"you're thinking of Hamish Henderson" Yeagh you are right. Hamish Imlach sang the song and there is a version of his on youtube. I suspect the other poster got him confused with Henderson
"They sang this song because there was a rumour back than that Lady Astor said they were not doing much fighting unlike those in France. hence D-Day Dodgers" Quite so and as you say it was a rumour. She strenuously denied that she ever said such a thing and there is no actual evidence that she did say it. Though I suppose she was so unpopular anyway because of other things she'd said that mud stcks whether it was true or not!
" It is down-underlying not a Canadian accent" It is not specifically a Canadian song. Written originally by a British soldier and various subsequent verses collected by Hamish Henderson the Scottish folklorist and songwriter
I don't get why there are no pics of the Agira cemetary. The only cemetary in Italy with only CDN soldiers in it. It's worth going in sicily just to see it. It also makes you realized how this battle was really a david and goliath. When you see the mountains were the German were hidding and the open view they had of the coming ennemie you wounder how they did it.
Thank you for comments and for viewing my video ! When I made the video almost 5 years ago I didn't have a photo of the cemetery. I have never been to Sicily or Italy. I'm hoping to do it one day but life keeps interfering with that plan. The important thing for me was to get the message out there that Canada played a very important part in a campaign, that is for most of the world, unknown. We're not the greatest at standing up and saying "Hey, look what we did!"
AS THE ALLIES LANDED ON SICILLY WHEN THE ITALIANS SAW THE CANADIANS THEY SURRENDERED WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT THE SAME WITH THE BRITISH & AMERICANS BUT HITLER SAID ITALY WILL BE A BATTLE GROUND CANADIANS CROSSED THE GUSTOFF LINE NEXT THE ADOLF HITLER HITLER LINE ON OUR WAY TO ORTANA LIBERATING VILLAGES. WHEN CANADIANS GOT TO ORTANO THE GERMANS FOUGHT HAND TO HAND ORTANO WAS DISTROYED BUT AFTER CHRISTMAS GERMANY PULLS OUT. ITALY SURRENDER 1944 NOW AFTER DDAY WE JOINED WITH OUR TROOPS LIB. OCCUPIED
CANADIANS HIT HITLERS UNDER BELLY ITALY SURRENDERED WE TOOK ORTONA JUN. 6 D DAY ORDERS CAME IN MOVE UP TO JOIN OTHER CANADIAN TROOPS NOW IT WAS OFF TO LIBERATE EUROPE WE KICKED HITLER GOD DAM FUCKEN ASS MAY 2 ORDERS CAME IN STOP FIGHTING MY COUSIN WAS A CAP. IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY ORDERS SHIP OUT MAY 8 1945 BUT NAZI GERMANY SURRENDERED WAR WAS OVER
THE ALLIES LANDED IN ITALY THE ITALIANS SURRENDERED NO STOMACH FOR FIGHT BUT THE GERMANS MADE IT TOUGH ON US AS MY DAD SAID. WE CROSSED THE GOTHIC LINE NOW THE ADOLF HITLER LINE WAS CROSSED AFTER WE LIBERATED ORTONA CANADIANS WERE WAITING FOR THE OTHER TROOPS ITALY SURRENDERED D-DAY NOW CANADIANS FROM ITALY MOVED TO JOIN THE OTHER FORCES TO LIBERATE EUROPE. THIS SONG WAS FOR MORAL BUT WE KICK HITLER GOD DAM FUCKEN ASS DO NOT BE INSULTED PLS I SALUTE OUR BRAVE TROOPS
went to Sicily this summer and made a stop in the Agira cemetary. The only one with only candian in it. 490 soldier. Stop at every tomb to read the name and regiment. To see the hilly inlands of the Island is impressive. To imagine that our men won against the German is amazing. The German were situated in the villages on mountain tops. Had a clear view of the coming army and the better guns. Really it was a David against Goliath kind of situation. Thank you to all CDN soldiers, less we forget
My dad was 8th Army signals - thus a Dodger. He was at Salerno and Cassino. Between Astor taking the piss and Montgomery hunting pots, I'm surpised I was ever born. Still, as the signals motto goes, Certo Cito (Swift and Sure, or in squaddie parlance, Shit or Bust). I'm very proud of him, and sod Lady Bloody Astor.
@hahaimpatrick SIR MY DAD WAS LEADING AIR CRAFTMAN R.C.A.F. I SALUTE UR GRAND DAD ON REMEMBERANCE I ALWAYS THANK THE VETS AS WELL SPEAK TO THEM. I USE TO SAY TO MY DAD SNAPPING TO ATTENTION SAULTING HIM. THEN I SAY DAD THANK U FOR DEFENDING FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY SO I CAN BE HERE TODAY. WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD CANADA. I WOULD LIKE TO WISH U A HAPPY CANADA DAY/ BONNE FETE DU CANADA
Thanks for posting this, my dad was in the 8th Army in North Africa and on to Sicily and then Italy, and he used to sing bthis song along with Lilly Marelane, He absolutely hated Lady Astor, who by the way was ana American who marriied some tory twat and inhertited her seat in the house of lords. But it is with grear plaesure that I have downoladed this song to my mp3 player , Thank you
i was at the war museum in ottowa a few weeks ago and a veteran came up to my friends and i and told us his name was captain Dunn. he told us how he was sent to italy and called a d day dodger. he then showed us the song written on an old peiece of paper.
My dad Harold Travis was a d day dodger. He was with the Carleton and York. Even though I graduated from rmc he could never talk about it. At that time (1065-1990) I did not realize how fresh those memories were for him. Sometmes while growing up I felt jealous of his emotional connection to his friends from the Italian war.
