Ballad of the D Day Dodgers - Sung by George Duff

[@paddy1952]

My dad landed at Salerno in 1943 and fought through to the end. He was one of the sixty-five thousand Irish who joined the British forces in the 2nd WW. He never said much about it, but we often heard snippets of this song when he'd had a jar or two. Thanks for posting it.

[@BrianWMay]

My dad was there, pretty much a forgotten front.

[@billblack-ot2ix]

my dad was sergeant with 2bn 48th highlanders in Italy 43 45 got home in Toronto July 45. D Day Dodger

[@janebeckman3431]

A friend of mine (still alive at 98!) was Seaforth Highlanders and got taken out by a mortar while mine clearing at Salerno. After recovering from his wounds for a few months, he was back in the fray. He told us and his caregiver the story on Memorial Day. Then we all sang D Day Dodgers!

[@HaloFTW55]

Just curious, British or Canadian Seaforths?

[@petermcallister107]

It's 16 minutes till the 11th minute,of the 11th hour of the 11th day 2024. From Scotland.

[@lizzy-folksongsscottis4518]

Lovely Rendition !

[@frankeimer3906]

My uncle Ron Dow served in Italy with 49th Loyal Edmonton Regt. Based on his wife he was a changed man. RIP uncles . From you nephew. You did Canada well just a shame our gov't gave standing ovation to Ukrainian Na?i in our house of the people. Most veterans and of greatest generation were turning in their graves. Thanks for uploads.

[@43hawker]

My father Pete Cashman 625 Field Squadron, fought in North Africa and then all the way up through Italy, fighting at Cassino pushing up through Rome, battling across the river Po in the North. Chasing the Germans across the alps where he got frostbite whilst being held down in a shell crater by snipers for two days and nights and finishing up in Austria. Thankfully he never saw the horrors of the concentration camps. Though he had nightmares for the rest of his life, dying in 1998. The troops never took the song seriously, in fact dad was always playing it on his harmonica! D-Day Dodgers indeed...........Pete Cashman Jnr.

[@kevinmacleod142]

Thank you for this, I really appreciate it. best wishes, Kevin Macleod

[@thepeacefulpoet]

My dad was an RE fought through Africa and up and included Cassino lost his sight in July 1944 just North of Cassino. Like all of those in Italy they fought bloody hard and many sadly did not make it home and some like Dad were seriously wounded and lived with that for the rest of their life

[@zymelin21]

D-day dodgers is a badge of honour!!!

[@petermcallister107]

Sadly my grandfather did see,he was one of the liberators of Bergen Belsen. Your dad sounds like a fighter.

[@daviddouglas6610]

Cant hear this song without a tear in my eye, my dad was a d day dodger, he landed troops in north africa, sciliy , salerno, anzio and south of france though . . . Ernie douglas RN

My Uncle Sgt. Fred Ward, my mother's brother, was a D-Day Dodger. A term Lady Astor of the British Parliament used to describe those who were fighting in Italy; instead of landing in Normandy on the invasion of France in 1944. Fred served with Lord Strathcona Horse as a Tank Commander. He lost three tanks in Italy and saved another Canadian Tank Crew whose tank was on fire. The Germans were firing a machine gun at the crew trying to escape. Fred pulled his tank in front of theirs so they could make their escape. He then fired on the German Machine Gun Position and took them out. He would never speak of the War unless he had too much to drink and then he'd start to cry. I never asked him to tell me any more. He always felt guilty, that after seeing so many of his friends die, he never got a scratch. He talked of a reconnaissance patrol in a Bren Carrier and of seeing a large German Convoy of Tanks and Artillery being led by a Motorcycle and his Canadian gunner opening up with the Bren Gun on the Motorcycle and the Motorcycle and driver flying apart in pieces. He said they had to go like hell as the Germans called in an Artillery Barrage on their position. Another time they went into the basement of a Winery and there was a huge cask of wine with a spigot, after a couple of glasses of wine the spigot would not work, so they climbed a ladder to have a look, and only then noticed a dead German was lodged against the spigot. They drank no more wine.

[@Dunbardoddy]

I had an uncle in the KOSB who landed at Salerno, he never talked about it.

[@patriciaoneill8053]

My Dads cousin James McCann is buried in the war cemetry in Minturno, we visited the cemetery, RIP

[@annemadison7258]

My great grandfather on my mother's side was a dispatch rider in the Royal Signal Corps who served in North Africa and Italy. He followed his father into the army. His father served in the Second Boer War and the early campaigns of the First World War 1 before returning home to take up a training position and left the army in 1919 with the rank of Sergeant.

[@kevinmacleod142]

I hope this does him credit in a small way. Thanks, kevin

[@eyesopen1850]

My father likewise. 23rd Armoured Brigade.

[@davidmaule3266]

My uncle had the same war service - RSC, North Africa and Italy, ended the war in Austria. Raise a glass to them both.

[@chanter27]

Excellent work Kevin , a fitting tribute .

[@georgegoodyear9631]

Thank you for the opportunity to view such a poignant presentation.

[@AlexanderCramb]

My mum’s brother died there black watch from a little village in fife

[@LizCowardWriter]

This is fabulous. Thank you. Best version I've seen to date - images so fitting. Thank you so much.

[@kevinmacleod142]

Very kind!

[@kennethlauder6327]

My Dad was a D,Day Dodger . But was in a POW camp after being captured at Termoli ,Italy when D Day was on. A&S Highlanders

[@petermcallister107]

Two of my great uncles died less than a mile and a day apart from each other in that same Regiment. Be proud of your dad,I am a military historian and can tell you this nonsense that Italians couldn't fight IS nonesense.

[@petermcallister107]

At point 2.15 in the songs clips,is that a German self propelled gun built upon a old French or Czech chassis and being used by the allies!!!!! Or it's just a well camouflaged Archer SPG lol!

[@petermcallister107]

I'm getting my books on German "booty" tanks out plus my books on British ww2 armour out,I should know this,I'm a military historian and model maker of 1/35 scale kits.

[@iaincphotography6051]

Battle hardened beyond any doubt, they had been fighting for a long time before D Day.

[@davidmaule3266]

My uncle Bert, Signals despatch rider, was evacuated from Dunkirk, sent to North Africa, went through it then Sicily, Italy and finished the war in Austria. Saw a few battles, more than some of the units who had been on home establishment for years before they landed in Normandy.

[@davidlowen7802]

Astor was just another gobby ignorant socialite - nice rendition, thanks! . My step father spent 5 years in a POW camp. That woman had life of luxury. She was more witless than witty.

[@zymelin21]

nailed it mr Lowen. Lady Astor wasof "the cliveden set". only by luck did she not get hanged for treason!!

[@davidmaule3266]

Astor: 'If you were my husband I'd put poison in your coffee.' Churchill: 'If you were my wife I would drink it.'

[@iainstewart9844]

Another Astor Churchill spat was when she said "Sir, you are drunk!" Churchill replied "Madam, you are ugly! The difference between us is that, in the morning, l shall be sober!"

[@chairmanalf7856]

@@iainstewart9844that was Labour MP, Bessie Braddock.