretch of the imagination, but I 'know' a little and am keen to learn more about Italy.
    I would love to join the group, but am afraid my knowledge is limited. Would like to know however, if this is a private set-up or can anyone look in and learn?
    Regards,
    D
     
  16. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Unless the children have some kind of special interest in History and learn themselves, there appears to be a distinct lack of teaching history from this period.
    Not so Smudger, kids from 9-11 in the UK do compulsory WW2 history as part of the National curriculum, it also often features in secondary School.
    We can't force anyone who's not interested, even if they're wrong ;).
     
  17. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Diane,

    I too have a limited knowledge of the Italian campaign and joined this group to try and understand more.

    As far as I am aware it is a group for all that are interested in the Italian Campaign an I for one would welcome your imput.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  18. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I have always thought that this D day dodger should never have been invented, For we were all service men fighting for our Country. To make divisions in the areas of conflict? seems to me, to demean the sacrifices of our men.
    I hate the We are the D Day dodgers thingy. That somehow makes out, or infers that the efforts of the lads in Italy were not of the same value as our men anywhere else in the world .....WRONG they did what we all did. Fight for what we thought was right
    SAPPER
     
  19. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I hate the We are the D Day dodgers thingy. That somehow makes out, or infers that the efforts of the lads in Italy were not of the same value as our men anywhere else in the world


    Brian

    Whilst appreciating your vote of confidence and expresions of solidarity I feel that I must point out something that you, and perhaps others, may have missed.

    As someone who joined the North African campaign too late to do any fighting, was blooded in Sicily and then got very much involved in Italy I feel that I can honestly speak on behalf of the "D-Day Dodgers".

    The term "D-Day Dodgers" was always used by all of us with bitter irony and was a direct result of our reaction to ignorant people like Lady Astor demeaning our role in Italy.

    I can vividly remember my feelings on learning of the D-Day landings on the 6th of June and I readily admit that the phrase "about time too !" featured largely in my thoughts !!!

    You say they did what we all did. Fight for what we thought was right


    Well said Brian ! .....I can't argue with that at all.....but please don't think that that our acceptance of the term "D-Day Dodgers" was anything other than squaddies taking the p***s !

    Keep taking the tablets and my very best regards

    Ron
     
  20. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Adam,

    Thanks for correcting me.
    Perhaps having lessons in school and retaining the knowledge is another issue.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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