A Song of the Forgotten Soldiers in Italy 3rd Sep 1943 to 2nd May 1945
Sung to the tune of Lily Marlene

Now we're the D Day Dodgers out in Italy,

Always drinking vino always on the spree,

8th Army civvies with the Yanks

We live in Rome and laugh at tanks,

Cos we're the D Day Dodgers way out in Italy.

We landed at Salerno a holiday with pay,

Gerry brought the band out to cheer us on the way,

He showed us the sights and made us tea

We all sang songs, the beer was free,

Cos we're the D Day Dodgers way out in 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 a farce,

We did damn all but go on pass,

Cos we're the D Day Dodgers way out in Italy.

On the way to Florence we had a lovely time,

They ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line,

Soon to Milano we will go

Now he's cleared off beyond the Po,

From all the D Day Dodgers way out in Italy.

Once we heard a "blue light" we were going home,

Back to dear old Blighty never more to roam.

Then someone said "In Burma you'll fight"

We said "Damn That - We'll just sit tight"

Cos we're the D Day Dodgers who live in Italy.

Oh, Lady Aster listen to us please,

Don't stand on the platform talking at your ease,

You're the 8th Army's sweetheart and nation's pride

But shut your mouth it's far too wide,

That's from the D Day Dodgers, the boys in Italy.

Looking 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.

Some of the D Day Dodgers we left in Italy.

Courtesy Frank Wood (an ex-D Day Dodger)

July 2006 - Site Visitor David Anson has been in touch to  provide us with some background information about this song.  David says....

"Originally from Somercotes, with Mum's family from Golden Valley , I now live and work in Edinburgh. I was lucky enough to be able to study as a mature student at the University of Edinburgh, School of Scottish Studies.  One of the most revered academics at the School was Hamish Henderson, poet, lecturer, polemicist; an incredible man who had served with the 8th Army in Africa and then on the Italian front where, in 1944, he penned the words of the song Frank Wood sent to you and set them to "Lilli Marlene"; a tune popular with both sides of the conflict. This parody song was written as a way of getting back at Lady Astor, who insulted the 8th Army by her ignorant view of what they had accomplished, accusing them of dodging the D-Day Landings. She apparently forgot that they had fought their way from Alexandria, Egypt, through Libya to Tunisia, to Sicily and then up the boot of Italy to a summer retreat called Monte Cassino without anybody relieving them. Oh, and all the while, they were up against this Rommel chap, and then some bumpkin named Kesselring."
 
"Hamish passed away too soon as far as I am concerned.  Like all those who served he had much to pass on.  But he was already old when I met him, however I still have some knowledge of the man to cherish"

"I look forward to keeping up to date with developments on your site.  I spent many happy times in and around Codnor Park and Jacksdale, we had many relatives in Golden Valley.  My Dad was from Somercotes but spent much of WWII as a member of the Home Guard up on Codnor hill at the old water towers (he was a miner and kept from joining up as he was classified in a reserved occupation).  Keep up the good work." - David Anson

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