@WizardScreen small world. My Dad was in the Carleton and York as well. He rarely talked about it (other than funny things) but I would often come home to find the Legion Magazine open on my bed, or after I moved out I would find it on my table, open to an article. When it was like that I knew it was about some action he'd been involved in. Email me at jmg@sasktel.net if you would like to.
HI, can you tell me where you got the pics from? I am working on a documentary that has a section about the d day dodgers...thanks so much and great video!!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
this song should have been banned like it was orginally this campaign was no holiday god rest the fallen if wasnt for these boys the d-day campaign would have failed.
@PPCLIcanuck SIR OUR TROOPS WERE BRAVE TO ME THIS WAS MORAL AS WELL REMEMBER IN WW1 THE GERMANS CALLED US STORM TROOPERS WE TOOK VIMY RIDGE WHEN THE BRITISH & FRENCH COULD NOT.
@p1ckerings If you thinks this song is so bad take a look at the Tralagar school for girls choir doingit for some old boyies how where D-Day Dodgers they seam make up to hear it. ( the girls did cut out some of the song for some reson)
Just come sqauddie humour, yes it was a disaterous war but to get through it you had to have some fun and take the piss out of everything. Come on, they are human like everyone else...
@p1ckerings This song was written by Hamish Imlach as a protest after lady ? sorry cant remember her name made a comment that those serving in Italy were dodging the D DAY landings if you listen to the words it lets the cheeky bitch know it was no bloody picnic
@1958wooly I fear you have the wrong Hamish. Hamish Imlach was born in 1940, you're thinking of Hamish Henderson.
Incidentally, Hamish Henderson did not write this song, it was written by a British Lance-Sergeant serving in Italy, with many other verses composed by other soldiers.
Hamish Henderson collected these verses from soldiers after the war.
@p1ckerings 'Twas composed after a comment from some Lady Astor about how sloppy war was in Italy, as she referred to infantrymen deployed there as 'd-day dodgers'. It's actually bitterly sarcastic.
@p1ckerings i would argue that one bud but i wont cuz honestly it's pointless D-day was just another operation which cost the lives of 1000 of canadians, this song should be left alone man, and also what do you know of Sicily Campaign, it's a wicked song man, and also the 1st Div got shipped to NW Europe in 1944-45 for the rest of the war we had four Divs that Served in NW europe in 1942-45 look em up and research em
@p1ckerings a late response to this but i have to say it- if you know the history of the song, its actually just the opposite of what you think it is. it isn't sarcasm belittling the soldiers, its sarcasm BY the soldiers towards someone who belittled them.
Lady Nancy Astor is said to have made some very controversial comments regarding the Normandy campaign. Specifically calling the soldiers D day dodgers, suggesting that they went to Italy to avoid the "real" fight in Europe
@p1ckerings actually the song is written by Soldiers in Italy. They sang this song because there was a rumour back than that Lady Astor said they were not doing much fighting unlike those in France. hence D-Day Dodgers :)
A good idea and pretty well executed. I'm being a bit picky but in some ways the pictures feature a lot of guys sitting around and limited pictures of actual combat. In some ways it reinforces the stereotype of the dodgers instead of showing the songs ironic humour.
@rugbyguy59 If PPCLI's reply doesn't appear under my comment (I'm not seeing it) then I'm letting people know he has told me about the limits of the photos available. I take back any reservations I had.
Bloody marvelous! Great tribute boyos! Now when is someone in this country going to make a feature film about Ortona and the like, eh? You can't tell me we don't have the wealth or talent to do it proud.
Lady Astor was called the Honourable Member for Berlin and it was said that debating her in parliament was like playing badminton with a plate of scrambled eggs. The soldiers picked a great way of throwing her slur back in her face.
I never knew what hard ships these men went through for mine and your LIBERTIES ? sometimes we should reflect and ponder Im from Liverpool UK my grandfather showed us when we gran kids the blood soaked sevice papers of a german soldier he kept in his wallet which he kept untill he died and then my father sent them back to the German embassey in 1990
It's not a mockery. It was actually written by the guys fighting in Italy. It was their sarcastic reply to the Viscountess Astor who was heard to call the troops fighting in Italy as having it easy when in fact the fighting was extremely hard.
Are you kidding? They were the guys that were responsible for the song!
My dad was a D-Day Dodger and proud of the fact. He made me memorize this song as a child with a reminder to never ever forget it - or the story behind it.
He was at Monte Cassino and Rome (among others) and in Holland for the liberation. He spent D-Day in hospital suffering from malaria that he almost didn't survive - aged 24.
He would be thoroughly insulted with your thinking this song is a mockery of them.
you are takin a mockery ! this is a piss take of them selves! of only they could? my grandfahter was an 8th army tank sgrt recently went on a unpaid holiday to Luxor in the werstern desert! want to fry your tits off in a tin can and freeze at night and fight hats off to everyone?
The remark by Lady Astor was NOT directed soley at Canadian troops but the 8th Army in general ie Scots, English,Welsh,Poles, Indians and Gurkhas -this is the best and truest version unlike the later "folky" versions
I would love to get a downloadable version of this. My grandfather was a 'd-day dodger' with the Middlesex Regiment and was killed coming home in October 1945, aged 33.
