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 D-Day
Topic Originator: OzPar  
Date:   Thu 6 Jun 14:48

75 years have passed since that fateful day, 6th June 1944, that changed the direction of World War II.

I am enormously proud that my father was one of the 181 paratroopers who flew in on six gliders to make the first attack just minutes after midnight on Pegasus Bridge near the town of Caen. They took the enemy by surprise and captured the bridge within ten minutes. Two paratroopers were killed in the attack, the first allied casualties of that day.

Like so many soldiers on D-Day, my Dad was just 19 years old. It must have been terrifying.

He went on to live a good life and died at the age of 88 a few years ago, but the experience of D-Day and the many days that followed as the men of the 6th Airborne Division worked their way to and through Germany stayed vivid in his memory right to the end. I am so glad that I have recordings of some of his stories to pass on to his great-grandsons.

Lest we forget.
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 Re: D-Day
Topic Originator: veteraneastender  
Date:   Thu 6 Jun 15:38

Your dad was in the Ox’s and Buck’s under Major Howard ? That is something to be proud of.

It is only right and proper that all these brave men (and women) are honoured on this anniversary.

However I can’t help but wonder if other servicemen engaged in different theatres of the war feel a bit overlooked.

For example, Nancy Astor made the infamous “D-Day Dodgers” remark in parliament in reference to the British 8th Army then slogging it’s way up through Italy - their reaction was less than flattering to her.

Hamish Henderson (I think) penned a response with that title, but the verses heard in more modern recordings are a bit less blunt than the original.



Post Edited (Thu 06 Jun 15:39)
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 Re: D-Day
Topic Originator: parbucks  
Date:   Thu 6 Jun 17:24

To the tune of Lili Marleen:

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 Salerno, a holiday with pay,
Jerry brought the band down 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, way out in Italy.[2]

The Volturno and Cassino were taken in our stride.[3]
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.[4]
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 Blighty, 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 p***.
You're the nation's sweetheart, the nation's pride
We think your mouth's too bloody wide.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in Sunny Italy.



Post Edited (Thu 06 Jun 17:27)
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 Re: D-Day
Topic Originator: veteraneastender  
Date:   Thu 6 Jun 22:18

Apparently Hamish Henderson collected different versions of the song but did not write it.

There are quite a few and some have more verses - the Ian Campbell Folk Group may have been the first to record it commercially in the UK 1965.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE5Cgvc3JqU
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 Re: D-Day
Topic Originator: OzPar  
Date:   Fri 7 Jun 01:22





Post Edited (Fri 07 Jun 02:07)
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 Re: D-Day
Topic Originator: veteraneastender  
Date:   Fri 7 Jun 15:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kvPHQ_Gf-8
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