D-Day Dodgers of Canada

“The D-Day Dodgers” was a song inspired by a remark allegedly made by British MP Lady Astor, accusing the British and Commonwealth soldiers in Italy of “Dodging” the invasion of Normandy and essentially of being drunken and Venereal Disease ridden louts. The original version of the song was written by Scottish Highlander Captain Hamish Henderson and sung to the tune of the internationally popular German foxhole song “Lili Marlene”. There were several versions, including a distinctively Canadian one, but in my opinion this British version is the best. The emotional and profane lyrics clearly illustrate the frustration of soldiers who had to do more with less while fighting for their lives in a distant and forgotten field.