@silentsniperxp You made me laugh....another one was the woman MP in parliament saying...'Sir you have a fat stomach' ...Churchill replied..'Madame..I would put my stomach against yours anytime'..........style eh!
anyone know where i can find the song "African star" im wanting to learn it on my uke because i do wartime re-enacting thanks and my the chaps that fell rest in peace we shall never forget we should always remember
You are correct sir! It all started when back in England by British Member of Parliament Nancy Astor. used the term in public. She implied that the Allied troops fighting in Italy were having a good old time. Like being on vacation so too speak. As we know it was the exact opposite. The Allies experienced some of the hardest fighting ever seen. When they heard about her comments they took exception to it. This song is evidence of that.
Actually it was only baseless rumour which reported that Viscountess Astor had described the troops in Italy as "D-Day Dodgers". It was certainly widely believed but there is nothing in it.
12th canadian armoured...8th british army....my grandfather my best friend....ortona and the moro.....i will see you in the olive fields my dear old grandfather......shermans........we will always give em the lumber.....THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER
My grandfather faught with the 48th Highlanders of Canada and fought hard in Italy. Also a member of my orange lodge is the only member of his regiement, Black Watch of Canada, to survive Montecassino, Mac Roulston is his name.
Dad was a Sapper (engineer) who served with the Canadian army in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Belgium, Holland, France, and Germany. He was a "D-Day Dodger" and proud of it. I regret that as a child with a terror for war, I had blocked out his stories. He stopped telling them and I wish I knew them, now.
I do remember a few stories including his having buried bodies a week old. Yep... "sunning themselves of the beaches of Italy".
My grand father was a D-Day dodgers and he fought his ass off in Ortona and made it to Rome with the other Canadians before Americans arrived to steal the credit. Good job.XD
@ValidusVirtutis I know, but Dieppe was one battle. did you think they were all wiped out there? Out of the entire Canadian armynearly 1 million, only 6000 men went on that beach at most. So, there were people from every military brigade. My grand pa's buddy died there after they had a coin toss to see who would go. He lost, which is why he lived to go to Italy.
My step granduncle Wallie fought in Italy as a dispatch rider. LOL after the war he became a fisherman and when he got shipwrecked he said fuck this I'm doing something else. He was like that work any job as long as it paid well.
My regiment, the British Columbia Dragoons, fought through Italy as part of 5th Armoured Division. Every year we celebrate Gothic Line Day, and are proud of our status as "D-Day Dodgers".
my uncle bill was a D-Day Dodger, a proud fighting man and dispatch rider for the PPCLI,or The Princess Pats ( Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry). He was and is one of my heroes,doing what all men of age did in my family,fight for their country. RIP uncle Bill,till we meet again !!
My late father was a D Day Dodger. He fought in Tunisia, Pantelleria, Sicilly (I think), Anzio and Bologna. He was in the British Army (Royal Engineers) and i think that its worth pointing out that, in what has become a very much neglected campaign, there were troops from many countries fighting. The great tragedy was that Mark Clark threw away the opportunity to cut off the German Army's retreat following the Anzio break out so he could be photographed "liberating" Rome.
Thanks- my Dad was a gunner, then in a FOO party for both the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. He never forgot, and nor shall I. I walked the battlefields around Ortona in `07, visited the Moro Cemetary, and Casa Berardi. I don't know how they did it. Thanks again.
Brilliant Isn't it;Astor's comment reflected a generalised ruling class attitude and crasness which ensured that those who returned from such heroism ensured the 1st landslide return of a Labour government. Song featured on recent radio 4 programme re Scottish lyracist Hamish Henderson who I believe was also responsible for the 'John MacLean March' regarding the Red Clydeside hero of that name. A grand rendition of this is available elsewhere on You Tube by a fella called Mick West.
Not exactly. Astor was a political opponent of Churchill...and one of the favorite targets of his quips... and vice versa... (A: Winston you are drunk... WSC: Madam, you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober, but you will still be ugly.... She also told Stalin before the war that he was finished
As I say below its by Scottish lyracist Hamish Henderson according to a recent BBC Radio 4 programme; I'll try and get the programme title and let you know.
Lady Astor, dim as a NAAFI candle, was not aware of what these men were doing. I often wonder if she had the decency to apologise for her comments. Then again look at our present day politicians, no grasp of what our servicemen are experiencing.
They may have been D-Day dodgers but they did what the brits, americans, and polish couldnt do. Which was push the Germans grasp on Holland and my Grandmother to this day still remembers all the faces that went by and she cannot thank them enough from letting her taste chocolate and white bread for the first time in 6 long years of german Occupation. May all of those men rest in peace and god bless their souls.
Slightly different version to what I have, but as a collector of "Squaddie Songs" that is not unusual... Every theatre, nay, unit had its own version of songs.
"you're thinking of Hamish Henderson" Yeagh you are right. Hamish Imlach sang the song and there is a version of his on youtube. I suspect the other poster got him confused with Henderson
gaconnochie 1 week ago
This has been flagged as spam show
"They sang this song because there was a rumour back than that Lady Astor said they were not doing much fighting unlike those in France. hence D-Day Dodgers" Quite so and as you say it was a rumour. She strenuously denied that she ever said such a thing and there is no actual evidence that she did say it. Though I suppose she was so unpopular anyway because of other things she'd said that mud stcks whether it was true or not!
gaconnochie 1 week ago
" It is down-underlying not a Canadian accent" It is not specifically a Canadian song. Written originally by a British soldier and various subsequent verses collected by Hamish Henderson the Scottish folklorist and songwriter
gaconnochie 1 week ago
I don't get why there are no pics of the Agira cemetary. The only cemetary in Italy with only CDN soldiers in it. It's worth going in sicily just to see it. It also makes you realized how this battle was really a david and goliath. When you see the mountains were the German were hidding and the open view they had of the coming ennemie you wounder how they did it.
ranna16 3 months ago
Thank you for comments and for viewing my video ! When I made the video almost 5 years ago I didn't have a photo of the cemetery. I have never been to Sicily or Italy. I'm hoping to do it one day but life keeps interfering with that plan. The important thing for me was to get the message out there that Canada played a very important part in a campaign, that is for most of the world, unknown. We're not the greatest at standing up and saying "Hey, look what we did!"
