June 6, 2019 marks the 75^th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. You won’t see the Ontario Regiment mentioned anywhere in the news articles because they were amongst thousands of Canadians and other Allied soldiers who landed in Sicily in July 1943 and had been fighting their way north on the Italian mainland since September 1943.

Rome had fallen to the Allies on June 4, 1944 but the news was quickly overshadowed by D-Day. The landings in Normandy were somewhat bittersweet for the Allied soldiers fighting in Italy. On one hand, the opening of another front was welcomed. However, the media attention largely focused on the fighting in France and northwest Europe for the remainder of the war and the soldiers in Italy felt that they were fighting on a forgotten front.

As the summer progressed, the soldiers in Italy began referring to themselves as “D-Day Dodgers.” Legend has it that Lady Astor, a member of the British Parliament, used the term publicly. Given that the fighting in Italy had preceded the landings in France by 11 months, the soldiers were initially outraged. Eventually their view took on a light-hearted note and a song was composed with lyrics that sarcastically described the life of an Allied soldier in the Italian campaign. Different versions of the song were sung but it was always to the popular tune “Lili Marlene.” Lyrics were added, removed and substituted as the war ground on or depending on the experience of the soldiers doing the singing. Two versions are noted here, one of which mentions Lady Astor by name.

We Are The D-Day Dodgers

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 and slacks.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy ,

We fought into Agira, a holiday with pay;
Jerry brought his bands out to cheer us on our way,
Showed us the sights and gave us tea,
We all sang songs, the beer was free,
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy.

The Moro and Ortona were taken in our stride,
We didn’t really fight there, we just went for the ride.
Sleeping til noon and playing games,
We live in Rome with lots of dames.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy.

On our way to Florence we had a lovely time.
We drove a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line.
Then to Bologna we did go,
We all went bathing in the Po.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy.

We hear the boys in France are going  home on leave
After six months’ service, such a shame they’re not relieved.
We were told to carry on a few more years,
Because our wives don’t shed no tears
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy.

We are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.
We’re always tight, we cannot fight.
What bloody use are we?

The Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers

We’re the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy –
Always on the vino, always on the spree.
Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks
We live in Rome – among the Yanks.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

We landed at Pachino, a holiday with pay
Jerry brought a band out, to cheer us on our way
Showed us the sights, and gave us tea
We all sang songs, the beer was free
We kissed all the girls in Napoli.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

The Moro and Ortona were taken in our stride
We didn’t have to fight there. We just went for the ride.
Anzio and Sangro were all forlorn.
We did not do a thing from dusk to dawn.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

On our way to Florence we had a lovely time.
We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line.
On to Bologna we did go.
Then we went bathing in the Po.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

Once we had a blue light that we were going home
Back to dear old Canada, never more to roam.
Then somebody said in France you’ll fight.
We said never mind, we’ll just sit tight,
The windy D-Day Dodgers, out in Sunny Italy.

Now Lady Astor, get a load of this.
Don’t stand up on a platform and talk a load of piss.
You’re the nation’s sweetheart, the nation’s pride
But we think your bloody big mouth is far too wide.
For we are the D-Day Dodgers, out in Sunny Italy.

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.

So listen all you people, over land and foam
Even though we’ve parted, our hearts are close to home.
When we return we hope you’ll say
“You did your little bit, though far away
All of the D-Day Dodgers, way out there in Italy.”

Rod Henderson

Rod Henderson is the Regimental Historian of the Ontario Regiment. He served as a Sergeant in the Regiment and is the author of “Fidelis Et Paratus: The History of The Ontario Regiment RCAC”.