D-Day Dodgers of Italy

D-Day Dodgers, the name given to troops fighting in Italy, implied cowardice and avoidance of the ‘real’ war in France. It is generally believed that it was Lady Astor MP who first called the men of the 8th Army who were fighting in the Italian Campaign ‘D-Day Dodgers’. It was put together by members of the British Eighth Army while on active service in Italy. Lady Astor had made a speech shortly after D-Day in which it was alleged that she said the Eighth Army were all in Italy dodging D-Day. This rather upset the men of the Eighth Army who were fighting a very long and severe campaign. This song was their reply to Lady Astor’s allegations. -Bob Buckle, The Leesiders. See their version of The D-Day Dodgers.