Regards
John
PPCLIcanuck 3 months ago
@PPCLIcanuck Have some interesting photos that might interest you. Visited with the Gregg Centre in 2009. Let me know what you need.
thinkingguy87 2 months ago
For ranna 16...My Dad was a D-Day Dodger. He love this song!! He told me it was for that Bitch in Britan with the big mouth and no clue!!!
DPRAE 4 months ago
CAT
liberal20111 5 months ago
@liberal20111 STOP SPEAKING IN CAPS
Cr33perville 3 months ago
AS THE ALLIES LANDED ON SICILLY WHEN THE ITALIANS SAW THE CANADIANS THEY SURRENDERED WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT THE SAME WITH THE BRITISH & AMERICANS BUT HITLER SAID ITALY WILL BE A BATTLE GROUND CANADIANS CROSSED THE GUSTOFF LINE NEXT THE ADOLF HITLER HITLER LINE ON OUR WAY TO ORTANA LIBERATING VILLAGES. WHEN CANADIANS GOT TO ORTANO THE GERMANS FOUGHT HAND TO HAND ORTANO WAS DISTROYED BUT AFTER CHRISTMAS GERMANY PULLS OUT. ITALY SURRENDER 1944 NOW AFTER DDAY WE JOINED WITH OUR TROOPS LIB. OCCUPIED
liberal20111 5 months ago
@liberal20111 and since the 1940s, we've learned about the lower case.
thinkingguy87 2 months ago
CANADIANS HIT HITLERS UNDER BELLY ITALY SURRENDERED WE TOOK ORTONA JUN. 6 D DAY ORDERS CAME IN MOVE UP TO JOIN OTHER CANADIAN TROOPS NOW IT WAS OFF TO LIBERATE EUROPE WE KICKED HITLER GOD DAM FUCKEN ASS MAY 2 ORDERS CAME IN STOP FIGHTING MY COUSIN WAS A CAP. IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY ORDERS SHIP OUT MAY 8 1945 BUT NAZI GERMANY SURRENDERED WAR WAS OVER
liberal20111 5 months ago
Comment removed
Litterboxer529 7 months ago
THE ALLIES LANDED IN ITALY THE ITALIANS SURRENDERED NO STOMACH FOR FIGHT BUT THE GERMANS MADE IT TOUGH ON US AS MY DAD SAID. WE CROSSED THE GOTHIC LINE NOW THE ADOLF HITLER LINE WAS CROSSED AFTER WE LIBERATED ORTONA CANADIANS WERE WAITING FOR THE OTHER TROOPS ITALY SURRENDERED D-DAY NOW CANADIANS FROM ITALY MOVED TO JOIN THE OTHER FORCES TO LIBERATE EUROPE. THIS SONG WAS FOR MORAL BUT WE KICK HITLER GOD DAM FUCKEN ASS DO NOT BE INSULTED PLS I SALUTE OUR BRAVE TROOPS
liberal20111 7 months ago
any CDN veteran of the Huskey Operation and Italian Campaign will tell you that this song makes no sense. They don't really care for it either.
ranna16 8 months ago
went to Sicily this summer and made a stop in the Agira cemetary. The only one with only candian in it. 490 soldier. Stop at every tomb to read the name and regiment. To see the hilly inlands of the Island is impressive. To imagine that our men won against the German is amazing. The German were situated in the villages on mountain tops. Had a clear view of the coming army and the better guns. Really it was a David against Goliath kind of situation. Thank you to all CDN soldiers, less we forget
ranna16 8 months ago 2
@BenBarfuss APR. 30 1945 AT NOON THAT GOD DAM FUCKEN BASTARD KILLS HIS DOG THEN THAT BITCH BLOWS HIS BRAINS MAY HE ROT IN GOD DAM FUCKEN HELL
liberal20111 8 months ago in playlist argos
My dad was 8th Army signals - thus a Dodger. He was at Salerno and Cassino. Between Astor taking the piss and Montgomery hunting pots, I'm surpised I was ever born. Still, as the signals motto goes, Certo Cito (Swift and Sure, or in squaddie parlance, Shit or Bust). I'm very proud of him, and sod Lady Bloody Astor.
MozMTH 8 months ago
My grand-dad was RCHA, at Monte Cassino and Sicily.
hahaimpatrick 8 months ago
@hahaimpatrick I SALUTE UR GRAND-DAD SOLDIER TO SOLDIER WHEN EVER I SEE A VET WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR I THANK THEM SPEAK TO THEM LEST WE FORGET
liberal20111 8 months ago
@hahaimpatrick SIR MY DAD WAS LEADING AIR CRAFTMAN R.C.A.F. I SALUTE UR GRAND DAD ON REMEMBERANCE I ALWAYS THANK THE VETS AS WELL SPEAK TO THEM. I USE TO SAY TO MY DAD SNAPPING TO ATTENTION SAULTING HIM. THEN I SAY DAD THANK U FOR DEFENDING FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY SO I CAN BE HERE TODAY. WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD CANADA. I WOULD LIKE TO WISH U A HAPPY CANADA DAY/ BONNE FETE DU CANADA
liberal20111 8 months ago
Thank you. It was very moving.
bryantudor 9 months ago
Lol nice lili-marleen ripoff xD
mogul50 10 months ago
@mogul50 I AGREE LEST WE FORGET THIS SONG OF COURSE WORDS CHANGED FOR CANADIAN MORAL SO I WAS TOLD
liberal20111 8 months ago
Nice Video Man. Lest We Forget.
MapleBalls 10 months ago
Nice one Men......
JRTMIN 11 months ago
Comment removed
Litterboxer529 11 months ago
my dad was a d-day dodger, lol
jerryswallow 11 months ago
pride to the canucks and tommies from a yank
usafisasome 1 year ago
thankyou canada, for all you did for us. a very feared fighting force. brave and respected.
tubbymarshall 1 year ago
@BenBarfuss,
It's Sod's Opera.
PPCLIcanuck 1 year ago
Thanks for posting this, my dad was in the 8th Army in North Africa and on to Sicily and then Italy, and he used to sing bthis song along with Lilly Marelane, He absolutely hated Lady Astor, who by the way was ana American who marriied some tory twat and inhertited her seat in the house of lords. But it is with grear plaesure that I have downoladed this song to my mp3 player , Thank you
Mell1888 1 year ago
i was at the war museum in ottowa a few weeks ago and a veteran came up to my friends and i and told us his name was captain Dunn. he told us how he was sent to italy and called a d day dodger. he then showed us the song written on an old peiece of paper.
RetardswithTractors 1 year ago
My dad Harold Travis was a d day dodger. He was with the Carleton and York. Even though I graduated from rmc he could never talk about it. At that time (1065-1990) I did not realize how fresh those memories were for him. Sometmes while growing up I felt jealous of his emotional connection to his friends from the Italian war.
Larry Travis
Larrytravis@shaw.ca
WizardScreens 1 year ago
@WizardScreen small world. My Dad was in the Carleton and York as well. He rarely talked about it (other than funny things) but I would often come home to find the Legion Magazine open on my bed, or after I moved out I would find it on my table, open to an article. When it was like that I knew it was about some action he'd been involved in. Email me at jmg@sasktel.net if you would like to.
Jimeister62 1 year ago
God bless those Men.
Felixmanable 1 year ago
it take the canadians to win the wars and 1 american to take the credit
thequietcanadian 1 year ago 2
HI, can you tell me where you got the pics from? I am working on a documentary that has a section about the d day dodgers...thanks so much and great video!!
myfrogmom 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this song should have been banned like it was orginally this campaign was no holiday god rest the fallen if wasnt for these boys the d-day campaign would have failed.
p1ckerings 1 year ago
Why? It was a protest song that was dripping with sarcasm. It doesn't belittle their efforts.
PPCLIcanuck 1 year ago 14
@PPCLIcanuck Amen! My children's uncle was a D-Day Dodger. He lost his arm in Sicily.
cefair22 1 year ago
@PPCLIcanuck SIR OUR TROOPS WERE BRAVE TO ME THIS WAS MORAL AS WELL REMEMBER IN WW1 THE GERMANS CALLED US STORM TROOPERS WE TOOK VIMY RIDGE WHEN THE BRITISH & FRENCH COULD NOT.
liberal20111 8 months ago
@p1ckerings If you thinks this song is so bad take a look at the Tralagar school for girls choir doingit for some old boyies how where D-Day Dodgers they seam make up to hear it. ( the girls did cut out some of the song for some reson)
rallyingtcp 1 year ago
@p1ckerings
you sound like a progressive....get the hell out
tenyardrambo 1 year ago
@p1ckerings
Just come sqauddie humour, yes it was a disaterous war but to get through it you had to have some fun and take the piss out of everything. Come on, they are human like everyone else...
BOT101st 1 year ago
@p1ckerings look into the history of this song it's not getting at the d-day campaign
rallyingtcp 1 year ago
@p1ckerings This song was written by Hamish Imlach as a protest after lady ? sorry cant remember her name made a comment that those serving in Italy were dodging the D DAY landings if you listen to the words it lets the cheeky bitch know it was no bloody picnic
1958wooly 1 year ago
@1958wooly I fear you have the wrong Hamish. Hamish Imlach was born in 1940, you're thinking of Hamish Henderson.
Incidentally, Hamish Henderson did not write this song, it was written by a British Lance-Sergeant serving in Italy, with many other verses composed by other soldiers.
Hamish Henderson collected these verses from soldiers after the war.
ecadre1 1 week ago
@p1ckerings
1958wooly 1 year ago
@p1ckerings
1958wooly 1 year ago
@p1ckerings 'Twas composed after a comment from some Lady Astor about how sloppy war was in Italy, as she referred to infantrymen deployed there as 'd-day dodgers'. It's actually bitterly sarcastic.
loribit85 1 year ago
@p1ckerings it shouldent of been banned the soldiers created it so u go tell the guys who made the song that it should be banned
lewisrule123 1 year ago
@p1ckerings i would argue that one bud but i wont cuz honestly it's pointless D-day was just another operation which cost the lives of 1000 of canadians, this song should be left alone man, and also what do you know of Sicily Campaign, it's a wicked song man, and also the 1st Div got shipped to NW Europe in 1944-45 for the rest of the war we had four Divs that Served in NW europe in 1942-45 look em up and research em
davo1193 8 months ago
@p1ckerings a late response to this but i have to say it- if you know the history of the song, its actually just the opposite of what you think it is. it isn't sarcasm belittling the soldiers, its sarcasm BY the soldiers towards someone who belittled them.
Lady Nancy Astor is said to have made some very controversial comments regarding the Normandy campaign. Specifically calling the soldiers D day dodgers, suggesting that they went to Italy to avoid the "real" fight in Europe
Jourell1 8 months ago 5
@p1ckerings actually the song is written by Soldiers in Italy. They sang this song because there was a rumour back than that Lady Astor said they were not doing much fighting unlike those in France. hence D-Day Dodgers :)
hadshark 6 months ago
Excellent compilation.
broadarrow1 1 year ago
where did you get the mp3 for this? i cant find a free one anywhere
mdc2296 1 year ago
It's from a CD by Sod's Opera. The album title is "Come on Lads..." You can download the song from Itunes for $.99
PPCLIcanuck 1 year ago
For my great uncle Private Jack walker, Cape Breton Highlanders, killed at Corriano Ridge, Sept. 14 , 1944. Fear Na Fairall
walkerman2503 1 year ago
A good idea and pretty well executed. I'm being a bit picky but in some ways the pictures feature a lot of guys sitting around and limited pictures of actual combat. In some ways it reinforces the stereotype of the dodgers instead of showing the songs ironic humour.
rugbyguy59 1 year ago
@rugbyguy59 If PPCLI's reply doesn't appear under my comment (I'm not seeing it) then I'm letting people know he has told me about the limits of the photos available. I take back any reservations I had.
rugbyguy59 1 year ago
not just caada what about the rest of the brits lol
timhemp 1 year ago
fantastic stuff
4thindians 1 year ago
Read the Garth Ennis's comic "d-day dodgers", it is epic.
Ash1984 2 years ago
@Ash1984 damn right, it is really good.
JohnnyH1982 1 year ago
I know this is going to sound stupid but what is the real name of the song? I looked it up but I want this song.
ChanceMcStabes 2 years ago
It's called "D-Day Dodgers". The original tune is called "Lily Marlene". The D-Day Dodgers song was done by Sods Opera.
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago
3:30
Canadians laptop ;)
Fabzil 2 years ago
Good one! I'm not exactly sure what that is. My guess would be a war artist or war correspondent's writing or drawing case.
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago
@Fabzil haha 1944 YEAH!!!
hahhaha nice one!
Crombo 2 years ago
Bloody marvelous! Great tribute boyos! Now when is someone in this country going to make a feature film about Ortona and the like, eh? You can't tell me we don't have the wealth or talent to do it proud.
klmrxz 2 years ago
Lady Astor was called the Honourable Member for Berlin and it was said that debating her in parliament was like playing badminton with a plate of scrambled eggs. The soldiers picked a great way of throwing her slur back in her face.
walkenshaw2000 2 years ago
my grandad was there b4 d-day.
Litterboxer529 2 years ago
Nice collection of photos!! Most canadians were not used to the mountainous regions in Italy. Italy was actually known as the "Forgotten Front".
But I did not forget it!!
HKUK94 2 years ago
my grate granddad was there he is still there 6 feet under ortona
1337hitler 2 years ago
I never knew what hard ships these men went through for mine and your LIBERTIES ? sometimes we should reflect and ponder Im from Liverpool UK my grandfather showed us when we gran kids the blood soaked sevice papers of a german soldier he kept in his wallet which he kept untill he died and then my father sent them back to the German embassey in 1990
rezlerken 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this song is a mockery of the men who fought in Italy who suffered more in 6 months than in the whole d-day campaign.
p1ckerings 2 years ago
It's not a mockery. It was actually written by the guys fighting in Italy. It was their sarcastic reply to the Viscountess Astor who was heard to call the troops fighting in Italy as having it easy when in fact the fighting was extremely hard.
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago 2
@PPCLIcanuck True.
zulukastake 1 year ago
Are you kidding? They were the guys that were responsible for the song!
My dad was a D-Day Dodger and proud of the fact. He made me memorize this song as a child with a reminder to never ever forget it - or the story behind it.
He was at Monte Cassino and Rome (among others) and in Holland for the liberation. He spent D-Day in hospital suffering from malaria that he almost didn't survive - aged 24.
He would be thoroughly insulted with your thinking this song is a mockery of them.
jjascon 2 years ago 3
@jjascon
My great Grandfather was at Monte Cassino, part of the Polish Artillery.
Polak4infinity 2 years ago
i think its a mockery when it comes to people hating history of the West. Especially with lack of knowledge!
tenyardrambo 2 years ago 3
you are takin a mockery ! this is a piss take of them selves! of only they could? my grandfahter was an 8th army tank sgrt recently went on a unpaid holiday to Luxor in the werstern desert! want to fry your tits off in a tin can and freeze at night and fight hats off to everyone?
rezlerken 2 years ago
sing along and remember the fall from where ever. Thats what I do and think thanks boys.
rallyingtcp 2 years ago
best version Ive this song
mrsoo1 2 years ago
My father was there from day 1 GOD BLESS THEM ALL
DPRAE 2 years ago
My Dad was there too, God rest his soul!
Unterscharfuhrer 2 years ago
yes the comments were on all Allies in italy but Canada took it personally.
ChanceMcStabes 2 years ago
R.I.P Captain "Bud" Hawkins, Ontario Armoured Regiment. K.I.A. June 21, 1944 near Monte Cassino.
LOWLON 2 years ago
patton army was the real fighting machine ,
merbenzgill 2 years ago
So the armies fighting in Italy don't count? Read some history.
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago
at 3:33 at first i thought it was a laptop lol
tenyardrambo 2 years ago
God bless our Troops young and old!
tenyardrambo 2 years ago 15
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
alfietwig 2 years ago 3
The remark by Lady Astor was NOT directed soley at Canadian troops but the 8th Army in general ie Scots, English,Welsh,Poles, Indians and Gurkhas -this is the best and truest version unlike the later "folky" versions
tigerman11000 2 years ago 3
I never said they were. Her comments as per what you mentioned were on the Allies in Italy.
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago
I would love to get a downloadable version of this. My grandfather was a 'd-day dodger' with the Middlesex Regiment and was killed coming home in October 1945, aged 33.
TheMartins56 2 years ago
I have to say in the uk, canada's role is absolutely forgotten.... It's a crying shame.
vengefulnoob 2 years ago
Not absolutely. My regiment celebrates Gothic Line Day every year, and the LdSH(RC) do Melfa Crossing. It's not much, but we do remember.
Egg573 2 years ago 2
I hope your regiment knows that us Canucks really appreciate this!!!
youngnsfella1 2 years ago
Come on guys they were there.lol
25svbn 2 years ago
God bless em all who made it home, and for those who didn't.
BOT101st 2 years ago 2
your bloody big mouth is far to wide " i find this funny seems like churchill didnt like her ether
Lady Nancy Astor: Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea.
Churchill: Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.
silentsniperxp 2 years ago 7
@silentsniperxp You made me laugh....another one was the woman MP in parliament saying...'Sir you have a fat stomach' ...Churchill replied..'Madame..I would put my stomach against yours anytime'..........style eh!
tony00165 1 year ago
We're the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy!
Always on the vino always on the spree!
Eighth Army skivers and their tanks!
We go to war in ties like swanks.
For we're the D-Day Dodgers!
Out in Italy!
Dolian112 2 years ago 2
anyone know where i can find the song "African star" im wanting to learn it on my uke because i do wartime re-enacting thanks and my the chaps that fell rest in peace we shall never forget we should always remember
clubcard246 2 years ago
We focus on D-Day in the West and forget the horrible fighting in Italy.
Monte Cassino was easliy one of the toughest battles the Allies fought in WWII
catsnads01 2 years ago
When you look 'round the mountains, through the mud and rain
You'll find the scattered crosses, some which bear no name.
Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone
The boys beneath them slumber on
They were the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy
this makes me cry ;(
mrdoom666 2 years ago 3
at first i did not get the song and i lookt up what the back growd was for this song i get it now and it is funny XD
r.i.p boys :(
mrdoom666 2 years ago
Bitter lyrics...
fritzVirginSteeler 2 years ago
You are correct sir! It all started when back in England by British Member of Parliament Nancy Astor. used the term in public. She implied that the Allied troops fighting in Italy were having a good old time. Like being on vacation so too speak. As we know it was the exact opposite. The Allies experienced some of the hardest fighting ever seen. When they heard about her comments they took exception to it. This song is evidence of that.
Enjoy!
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago
Actually it was only baseless rumour which reported that Viscountess Astor had described the troops in Italy as "D-Day Dodgers". It was certainly widely believed but there is nothing in it.
DBIVUK 2 years ago
She said it at a public gathering. There were witnesses.
PPCLIcanuck 2 years ago
It is only a rumour, unsubstantiated as yet.
penance36 2 years ago
You say witnesses, is there any proof of this.
I have never seen and collaberated proof.
Not having a dig but genuinly interested.
penance36 2 years ago
Thanks Today is 65 years and I'm thinking of my Grandfather who was in Italy...
pervolarsunata 2 years ago
God bless all those who fought on the eve of DDAY June 6 1944! Thanks for all those who fought for our freedom!!!!!
Canada all the way!!!!!
tenyardrambo 2 years ago
Some times I think d-day was the worst thing to happen to them. They are too often forgotten
privatebuttercup 2 years ago
BTW 8th Army REME - Front line but not fighting! otherwise I wouldn't be here!
And the lyrics are nearly as bawdy as the ones he taught me
Onyourbuzzers 2 years ago
Very Nice Tribute Mate
Son of a Dodger here!
Onyourbuzzers 2 years ago
lol
pureCANADIANeh 2 years ago
i think that is a very suitable answer for the said Lady , what a gaff she made.
behblc 2 years ago
Great!
Dad was a D Day Dodger, fought in 8th Army from Alamein to the Alps.
Served with 7th Btn,The Rifle Brigade, sister regt to the PPCLI.
We will Remember Them
Ktfairy 2 years ago 3
My Great Grandad wasnt a Canadian Soldier but was a D-Day Dodger with the British 1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade. North Africa - Italy
AndyWhyberd 2 years ago 5
12th canadian armoured...8th british army....my grandfather my best friend....ortona and the moro.....i will see you in the olive fields my dear old grandfather......shermans........we will always give em the lumber.....THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER
EnglishMut 2 years ago
I'm currently researching the Three Rivers Regiment's battle at the Trasimene Line 20-20 June 1944. Do you have any leads for me? Diaries, pics, etc?
PootWilliams 2 years ago
My grandfather faught with the 48th Highlanders of Canada and fought hard in Italy. Also a member of my orange lodge is the only member of his regiement, Black Watch of Canada, to survive Montecassino, Mac Roulston is his name.
orangemike1690 3 years ago
D-Day dodgers! The Italian campaign was far harder. The dodgers were at D-Day.
swanningaround 3 years ago
Go PPCLI!
SKB266 3 years ago
Dad was a Sapper (engineer) who served with the Canadian army in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Belgium, Holland, France, and Germany. He was a "D-Day Dodger" and proud of it. I regret that as a child with a terror for war, I had blocked out his stories. He stopped telling them and I wish I knew them, now.
I do remember a few stories including his having buried bodies a week old. Yep... "sunning themselves of the beaches of Italy".
Mudhooks 3 years ago 2
wow!! i have never heard in audio the Canadian version of this song!
tenyardrambo 3 years ago
My grand father was a D-Day dodgers and he fought his ass off in Ortona and made it to Rome with the other Canadians before Americans arrived to steal the credit. Good job.XD
He fought for the 10th Calgary tank brigade.
Darcksaac 3 years ago 7
@Darcksaac
Too bad the Calgary Tanks were never in Italy......
They went ashore at Dieppe.
ValidusVirtutis 1 year ago
@ValidusVirtutis I know, but Dieppe was one battle. did you think they were all wiped out there? Out of the entire Canadian armynearly 1 million, only 6000 men went on that beach at most. So, there were people from every military brigade. My grand pa's buddy died there after they had a coin toss to see who would go. He lost, which is why he lived to go to Italy.
Darcksaac 1 year ago
Comment removed
m1rock 1 year ago
My step granduncle Wallie fought in Italy as a dispatch rider. LOL after the war he became a fisherman and when he got shipwrecked he said fuck this I'm doing something else. He was like that work any job as long as it paid well.
ps good video
rumrich 3 years ago
My regiment, the British Columbia Dragoons, fought through Italy as part of 5th Armoured Division. Every year we celebrate Gothic Line Day, and are proud of our status as "D-Day Dodgers".
Egg573 3 years ago
my uncle bill was a D-Day Dodger, a proud fighting man and dispatch rider for the PPCLI,or The Princess Pats ( Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry). He was and is one of my heroes,doing what all men of age did in my family,fight for their country. RIP uncle Bill,till we meet again !!
Macangusagain 3 years ago
I like the song, and also a good video.
matmann96 3 years ago 2
This is a very moving song/combination...
Well done
ajferet 3 years ago
My late father was a D Day Dodger. He fought in Tunisia, Pantelleria, Sicilly (I think), Anzio and Bologna. He was in the British Army (Royal Engineers) and i think that its worth pointing out that, in what has become a very much neglected campaign, there were troops from many countries fighting. The great tragedy was that Mark Clark threw away the opportunity to cut off the German Army's retreat following the Anzio break out so he could be photographed "liberating" Rome.
molescombe 3 years ago
Great Video.
PODIV 3 years ago
Thanks- my Dad was a gunner, then in a FOO party for both the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. He never forgot, and nor shall I. I walked the battlefields around Ortona in `07, visited the Moro Cemetary, and Casa Berardi. I don't know how they did it. Thanks again.
G2
glenninparks 3 years ago
Thank you
Groucho527 3 years ago
Brilliant Isn't it;Astor's comment reflected a generalised ruling class attitude and crasness which ensured that those who returned from such heroism ensured the 1st landslide return of a Labour government. Song featured on recent radio 4 programme re Scottish lyracist Hamish Henderson who I believe was also responsible for the 'John MacLean March' regarding the Red Clydeside hero of that name. A grand rendition of this is available elsewhere on You Tube by a fella called Mick West.
roddymccorley 3 years ago
Not exactly. Astor was a political opponent of Churchill...and one of the favorite targets of his quips... and vice versa... (A: Winston you are drunk... WSC: Madam, you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober, but you will still be ugly.... She also told Stalin before the war that he was finished
ajferet 3 years ago
It's from the album, SODS OPERA "Come on Lads".
PPCLIcanuck 3 years ago
Thanks
Starwarsfreak101st 3 years ago
Where did you get the song?
Starwarsfreak101st 3 years ago
As I say below its by Scottish lyracist Hamish Henderson according to a recent BBC Radio 4 programme; I'll try and get the programme title and let you know.
roddymccorley 3 years ago
Aye excellent job!
DaveyEss 3 years ago
Lady Astor, dim as a NAAFI candle, was not aware of what these men were doing. I often wonder if she had the decency to apologise for her comments. Then again look at our present day politicians, no grasp of what our servicemen are experiencing.
lurcher789 3 years ago 4
They may have been D-Day dodgers but they did what the brits, americans, and polish couldnt do. Which was push the Germans grasp on Holland and my Grandmother to this day still remembers all the faces that went by and she cannot thank them enough from letting her taste chocolate and white bread for the first time in 6 long years of german Occupation. May all of those men rest in peace and god bless their souls.
Corben667 3 years ago 2
Slightly different version to what I have, but as a collector of "Squaddie Songs" that is not unusual... Every theatre, nay, unit had its own version of songs.
Very good version, and remember those who served.
They gave their today, for our tomorrow.
stutz788 3 years ago
Very good video! I like the performance of the song, just the way the soldiers themselves would have sung it.
JohnnyMadrid61 3 years ago
Yeah, heard something similar with planes, using the word "duck" instead of"run"
JohnnyMadrid61 3 years ago
Bloody brilliant, 5 stars.
Sephiroth1121 3 years ago 2
This is brilliant. A sosial comment on the insanity of political misjudgements. A memory to some very brave guys. A real tribute. Thanks.
Misterconway 3 years ago 2
My Great uncle fought in italy and got his leg blown off by a landmine and survived till about last year :( which was amazing tho
bobdole92 3 years ago 2
What battalion was he in? My dad fought at Anzio.
JohnnyMadrid61 3 years ago
my Grandfather faught in Italy! Sgt. George James :) got shot :( he survived, but was sent home! i miss him :(
mjheartsjepha 3 years ago
Way to go...very nice
jastarittner 3 years ago 2